Android P / Next Wear OS News

Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
Google announced a new developer preview for Wear OS, that corresponds to "Android P".

For now, this preview is only available to the Huawei Watch 2 and Huawei Watch 2 Classic.

In this Android P Wear OS preview, the update is supposed to introduce “Android P platform features to wearables.” Here are a few of the details that Google provided:
  • Dark UI system theme: This actually showed up in a recent update, but it becomes the default in Android P. Google hopes this should “improve the glanceability for wear apps.”
  • Limited background activity: Apps no longer run in the background unless your watch is on a charger. The only exception is watch faces and complications that are currently selected. Google says that Wear OS is going “further with Android’s app standby feature than some other form factors.” I guess we’ll see how that plays with your app-loaded watches.
  • Turning off radios when off body: When you take your watch off, Wear OS will now try to turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular radios to improve power consumption and extend battery life.
  • WiFi off when Bluetooth is disconnected: When disconnected from Bluetooth, your watch will no longer automatically switch and connect to WiFi. Like the previous bullet, this is for power consumption improvement.

Wear OS Preview 1: Release Notes

Via Android Developers & DroidLife
 
kwilcox
Posts
256
Likes
129
Interesting stuff in the Release Notes. As a past Android developer who has built a custom ROM (Galaxy Nexus) I was quite surprised to learn that our watches may have unlockable bootloaders! The developer release is flashed to the watch so it includes a new bootloader, kernel, and UI. Looks like I'll be loading up my dev environment again which is sitting on a linux VM somewhere.

For those of you who are interested in side loading apps, it appears that the default way to use adb works fine if you connect the watch to your computer using the USB cable on the charging puck. No need to enable WiFi.

edit: forgot to note that you need to install the adb USB driver to use it this way. Here's a good thread over at XDA Developers for an installer that does pretty much everything for you:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2588979
Edited:
 
kwilcox
Posts
256
Likes
129
Doesn’t seem plausable. According to the release notes, this update needs to be installed using adb after first unlocking the boortloader
 
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
kwilcox kwilcox
Doesn’t seem plausable. According to the release notes, this update needs to be installed using adb after first unlocking the boortloader
You are absolutely correct. When I wrote my comment, I thought they were talking about the Wear OS update. I have amended my post above to reflect this. Thanks!
 
Z
Posts
22
Likes
1
Hubert Hubert
You are absolutely correct. When I wrote my comment, I thought they were talking about the Wear OS update. I have jamended my post above to reflect this. Thanks!

It is this one. Look at the version. It says wear OS 1.0
Also has all the updates mentioned. Background is dark.
If I take it off my hand after 5 minutes goes into airplane mode Disconnects from everything including Bluetooth
No idea how I got it
 
DSC_0098.JPG
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
Z ZeuGantic
It is this one. Look at the version. It says wear OS 1.0
Also has all the updates mentioned. Background is dark.
If I take it off my hand after 5 minutes goes into airplane mode Disconnects from everything including Bluetooth
No idea how I got it
I just upgraded my watch. I have the same version as you. This is not "Android P preview". This is just the Wear OS update that everyone else is getting. If you don't believe me, notice that the Android OS is still 8.0.0 at the bottom of the versions.
upload_2018-3-31_1-20-57.png
 
Z
Posts
22
Likes
1
Yea, you are 100% correct. i guess it was just an update to the current version.
 
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
Z ZeuGantic
Yea, you are 100% correct. i guess it was just an update to the current version.
Yes. 😀
 
T
Posts
55
Likes
22
Hubert Hubert
WiFi off when Bluetooth is disconnected: When disconnected from Bluetooth, your watch will no longer automatically switch and connect to WiFi. Like the previous bullet, this is for power consumption improvement.
Am I reading this correct? What would be the point of Wifi then? Like usually, I use wifi if i walk away from my phone - watch switches to and uses wifi...but now that's not a thing anymore? So when WILL wifi be used? (as it is, wifi wasn't used too often, even when downloading massive updates it'd switch to bluetooth UNLESS BT was turned off/disconnected).

Also, I'm a bit wary of the "turn off all radio's when off the wrist" thing, not that I need the watch to get notifications when it's NOT on me, but I don't trust it to turn on fast enough when I put it back on AND recieve all the pending notifications. I feel like this will end with a situation where ALL notifications PRIOR to me putting the watch back on will not show up and there'll be a slight delay while the radios turn on and connect to the phone (IME the bluetooth is ok once it's connected, a lot of time's i have issues WHEN it's just turned on and connecting for the first time).

I swear, I'm one of those people who always excitedly downloads updates but for wearOS/android wear it's starting to become like windows - I DREAD the "you have an update" notification, and it's unskippable too, it'll just STAY THERE until you click download.
 
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
T TjPhysicist
Am I reading this correct? What would be the point of Wifi then? Like usually, I use wifi if i walk away from my phone - watch switches to and uses wifi...but now that's not a thing anymore? So when WILL wifi be used? (as it is, wifi wasn't used too often, even when downloading massive updates it'd switch to bluetooth UNLESS BT was turned off/disconnected).

Also, I'm a bit wary of the "turn off all radio's when off the wrist" thing, not that I need the watch to get notifications when it's NOT on me, but I don't trust it to turn on fast enough when I put it back on AND recieve all the pending notifications. I feel like this will end with a situation where ALL notifications PRIOR to me putting the watch back on will not show up and there'll be a slight delay while the radios turn on and connect to the phone (IME the bluetooth is ok once it's connected, a lot of time's i have issues WHEN it's just turned on and connecting for the first time).

