Wear OS explained

Wear OS
Screenshot Size:250px
Developer:Google
Programmed In:C (core), C++,
Family:Unix-like
Working State:Current
Source Model:Closed-source[1] [2]
Latest Release Version:Wear OS 5.0 (based on Android 14)
Latest Release Date:[3]
Latest Preview Version:Wear OS 4.0 (based on Android 13)
Marketing Target:Smartwatches
Language:Language list as of Wear OS 3.0
Package Manager:APK via Google Play
Supported Platforms:32-bit ARM, MIPS, x86
Kernel Type:Monolithic (modified Linux kernel)
Userland:Bionic libc,[4] shell from NetBSD,[5] native core utilities with a few from NetBSD[6]
Ui:Graphical (Multi-touch)
License:Proprietary

Wear OS (also known simply as Wear[7] and formerly Android Wear[8]) is a version of Google's Android operating system designed for smartwatches and other wearables.[9] [10] [11] By pairing with mobile phones running Android version 6.0 "Marshmallow" or newer, or iOS version 10.0 or newer with limited support from Google's pairing application,[12] Wear OS integrates Google Assistant[13] technology and mobile notifications into a smartwatch form factor. Wear OS is closed-source, in contrast to the free and open-source Android.

Wear OS supports Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi,[14] 3G, and LTE connectivity, as well as a range of features and applications. Watch face styles include round, square and rectangular. Hardware manufacturing partners include Asus, Broadcom, Fossil, HTC, Intel, LG, MediaTek, Imagination Technologies, Motorola, New Balance, Xiaomi, Qualcomm, Samsung, Huawei, Skagen, Polar, TAG Heuer, Suunto, and Mobvoi.[15]

Canalys estimates that over 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches were shipped in 2014, the year of its launch.[16] By mid-October 2022, the Wear OS app had more than 50 million downloads. Wear OS was estimated to account for 17.3% of the smartwatch market in Q3 2021, behind Apple's 21.8%. Samsung accounts for the majority of Wear OS devices sold,[17] due to its switch back from Tizen to Wear OS in 2021.[18]

History and compatibility

The platform was announced on March 18, 2014, along with the release of a developer preview. At the same time, companies such as Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC and Asus were announced as partners.[19] On June 25, 2014, at Google I/O, the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch were launched, along with further details about Android Wear. The LG G Watch is the first Android Wear smartwatch to be released and shipped.Motorola's Moto 360 was released on September 5, 2014.

On December 10, 2014, an update started to roll out, adding new features including a watch face API and changed the software to be based on Android 5.0 "Lollipop".[20]

The LG G Watch[21] and Samsung Gear Live[22] started shipping in July 2014, while the Motorola Moto 360,[23] began shipping in September 2014. The next batch of Android Wear devices, which arrived at the end of 2014, included the Asus ZenWatch,[24] the Sony SmartWatch 3,[25] and the LG G Watch R.[26], the latest Wear OS devices are the LG Watch Urbane,[27] and the Huawei Watch.[28]

On August 31, 2015, Google launched a Wear OS app for IOS version 8.2 or newer, allowing limited support for receiving iOS notifications on smartwatches running Wear OS.[29], only the LG Watch Urbane and Huawei Watch are supported, but Google announced support for more smartwatch models.[12] [30]

In March 2018, Android Wear was rebranded as Wear OS. It was stated that the renaming "better reflects our technology, vision, and most important of all — the people who wear our watches."[31] In September 2018, Google announced Wear OS 2.0, which made the personalized Google feed (replacing Google Now) and new fitness tracking platform Google Fit accessible from the watch face, and redesigned the notification area to use a scrolling pane rather than pages, and support automatically generated smart replies (as on Android Pie).[32] In November 2018, the underlying platform of Wear OS was upgraded to a version of Android Pie.[33]

In January 2021, Google completed its acquisition of wearables manufacturer Fitbit; upon its announcement of the purchase in November 2019, Google's head of hardware Rick Osterloh stated that it would be "an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market."[34] [35]

In May 2021 at Google I/O, Google announced a major update to the platform, internally known as Wear OS 3.0. It incorporates a new visual design inspired by Android 12, and Fitbit exercise tracking features. Google also announced a partnership with Samsung Electronics, who is collaborating with Google to unify its Tizen-based smartwatch platform with Wear OS, and has committed to using Wear OS on its future smartwatch products. The underlying codebase was also upgraded to Android 11.[36] [37] Wear OS 3.0 will be available to Wear OS devices running Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 system on chip, and will be an opt-in upgrade requiring a factory reset to install.[38]

Features

Wear OS can synchronize notifications from a paired device, and supports voice control with the "OK Google" hotword along with gesture-based input.[39] Wear OS integrates with Google services such as the Google Assistant and Google Mobile Services (including Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Wallet), as well as third-party watch apps from Play Store.[40] [41] From the watch face, the user can swipe up to access their notifications, down to access a quick settings panel, from the left to view their personalized Google feed, and the right to view Google Fit. Via Google Fit and similar applications, Wear OS supports ride and run tracking, and devices containing heart rate sensors can perform a reading on-demand, or at intervals throughout the day.[42] The watch can control media being played on streamed on paired devices.

