Put on OS Weekly
My new weekly column focuses on the state of Put on OS, from new developments and updates to the most recent apps and options we need to spotlight.
Put on OS 5 is a delicate however important enchancment for Put on OS watches throughout manufacturers, with the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 showcasing its strengths. However the longer the replace takes to reach on last-gen watches, the extra questions it raises in regards to the OS’ future.
Google first added Put on OS 5 to the Pixel Watch 2 and 1 on September 27 earlier than pausing the rollout after studies of customers’ watches crashing, with “clean screens” forcing manufacturing unit resets. The Put on OS crew promised a resumed rollout “later this 12 months,” including they’d “share further updates with our neighborhood as they turn out to be accessible.”
It has been practically six weeks since then, with no updates on when “later” will arrive; Samsung added Put on OS 5 to the Galaxy Watch 6 within the interim, beating the inventory Put on OS devs to the punch, nevertheless it, too, hasn’t up to date its older Galaxy Watches since spring.
Final week, I contacted a Put on OS crew member for brand spanking new data on the foundation of the issue and the delay in fixing it. In response, they linked to the unique September assist web page, saying I would “discover what [I] want” there. I did not, clearly.
Since Google would not clarify the delay, I speculated with my Android Central coworkers. We’re guessing the Put on OS devs in all probability have not replicated the configuration situation inflicting these clean screens, so that they’re caught ready to keep away from a repeat of crashing watches. It isn’t that the older watches cannot run Put on OS 5, particularly for the reason that Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 largely share the identical tech.
In contrast to Samsung, which pushed out eight One UI 6 Watch betas on the Galaxy Watch 6 earlier than the steady construct arrived for these in this system, Google would not provide a Put on OS beta program prefer it does with the cellular Android OS. Maybe this incident will persuade Google that it is value exploring for Put on OS 6 to attempt to catch these points beforehand and keep away from the QA headache of a rolled-back replace.
Android 15 took longer than common to reach this 12 months, too, however telephones have the headroom to implement a ton of recent options, whereas smartwatches use outdated Arm Cortex cores and accept a couple of software program tweaks per 12 months.
With Put on OS 5, you get battery optimization, higher content material reflow optimized to suit totally different display sizes, new “flavors” and objectives for the Watch Face Format, and some new options for runners. Particular to the Pixel Watch, you will see a Nest Cam view, Google TV controls, a recorder app, and a cam viewfinder mode; older Galaxy Watches will add Power Scores, a brand new Fast Panel, common gestures, and different tweaks.
I am not saying Put on OS 3.5 and Put on OS 4 had been unimportant updates, however their adjustments positively felt extra pedestrian. Put on OS 5 helped the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 have stronger-than-expected battery life in comparison with the final technology whereas additionally including some juicy exclusives.
Possibly that is a partial rationalization for why prospects are having to attend months later than common for this new replace (the variety of substantial adjustments). And that raises its personal questions.
Put on OS already has a messy replace historical past
Since Google and Samsung teamed up on Put on OS updates in mid-2021, it is turn out to be clear that any OEMs moreover these two would battle to maintain up.
Put on OS 3 arrived in 2021, nevertheless it took Fossil till late 2022 so as to add it, after which one other 12 months for Put on OS 3.5 earlier than abandoning the platform solely. Mobvoi took till December 2023 to add Put on OS 3, then launched Put on OS 4 in September; its latest watches nonetheless do not have Google Assistant, despite the fact that we assumed the Put on OS 4 replace would make it accessible. Who is aware of when (or if) they will get Put on OS 5!
The most recent Put on OS companions are OnePlus and Xiaomi. We have but to check the Xiaomi Watch 2 or Watch 2 Professional, however we all know they solely simply obtained Put on OS 4 in September 2024, a 12 months behind; as for the OnePlus Watch 2, it is slated to obtain Put on OS 5 and 6, however we do not know when.
We hope OnePlus followers will not have to attend lengthy, however that appears to be the monitor document for everybody moreover Google and Samsung for comparatively minor changelogs. Now that Google itself is struggling to replace its watches speedily, who is aware of what meaning for its companions making an attempt so as to add Put on OS 5. Will they want a 12 months or extra?
Whether or not Put on OS updates get faster (or longer) will rely on {hardware}
Google guarantees its Pixel Watches will get three Put on OS updates, whereas Samsung guarantees 4 model updates. In comparison with the seven or eight years of updates flagship telephones get nowadays, Android watches get quick shrift. Whether or not that adjustments will rely loads on future Put on OS {hardware}.
I lately wrote about Google’s leaked Pixel Watch chip plans and why it could play it protected with a lesser model of Samsung’s Exynos W1000 with Arm cores somewhat than go all on in open-source RISC-V or attempt a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 with Oryon cores.
If Google chooses Exynos-inspired Tensor {hardware}, it will be as a result of Arm cores preserve watches priced low, permit Google to regulate its software program roadmap, and make it simpler for third events to stay with the identical Put on OS coding that they are acquainted with. On the identical time, Tensor optimization would preserve the established order, with a restrict on what Put on OS watches can do and different OEMs scrambling to remain a 12 months behind Google and Samsung.
After listening to Qualcomm VP of Wearables Dino Bekis discuss future Put on OS watches with a purpose of week-long battery life, extra AI and compute functionality, and a platform with sufficient “headroom” to “scale for a number of years,” I am going to admit that it made me hope for extra. However that might include its personal replace issues.
On the plus aspect, an optimized RISC-V chip or extra highly effective Snapdragon chip might make future Put on OS updates extra substantive, depart room for future updates past three years, and provides OEMs extra headroom to implement their very own watch software program options as an alternative of getting to remain in lesser lockstep behind Google.
As a destructive, extra highly effective smartwatch chips might make watches dearer and make it a lot tougher to optimize future Put on OS updates for present {hardware} — particularly if Google chooses the RISC-V route.
I do not know what’s going to occur with future Put on OS watch {hardware}, and if it will make this 12 months’s messy replace a factor of the previous or a typical prevalence. What I do know is that firms ought to have higher transparency round delays and glitches like this.
It has been three months for the reason that August 2024 Put on OS replace, and Pixel Watch 1 and a couple of customers being saved in radio silence after a glitchy annual replace will keep in mind this delay when selecting their subsequent watch, whether or not it is the wonderful Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4, or a unique model solely.
After all, Samsung (the obvious various) has been lax with regards to holding its older watches up to date each month. It makes me surprise why Put on OS watches are so tough to replace, each for small and main updates!
Google could not need headlines saying what went mistaken, however not explaining the delay is not any higher. Put on OS updates are already sufficient of a messy Wild West, and even if you cannot present a timeline, you’ll be able to at the very least clarify in additional element what went mistaken.
