2019 / 2024 Wear OS updates

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Google will finally be bringing Android 11 features to Wear OS.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/08/whats-happening-in-wear-os-by-google.html
What’s happening in Wear OS by Google
13 August 2020
Posted by Karen Ng, Director of Product and Robert Simpson, Product Manager



This blog post is part of a weekly series for #11WeeksOfAndroid. For each week, we’re diving into a key area and this week we’re focusing on Android Beyond Phones. Today, we’ll share what’s happening with Wear OS by Google.

Wearable technologies help people lead healthier lives and connect with important, timely information. Today, we're sharing our areas of investment focusing on the fundamentals, bringing even more helpful experiences to more watches, and giving users more choice in a device ecosystem.

Focusing on fundamentals

Wearables are designed to instantly connect people with what's important throughout the day. That's why we're focused on fundamentals like performance and power.

In the next OTA update coming in the fall, we’re improving performance by making it faster to access your info and start your apps. We’re simplifying the pairing process to make onboarding easier. You’ll see improvements to our SysUI for more intuitive controls for managing different watch modes and workouts. And with CPU core improvements, you’ll also see up to a 20% speed improvement in startup time for your apps.

Finally, we continue to support advancements in technology to bring new functionality, such as LTE, and expand levels of performance with the new Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 4100 and 4100+ platforms. We are excited by the kinds of wearable experiences that can be enabled in the future.

More helpful experiences

Wearables showcase important information at a glance. Some of the most used features of Wear OS by Google are hands-free timers and tracking fitness metrics. In response to COVID-19, we built a handwashing timer that helps ensure users practice good hygiene.


And later this year, you’ll see a beautiful new weather experience for Wear OS by Google. It aims to be easier to read while on the go, with an hourly breakdown of today’s weather to help you plan ahead and provide information about important weather alerts in your area.


We’re always imagining new ways wearables can help people stay healthy, present and connected. Stay tuned for more in 2021!

More choice than ever

We’re excited to welcome new watch OEMs to the Wear OS by Google family -- Oppo, Suunto, and Xiaomi. This means new watches that fit your style and needs -- such as the Suunto 7 with rich sports capabilities, or the new LTE watches from Oppo that will keep you connected on the go.

Bringing the best of Android to wearables

We’re also working to bring the best of Android 11 to wearables. Many of the things you’ve seen in modern Android development -- from Android Studio, a great language with Kotlin, and Jetpack libraries to make common tasks easier will be part of what you can expect as a developer building wearable apps. We’ve just released a release candidate for androidx.wear 1.1.0, and would love feedback on things you’d like to see as you get started building a wearable app.

We can’t wait to see what helpful experiences you’ll build!
 
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https://support.google.com/wearos/thread/70069141?hl=en
A Performance Boost for Wear OS by Google!

We are pleased to announce that updates are coming your way. We strive to make Wear OS the best possible smartwatch operating system and we are excited to roll out these new features.

Even faster than before
With the new update, your Wear OS smartwatch will keep up even better with the fast pace of your life. We’ve improved Wear OS from top to bottom, making the app launch and boot time up to 20% faster. You’ll see changes to the device controls making it even easier to manage different watch modes and workouts.

Pair in a snap
Setting up your Wear OS smartwatch has never been speedier! We have made enhancements to the pairing process, meaning you will be able to use your new smartwatch more reliably.

Better battery life
You want your smartwatch to match the pace of your lifestyle. With Wear OS, you can now do more throughout the day and enjoy a longer battery life on your smartwatch.

These updates and more will be rolling out on Suunto 7 devices first, and to more manufacturers in the coming months. Please check in with your device manufacturer for more details regarding the rollout.
Details
Wear OS Software
 
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Strange. I have 2.17 still and when I touch “system update” it says I am up to date already
 
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Strange. I have 2.17 still and when I touch “system update” it says I am up to date already
This kind of Wear OS updates doesn’t arrive by the “system update” option. You should open the Play Store app, then go to “my apps”, and then look for available updates... anyway, not all watches are receiving the updates at same time. My black ceramic Modular 45 Kingsman received the 2.19 last Sunday, but my other Modular 45 (titanium case) is still on 2.17, still waiting for the 2.19 update... so it will arrive sooner or later 😁
 
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This kind of Wear OS updates doesn’t arrive by the “system update” option. You should open the Play Store app, then go to “my apps”, and then look for available updates... anyway, not all watches are receiving the updates at same time. My black ceramic Modular 45 Kingsman received the 2.19 last Sunday, but my other Modular 45 (titanium case) is still on 2.17, still waiting for the 2.19 update... so it will arrive sooner or later 😁

Still not showing for my Gen3 either.
I really wish they would solve the problem of only having one watch per phone. I miss my Kingsman. A friend actually asked me the other day where it was, that she wanted to get one for her husband and it was “the best looking smartwatch she had ever seen (still)”.
 