Version history

Android Wear

Android Wear versionAndroid OS versionRelease dateNew featuresNotes
4.4W14.4 KitKatJune 2014
  • Initial release
Announced at Google I/O 2014
4.4W24.4 KitKatOctober 2014
  • Offline music playback over Bluetooth[43]
  • Watch GPS support (for watches with built-in GPS)[44]
  • New music control UI[45]
1.0 (5.0.1W)[46] 5.0.1 LollipopDecember 2014
  • Official watch face API
  • Sunlight mode (brightness boost)
  • Theater mode
  • Settings shade from top
  • Battery stats in Android Wear app
  • Recently used actions added to the top in drawer
  • Ability to undo dismissed notification
This version changed the numbering scheme to be independent from the underlying Android OS version.
1.1 (5.1.1W1)[47] 5.1.1 LollipopMay 2015
  • Wi-Fi support (for watches with built-in Wi-Fi)
  • Drawable Emojis (as response to messages)
  • Heads up notifications
  • Pattern lock screen
  • Ability to change font size
  • Add swipe left from watch face to access app drawer
  • Always on apps
  • More wrist gestures
1.3 (5.1.1W2)[48] 5.1.1 LollipopAugust 2015
  • Interactive watch faces
  • Google Translate for Wear
1.4 (6.0.1W1)[49] 6.0.1 MarshmallowFebruary 2016
  • More wrist gestures
  • Speaker support for watches with built-in speaker
  • Send voice messages directly from the watch
1.5 (6.0.1W2)[50] 6.0.1 MarshmallowJune 2016
  • Brought back restart watch option
  • Added Android security patch level to About screen
2.0 (7.1.1W1)[51] 7.1.1 NougatFeb 2017[52]
  • Revamped UI with Material Design, darker colors, and a more circular user interface for round watches.
  • Standalone apps with Google Play Store on watch
  • Complications for watch faces
  • Built-in keyboard
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Stackable notifications
  • Smarter notifications
  • Cellular Support

[53]

2.6 (7.1.1W2)[54] 7.1.1 NougatNov 2017
  • Text size of notifications adapts to message length
  • New download progress indicator
  • New complication for launching previously used app
2.6 (7.1.1W3, 8.0.0 W1)[55] 8.0 OreoDec 2017Brings Android 8.0 Oreo features to smartwatches
  • Notification vibration strength setting
  • Touch lock option for wet conditions
  • Support for 7 new countries/languages
  • Notification Channels
  • Battery saving background limits
2.7 (7.1.1W4, 8.0.0 W2)[56] 8.0 OreoDec 2017
  • Improved typefaces and font weights
  • Complications now work with Talkback
  • Text size of notifications adapts to message length
  • Swipe down in Quick Settings to see connection type (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile)
  • Download progress notifications
  • Recent App complication
  • Better prevention of accidental side-swipe and long-press gestures
2.8 (7.1.1W5, 8.0.0W3)[57] 8.0 OreoJan 2018
  • Improved notification glanceability with a new layout which shows more of the user's message at a glance
  • Darker background for better readability and less battery usage
2.9 (7.1.1W6, 8.0.0W4)[58] 8.0 OreoFeb 2018
  • New notification preview complication which allows you to preview messages
  • Improved glanceability in notification cards with longer titles