I swear, I'm one of those people who always excitedly downloads updates but for wearOS/android wear it's starting to become like windows - I DREAD the "you have an update" notification, and it's unskippable too, it'll just STAY THERE until you click download.
Google is still making lots of changes. Just this week they announced they've had to reverse some of the battery optimization changes they had made, as they were causing negative effects on some of the alarm notifications.

I'd say don't worry about it, unless you are a developer, or become affected first hand.
 
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
I was about to post this too. Let's see how the update goes. Merging to existing thread.
 
Feanor
Posts
216
Likes
200
TGHC45 TGHC45
News about Wear Os..

Click the link to find out more ..

https://www.engadget.com/amp/2018/0...sign-2018-hands-on/?__twitter_impression=true
Let's hope that Connected 45 and 41 will get the update. I also hope that TAG will introduce a new watch (or even better a new module compatible to the current modular system), because from a hardware point of view the Connected get a bit long in the tooth; health and fitness features are getting more and more prominent and it's time TAG includes a heart rate monitor, exactly like Fossil group, who are releasing currently updates to their watches with heart rate monitors, even for their non-sporty watches.
 
TGHC45
Posts
259
Likes
81
Feanor Feanor
Let's hope that Connected 45 and 41 will get the update. I also hope that TAG will introduce a new watch (or even better a new module compatible to the current modular system), because from a hardware point of view the Connected get a bit long in the tooth; health and fitness features are getting more and more prominent and it's time TAG includes a heart rate monitor, exactly like Fossil group, who are releasing currently updates to their watches with heart rate monitors, even for their non-sporty watches.

I would rather have more watch faces than a heart rate monitor ..
 
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
TGHC45 TGHC45
I would rather have more watch faces than a heart rate monitor ..
I'd rather prefer a built-in speaker and LTE for calls than a heart rate monitor.
 
Hubert
Posts
10,120
Likes
11,179
Here's the link to Google's official post:
https://blog.google/products/wear-os/wear-os-google-health-and-help-are-just-swipe-away/
=======================================
Wear OS by Google: Health and help are just a swipe away
By: Dennis Troper Director of Product Management, Wear OS by Google
Published: Aug 29, 2018

As you go about your busy day, every minute matters. We’re evolving the design of Wear OS by Google to help you get the most out of your time—providing quicker access to your information and notifications, more proactive help from the Google Assistant, and smarter health coaching—all with a swipe of your finger.

fly-through.gif
Easier access to notifications and more
We’re making it easier to browse, dismiss or take action on your notifications with the new notification stream. Simply swipe up to see all your notifications at once. See an important message? Just tap to select a built-in smart reply without even leaving your stream. Swipe down on your watch to get quicker access to handy features and shortcuts like Google Pay or ‘Find my phone’.

NOTIFICATIONS-MK.gif
More proactive help from your Google Assistant
With the new design, you can now receive proactive and personalized help from your Google Assistant. Let’s say you’re headed to the airport—swipe right on your watch to see your flight status or hotel reservation. Tap on smart suggestions like the weather at your destination or find a restaurant near your hotel. When you’re getting ready for the day, your Google Assistant will help you stay ahead by reminding you to bring an umbrella, showing you your day’s meetings, or warning you if there is a delay on your commute. The Google Assistant will also suggest features you may not have tried yet and will become more helpful over time as it gets to know you and as we add new features.

JOVI-TIC.gif
Smarter health coaching
Last week, we announced that Google Fit is making it easier to be healthy with two new activity goals: Heart Points and Move Minutes. We worked with the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization to design these goals based on their physical activity recommendations which are shown to have health benefits for your heart and mind. Now, you can simply swipe left to start a workout or see how you are tracking toward your goals.

Fit-Tile-Workout.gif
We’ll begin rolling out these new features over the next month, so look out for updates on your Wear OS by Google smartwatch. Some features may vary by phone OS, watch or country.
 
TGHC45
Posts
259
Likes
81
Hubert Hubert
I'd rather prefer a built-in speaker and LTE for calls than a heart rate monitor.

Before I bought my THC45 I looked at many smart watches and didn't find anything beautiful as Tag Heuer .. I was going to buy Mont blanc Summit which have heart monitor and cheaper than THC45 but I always was taken back to TH .. I am glad I bought Tag!
 
126 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

D

Problem adding google account to E4 connected with wear os 3

David Walton TAG Heuer Connected Discussion
D
David Walton
Posts
1
Views
927
R

Google Pay with iPhone and E4 Wear OS 3

Rene van Kraaij TAG Heuer Connected Discussion
Anthony.
Anthony.
Posts
3
Views
1K
Feanor

TAG Heuer Connected Wear OS update future

Feanor TAG Heuer Connected Discussion
Hubert
Hubert
Posts
50
Views
12K
Hubert

'Android Wear' is now "Wear OS by Google"

Hubert TAG Heuer Connected Discussion
kwilcox
kwilcox
Posts
54
Views
8K
Hubert

Pixel phones can use Wear OS smartwatches as a camera viewfinder

Hubert TAG Heuer Connected Discussion
Hubert
Hubert
Posts
2
Views
1K
kwilcox

Google on the future of Wear OS

kwilcox TAG Heuer Connected Discussion
Hubert
Hubert
Posts
2
Views
1K