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I really wish they would solve the problem of only having one watch per phone. I miss my Kingsman. A friend actually asked me the other day where it was, that she wanted to get one for her husband and it was “the best looking smartwatch she had ever seen (still)”.

Yes, the Kingsman Special Edition is really nice, specially with the orange alcantara strap! 🥰

The problem of only having one watch per phone is only for iPhone users... I’m really angry with apple :whipped: for that. There’s no problem to pair more than one smartwatch to an Android phone

For sure I will not buy an apple watch because of this limitation, but maybe I could move to an Android phone in order to enjoy my two Connected Modular 45 tethered with my phone.

At the moment, when I wear my Kingsman Modular 45 is just a digital watch, because I can’t pair it with my iPhone X, which is already paired to my other Modular 45 🤔
 
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Yes, the Kingsman Special Edition is really nice, specially with the orange alcantara strap! 🥰

The problem of only having one watch per phone is only for iPhone users... I’m really angry with apple :whipped: for that. There’s no problem to pair more than one smartwatch to an Android phone

For sure I will not buy an apple watch because of this limitation, but maybe I could move to an Android phone in order to enjoy my two Connected Modular 45 tethered with my phone.

At the moment, when I wear my Kingsman Modular 45 is just a digital watch, because I can’t pair it with my iPhone X, which is already paired to my other Modular 45 🤔


True Albert.

I have my Connected Gen 3 Connected and also my Galaxy Watch 3 to my Samsung Galaxy S10 plus.

When I swap watches I have no need to change anything with Watches or Phone. Very handy.
 
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New update received today... from 2.17 to 2.19

22 days after my Modular 45 Kingsman received the 2.19 update, my other Modular 45 has moved today from 2.17 to 2.19, but directly to a newer version than the Kingsman (long number is 333555561 instead of Kingsman’s 329709612)... curious

 
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22 days after my Modular 45 Kingsman received the 2.19 update, my other Modular 45 has moved today from 2.17 to 2.19, but directly to a newer version than the Kingsman (long number is 333555561 instead of Kingsman’s 329709612)... curious

Finally got it too. With some delay but its here. I noticed a battery usage improvement.
 
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Hi all, my power button has stopped working on my connected module. I can still power up by connecting the charger, but does anyone know how to access the apps, most importantly the play store without the button working in wearos. Many thanks in advance
 
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Hi all, my power button has stopped working on my connected module. I can still power up by connecting the charger, but does anyone know how to access the apps, most importantly the play store without the button working in wearos. Many thanks in advance
Hi!
If you use the WatchMaker app, you can access the apps (usually by double tapping at the screen) by its app launcher. You can access Play Store and the rest of apps by this app launcher, without using the power button

 
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Hi!
If you use the WatchMaker app, you can access the apps (usually by double tapping at the screen) by its app launcher. You can access Play Store and the rest of apps by this app launcher, without using the power button

Many thanks. You’re a ⭐️ star
 
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Hi all, my power button has stopped working on my connected module. I can still power up by connecting the charger, but does anyone know how to access the apps, most importantly the play store without the button working in wearos. Many thanks in advance
I got this issue 2 years ago and my module was replaced in warranty. I assume waterdamage because i showered few times with the watch on and the main reasons i think was pressing the button in wet enviroment. After some weeks.. Did not power up at all and i sended it back. After 1 month i recieved a new module.
 
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I got this issue 2 years ago and my module was replaced in warranty. I assume waterdamage because i showered few times with the watch on and the main reasons i think was pressing the button in wet enviroment. After some weeks.. Did not power up at all and i sended it back. After 1 month i recieved a new module.
Hi, thanks for the message. The module is now out of warranty, but I can still use it 100% now after the tip from Albert-AMG. The only functions you cannot do with a broken button I guess now is a hard reset and wake up after putting it into cinema mode (if done by mistake , need to wait for battery to run out before it can be reused)
 
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Hi, thanks for the message. The module is now out of warranty, but I can still use it 100% now after the tip from Albert-AMG. The only functions you cannot do with a broken button I guess now is a hard reset and wake up after putting it into cinema mode (if done by mistake , need to wait for battery to run out before it can be reused)
U can hard reset it via menu but.. DONT. If you do hard reset you wont be able to exit first use tutorial. So DO NOT RESET!!!!!
 
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U can hard reset it via menu but.. DONT. If you do hard reset you wont be able to exit first use tutorial. So DO NOT RESET!!!!!
Does that mean I will not be able to pair it with a new phone in the future ?
 
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Does that mean I will not be able to pair it with a new phone in the future ?
You will be able to pair but... First thing about reset is first use tutorial. You wont be able to complete it because after swipe left right up down last thing it asks you to press home button and if yo do not complete this you will have on the screen that info. Press home button to complete. And.. Its annoying.