Wear OS

Wear OS versionAndroid OS versionsRelease dateNew featuresNotes
1.0[59] Android 8 OreoMarch 2018
  • Rebranding to Wear OS[60]
  • Expand Google Pay Support in more countries
Version number reset to "1.0".Wear OS App version: 2.10[61]
1.4Android 8 OreoJuly 2018
  • Faster Google Pay startup
  • More glanceable design for events and appointments
  • Time zone sync bug fix[62]
Wear OS App version: 2.14[63]
2.0Android 8 OreoSeptember 2018
  • Swipe actions for faster access to Google Assistant and Google Fit[64]
  • Google Assistant feed with proactive personalized information
  • New design for quick toggles and notifications stream
  • New music controls with physical button support
  • Bolder font in the app launcher
Wear OS App version: 2.18
2.2Android 9 Pie H MR1November 2018New features for System version H MR1:
  • Brings Android 9.0 Pie features to smartwatches
  • Enables Battery Saver mode to only display the time once the battery falls below 10%
  • Improves restoring the state of previously used apps
  • Watches now enter a deep sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity
  • Holding down the power button now provides options for shutting down or restarting the watch
Wear OS App version: 2.20
2.6Android 9 Pie H MR1May 2019
  • Tiles functionality when swiping left, providing access to next calendar events, weather forecast, heart rate, news headlines and timer functionality[65]
Wear OS App version: 2.24
2.7Android 9 Pie H MR1June 2019
  • Bug fixes
Wear OS App version: 2.25
2.9Android 9 H MR1July 2019
  • Notifications
Wear OS App version: 2.26
2.17Android 9 Pie H MR1April 2020
  • New 'Wash hands' timer regarding coronavirus
  • New UI and Tiles for Google Fit
Wear OS App Version: 2.35
2.23Android 9 Pie H MR2December 2020Changes in System H MR2:[66] [67]
  • CPU core improvements: app launch and boot time up to 20% faster
  • SysUI improvements: more intuitive controls for managing different watch modes and workouts
  • Increased performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 and 4100+ platforms
  • Improved LTE support
  • Simplified pairing process
  • Better battery life
  • Support for an increased numbers of Tiles
  • New Weather Tile
  • Ability to turn off Long Press Power Button to activate Google Assistant
  • Ability to set the screen off time limit
  • New screen brightness layout
  • YouTube Music App
  • Google Fit: Workouts & Breathe Tiles + New home screen & New Sleep features
  • Social share and challenge
Wear OS App version: 2.41
3.0Android 11August 2021Brings Android 11 features to smartwatches
  • New UI design

Health features to Google Fit:

  • Stress management
  • Compatible ECG app
  • Skin temperature
  • SpO2 levels
  • Sleep tracking
  • Wake up

Hardware improvements:

  • Long battery life with Bluetooth improvements (up to a week)

Social integration:

  • Social challenges
Incompatible with Wear OS App.
OEM companion app required[68]
3.2Android 11February 2022
  • App drawer and notification tray icons tweaked[69]
3.5Android 11October 2022

Removed:

  • Compatibility with iPhones
4.0Android 13[70] July 2023
  • Material You
  • Animated Tiles
  • New XML watch face format
  • Improved battery life
  • Native backups
  • App permission syncing with connected phone
  • More granular permission handling for health data
  • Improved golf tracking
5.0Android 1419 July 2024

