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The new Wear OS can do more than you think
Google suddenly cares about smartwatches again, and we're not complaining
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With today's introduction of the Galaxy Watch4, we're getting our first in-depth look at exactly what Google and Samsung have been working on together. While the initial announcement at I/O in May was exciting, finally getting a glimpse of Wear OS 3 in action feels like a breath of fresh air compared to its current state. With Samsung's latest wearables shipping in just a couple of weeks, the future of Android smartwatches is finally here, and there are plenty of reasons to get excited.
Chrome for Android starts showing most-visited site tiles in the Omnibox
Curb your enthusiasm: it looks like another server-side switch
If you're anything like most web users, you have a core dozen or so sites that you visit regularly (including Android Police, right? Right?), while the rest you only peruse when it's pertinent. Chrome for Android is starting to recognize this, and give you more visible suggestions for your most-visited sites via new icons in the Omnibox.
Android 12 Beta 1 changes the way you'll set your alarms for the next day
All 30 of them, to make sure you get out of bed on time
While some modern options exist for replacing your aging alarm clock, most of us have made the switch to waking up with our phones. Android's default clock app is a great way to wake up in the morning, alongside dozens of great apps available on the Play Store. Thanks to a new quick settings tile in Android 12 Beta 1, adding and modifying alarms is about to get a whole lot easier.
Tile is making a UWB tracker to compete with Apple's AirTags
Get ready to find your misplaced possessions in AR
Tile has been the go-to brand when it comes to reliable Bluetooth trackers, and its wide variety of products cater to different use cases. But all of its trackers rely on Bluetooth, which works just fine, but it's not as sophisticated as ultra-wideband (UWB) — tech that is reported to be used in upcoming products from Apple and Samsung. Word is that Tile is also working on a new product that boasts the same tech and is expected to be released in 2021.
Google Fit receives new home screen and better sleep tracking
Wear OS will also get some more fitness Tiles
Google Fit has been in a state of limbo for a while now. It has always lagged behind competing services from Apple, Samsung, and others, and sometimes has broke entirely. Thankfully, Google has revealed a major update to Fit today, along with a few minor new features for Wear OS.
Google's Wear OS removes maximum limit on Tiles
Because accessing key information at a glance shouldn't be limited
Wear OS is far from being the most praised smartwatch operating system, an issue Google is well aware of. Thankfully, the company worked on improving it and introduced widget-like tiles in May. Sadly, these were capped to just five, a restriction that's now being lifted.
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Android 11 has been stable for a bit, and while it brought many improvements to the table, there are also a few regressions. One of these is a small but significant change to the quick settings tiles. Compared to earlier versions of the OS, Android 11 only displays two rows instead of three, even when the new media player isn't in use.
Wear OS only turned five this year, but already feels pretty much dead in the water, with many of our staff turning to alternatives left and right. Even so, Google pushes on and releases occasional new features, the most recent of which is actually pretty useful — Tiles that bring you customizable screens you can swipe through. Google has now added a way to organize in the Wear OS companion app on your phone, which is much easier than doing so on the watch itself.
Last month, Google unveiled a significant interface update for Wear OS: Tiles. On updated watches, you can swipe from the main watch face to access new screens with quickly-accessible information, like fitness goals and the current weather forecast. The company hasn't provided developers with a way to create their own Tiles, but legendary Wear OS developer Sterling Udell has now fixed that problem.
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