Wear OS gets smarter notifications, longer battery life with new update

Photo: OnePlus

At Mobile World Congress 2024, Google unveiled a significant update for Wear OS that focuses on improving performance and battery life, particularly in handling notifications.

Since 2018, Wear OS watches have utilized two processors: an application processor (AP) for demanding tasks and a low-power co-processor (MCU) for simpler functions like step counting. This update allows wearable manufacturers to delegate notification processing to the MCU, including reading, dismissing, and sending quick replies.

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Google launches Gmail app for Wear OS

9to5Google

Google has launched a Gmail app for Wear OS, which lets smartwatch users view and open their emails. The app was first announced at Google I/O in May. But it has now been spotted by 9to5Google on the Play Store. It enables users to access their email from their Pixel Watch. You can refresh your inbox, scroll through emails, and switch between accounts from the watch. The app also shows new email notifications on the watch face.

This is a significant upgrade for Wear OS users. Before, they could only get Gmail notifications and archive, reply, or delete emails. The app works on Wear OS 3 or Wear OS 4 and is available for download now.

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Google ends support for Keep, Maps on Wear OS 2

Google has unceremoniously ended support for Keep and Maps on Wear OS 2 smartwatches. That means, if you reset your older wearable, you won't get to access these apps again. The most recent version of Keep on the Google Pixel Watch is 5.22.452.00.97, and it only supports Android 11 or higher. (Wear OS 2 is based on Android 9, which falls behind the latest version of Keep.) Maps also seems to limit its requirements to the latest version of Wear OS. The change might seem premature as most Wear OS smartwatches are still on Wear OS 2, but it seems Google wants to move to Wear OS 3 as soon as possible.

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Bitmoji is coming to Wear OS

That Fitbit integration is slowly making its way to Wear OS. A cosmetic change coming to the smartwatch platform brings Bitmoji watch faces. This is a familiar feature for Fitbit users, but now you can send your Bitmoji avatar to supported apps. 

If you're interested in making one, you can do that on Snapchat, Bitmoji.com, or the Bitomoji mobile app. You need to install the Bitmoji watch face on your Wear OS device. It hasn't rolled out, but Google teases that it's coming soon.

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