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zhu . Xiao . Guo . Yihua Ethan . Nikravesh . Ashkan . Qian . Feng . Mao . Z. Morley. Z. Morley Mao . Understanding the Networking Performance of Wear OS . Abstracts of the 2019 SIGMETRICS/Performance Joint International Conference on Measurement and Modeling of Computer Systems . . 24 December 2023 . 10.1145/3309697.3331475 . free . 20 June 2019 . 3:2 . The proprietary nature of Wear OS makes it even harder to gain deep visibility into the wearable networking stack. Note that unlike Android for handheld devices, Wear OS is not open-source..
  2. Web site: Yi . Edgardo Barsallo . Zhang . Heng . Maji . Amiya K. . Xu . Kefan . Bagchi . Saurabh . Vulcan: lessons on reliability of wearables through state-aware fuzzing . Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications, and Services . . . 24 December 2023 . 391–403 . 10.1145/3386901.3388916 . 15 June 2020 . Since Wear OS is closed source, we cannot modify the framework so we implement a Proof-Of-Concept (POC) solution. .
  3. Web site: Full OTA Images for Google Pixel Watch Devices . developers.google.com . 29 October 2023.
  4. Web site: libc – platform/bionic – Git at Google . Android.googlesource.com . 2014-03-20.
  5. Web site: android / platform/system/core / master / . / sh . https://web.archive.org/web/20130922083203/https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/%2B/master/sh/ . 2013-09-22 . 2014-08-24 . android.googlesource.com . dead .
  6. Web site: toolbox – platform/system/core – Git at Google . Android.googlesource.com . 2014-03-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140209072904/https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/%2B/master/toolbox/ . 2014-02-09 .
  7. Web site: Amadeo. Ron. 2021-05-18. Google, Samsung, and Fitbit team up to save Wear OS. 2021-05-19. Ars Technica. en-us.
  8. Web site: Google just changed the name of Android Wear to Wear OS. 15 March 2018 .
  9. Web site: Google just changed the name of Android Wear to Wear OS. 15 March 2018. The Verge.
  10. Web site: Android Wear—Android Developers. android.com. 1 September 2015.
  11. Web site: Google reveals Android Wear, an operating system for smartwatches. Vox Media. The Verge. 18 March 2014.
  12. Web site: Android Wear for iOS gives iPhone owners more smartwatch options. Al Sacco. 31 August 2015. CIO. 1 September 2015. 23 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160823204815/http://www.cio.com/article/2978194/smartwatches/android-wear-for-ios-gives-iphone-owners-more-smartwatch-options.html. dead.
  13. Web site: OK Google, tell me about Android Wear. 26 June 2014. CompareSmartWatches .
  14. Web site: Android Wear gets cellular support, still needs to be paired with a phone. Ars Technica. 12 November 2015. 2015-12-22.
  15. Web site: Android Wear. 3 March 2015. Android Developers.
  16. https://www.engadget.com/2015/02/11/android-wear-2014-shipments/ Just 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches shipped last year
  17. Web site: Global Smartwatch Market Rebounds; Huawei and Fire-Boltt Hit New Peaks . Counterpoint . 10 April 2024 . 30 November 2023.
  18. Web site: Amadeo . Ron . Wear OS shoots up the market-share charts, now in striking distance of Apple . Ars Technica . en-us . 23 November 2021.
  19. Web site: Motorola, LG announce upcoming Android Wear smartwatches. Vox Media. The Verge. 18 March 2014.
  20. Web site: Android Wear gets Lollipop update, adds watch face API, new features. Amadeo. Ron. 10 December 2015. 17 January 2015. Conde Nast. Ars Technica.
  21. Web site: 2014-03-18. LG introduces G Watch, first smartwatch running on Android Wear. 2014-06-26. Androidos.in.
  22. Web site: Jeffries. Adrianne. This is the Gear Live, Samsung's $199 Android Wear smartwatch. 25 June 2014. 2014-06-26. The Verge.
  23. Web site: 2014-03-18. Moto 360: It's Time.—The Official Motorola Blog. 2014-06-26. Motorola-blog.blogspot.in.
  24. Web site: Phones – ASUS ZenWatch (WI500Q)—ASUS. Asus.com. 2014-09-05. 2015-03-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20150316225237/http://www.asus.com/Phones/ASUS_ZenWatch_WI500Q/. dead.
  25. Web site: SmartWatch 3 SWR50. Sony Smartphones (Global UK English).
  26. Web site: LG Newsroom. lgnewsroom.com. 2014-09-05. 2015-05-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20150522134346/http://www.lgnewsroom.com/newsroom/contents/64664. dead.
  27. Web site: LG Newsroom. lgnewsroom.com. 2015-03-02. 2015-05-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20150507050534/http://www.lgnewsroom.com/newsroom/contents/65168. dead.
  28. Web site: Huawei Makes the Huawei Watch Official, Other Wearables and a 7-Inch Phone Too. Kellex. 1 March 2015. 3 March 2015. DRD Life Inc.. Droid Life.
  29. Web site: Android Wear on iOS: A hobbled, Google-centric smartwatch experience. Ars Technica. 4 September 2015. 2015-12-22.
  30. Web site: SmartWatchCrunch. smartwatchcrunch.com. 2015-09-05. 2015-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083837/http://www.smartwatchcrunch.com/huawei-watch-is-here-the-1st-android-smartwatch-compatible-with-iphone/. dead.
  31. Web site: Welch. Chris. 2018-03-15. Google just changed the name of Android Wear to Wear OS. 2021-07-24. The Verge. en.
  32. Web site: Amadeo. Ron. 2018-09-28. Review: Google's Wear OS 2.0 can't fix its obsolete smartwatch hardware. 2021-07-24. Ars Technica. en-us.
  33. Web site: 2018-11-18. The Wear OS H update brings Android Pie to smartwatches. 2021-07-24. xda-developers. en-US.
  34. Web site: Bursztynsky. Jessica. January 14, 2021. Google closes its Fitbit acquisition. January 14, 2021. CNBC.
  35. Web site: Porter. Jon. 2021-01-14. Google completes purchase of Fitbit. 2021-01-15. The Verge. en.
  36. Web site: 2021-05-19. The biggest Wear OS update in years has arrived: Here's what it looks like. 2021-07-24. xda-developers. en-US.
  37. Web site: Welch. Chris. 2021-05-18. Google and Samsung are merging Wear OS and Tizen. 2021-05-19. The Verge. en.
  38. Web site: Amadeo. Ron. 2021-07-23. Google's Wear OS 3 update plans will leave most existing devices behind. 2021-07-24. Ars Technica. en-us.
  39. Web site: Paul Lamkin and Hugh Langley. September 11, 2017. Android Wear tips and tricks: The ultimate guide. December 21, 2019. Wareable.com.
  40. Web site: 2019-10-01. Wear OS: Your complete guide to Google's smartwatch OS. 2021-07-24. Pocket-lint. en-gb.
  41. Web site: Android Wear software review: Smartwatch software that doesn't suck. 2015-12-22. Ars Technica. July 2014.
  42. Web site: Google Fit to curate steps, calories, heart rate, other biometric data. 2015-12-22. Ars Technica. 13 June 2014.
  43. Web site: [Android Wear 4.4W2 Feature Spotlight] This Is Offline Music Playback Over Bluetooth In Android Wear Using Play Music]. 2014-10-21. Android Police. 2016-12-20.
  44. Web site: GPS on Android Wear Devices. android-developers.googleblog.com. 2016-12-20.
  45. Web site: [Android Wear 4.4W2 Feature Spotlight] Here Is The New Music Control UI For Wear, Now Including Volume Buttons]. 2014-10-21. Android Police. 2016-12-20.
  46. News: Android Wear's massive update: Official watch face API, new display modes, app features and more!. 2014-12-10. Android Central. 2016-12-20.
  47. Web site: Google Groups. productforums.google.com. 2016-12-20.
  48. Web site: Android Wear: Stay connected with interactive watch faces.
  49. Web site: Android Wear: Designed for your wrist. 4 February 2016.
  50. Web site: Android Wear 1.5 rolling out to the Gear Live with some minor changes [Update: more watches]]. Li. Abner. 2016-06-06. 9to5Google. 2016-12-20.
  51. Web site: Google announces Android Wear 2.0 with standalone app support and tiny keyboard. Statt. Nick. 2016-05-18. The Verge. 2016-05-18.
  52. Web site: Android Wear 2.0: Make the most of every minute. 8 February 2017.
  53. Web site: Android Wear 2.0 is a major overhaul of Google's smartwatch OS. Ars Technica. 18 May 2016. 2016-05-18.
  54. Web site: Android Wear v2.6 includes a Recent app complication, network status indicators, download progress card, and more [APK Download]]. 2017-11-21. Android Police. 2017-12-04.
  55. Web site: Oreo for Android Wear is starting to roll out today. 2017-12-07. The Verge.
  56. Web site: Android Wear 2.7 update.
  57. Web site: Android Wear 2.8 update.
  58. Web site: Android Wear 2.9 update.
  59. Web site: Wear OS on TW-E won't update beyond 1.2—Wear OS by Google Help. support.google.com. en. 2018-08-21.
  60. News: Android Wear, it's time for a new name. 2018-03-15. Google. 2018-03-25. en.
  61. Web site: Introducing Wear OS by Google - Wear OS by Google Help. support.google.com. en. 2018-03-25.
  62. News: Wear OS update adds quicker Google Pay, time zone bug fix, and more. 2018-07-25. Android Police. 2018-08-21. en-US.
  63. News: Wear OS by Google Smartwatch (was Android Wear) 2.14.0.204045974.gms APK Download by Google LLC—APKMirror. APKMirror. 2018-08-21. en-US.
  64. News: Google breathes new life into Wear OS smartwatches with today's update. The Verge. 2018-11-01.
  65. Web site: Swipe for more: Tiles on Wear OS by Google. May 2019.
  66. Web site: A Performance Boost for Wear OS by Google! - Wear OS by Google Community. 2020-12-01. support.google.com.
  67. Web site: 2020-09-10. Google rolls out Wear OS H-MR2 with better performance and battery life. 2020-12-01. xda-developers. en-US.
  68. Web site: Set up your watch . 26 October 2022.
  69. Web site: Schoon . Ben . Google releases latest Wear OS 3.2 developer preview with some very minor tweaks . . 2023-05-11 . en-US . 2022-02-22.
  70. Web site: Fischer . Denny . Neues Wear OS 4 basiert auf Android 13: Erste Neuerungen bekannt . Smartdroid . 2023-05-11 . de . 2022-02-10.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wear OS".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.