Wearables
WhatsApp for Samsung Galaxy Watch is official, sign up now!
WhatsApp begins testing Wear OS-supported app, bringing preview to select devices including Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Thanks to the Wear OS-based One UI Watch operating system, Samsung smartwatches launched after Watch 4 rocking with the best third-party apps.
Get WhatsApp on Samsung Galaxy Watch
Starting today, WhatsApp has opened the Beta testing activity for select smartwatches running Wear OS. Before you proceed, ensure otherwise your Android phone and watch are running version 2.23.10.10+, otherwise, there will be sign-in issues, click here to sign up for Beta.
In case you are unable to find or install WhatsApp on your watch’s Play Store, install it from the listing on your Galaxy smartphone. The company notes that this version may be unstable, and certain data on your use of the app will be collected and shared with the developer.
WhatsApp for Wear OS – How it looks and acts
The initial variant of WhatsApp for Wear OS begins with a simple list of recent contacts with “Settings” and “Open on phone” rounding out this main page.
When you open a chat, you can scroll to see past messages, while you can reply by recording a voice message or opening the system keyboard.
When it comes to group chats, scrolling to the end allows you to see “People in this conversation,” as well as another “Open on phone.”
Be noted, the set-up process consists of entering an eight-digit code from your Galaxy Watch on the phone app. It brings a circular complication that shows how many unread messages you have.
Besides, there are two tiles for “WhatsApp contacts” to jump to a person, while “WhatsApp voice message” makes it possible to quickly start an audio recording.
Image – 9to5Google
Google today launched Wear OS 5 Developer Preview and more related updates.
Upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartwatches will be shipped with the Wear OS 5-based One UI Watch operating system. The company is also developing this new OS for current eligible models such as the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
Google released the Developer Preview of Wear OS 5. The company also confirmed that the next version of its smartwatch platform is powered by the latest Android 14 and is scheduled to arrive later this year.
Wear OS 5 brings performance improvements over Wear OS 4. Tracking your workout is now more efficient; for example, running a marathon consumes up to 20% less power on Wear OS 5 than on Wear OS 4.
Watch Face Format
Debuted with Wear OS 4 last year, the Watch Face Format is also upgrading with Wear OS 5. The company also teased some changes to existing watch face development using Jetpack Watch Face APIs.
Google is restricting complications for watch faces built with AndroidX or the Wearable Support Library that will apply to some data sources besides Google Play publishing limitations to new watch faces built with these libraries.
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Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy Watch FE in the near future. Earlier, the LTE version’s existence was confirmed in the software database. Now, the WiFi version’s software listing confirmed that Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy Watch FE in two versions.
Folks over at AndroidHeadlines discovered Galaxy Watch FE WiFi software on the Samsung OTA server. The OTA database confirmed that the affordable smartwatch will be launched in at least South Korean, European, and Turkish markets apart from the US.
The company will likely follow the same launch strategy as regular variants. The cheaper smartwatch model will also be available in both LTE (cellular) and Bluetooth + WiFi-only variants. It is said to share most of the hardware specs with the Galaxy Watch 4.
As a refresh, Samsung may bring it to the market with the chipset used in the Galaxy Watch 5. The latest iteration of Wear OS-based One UI Watch will also likely be employed. Meanwhile, the company hasn’t officially confirmed the launch of the new wearable.
Apart from this, the Galaxy Watch 7 series will most likely launch in July 2024. The Korean tech giant is preparing to hold a mega Unpacked event on July 10 to introduce new foldable smartphones, new smartwatches, a new kind of wearable – Galaxy Ring, and more.
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Huawei’s HarmonyOS smartwatch is growing quite fast in China. Counterpoint Research, in its latest report, predicts that Huawei smartwatch sales will further grow in the country, seizing a whopping 61% market share in 2024, up from 48% last year.
Whenever Huawei grows, it comes as a red alert for global tech titans like Apple and Samsung. As the company now has its own operating system, Google is also on the list of affected vendors. HarmonyOS is also aiming to cross China’s boundaries right after reaching the app ecosystem milestone.
Samsung and Google’s collaboration continues to benefit the Wear OS ecosystem. Whether it’s Watch OS Format or third-party app support, both companies are effectively investing in the ecosystem. Meanwhile, Huawei’s growth in Europe would hurt Samsung, Apple and Google too.
Huawei’s HarmonyOS-powered smartwatches are popular in China. Local consumers who don’t prefer Apple’s watchOS opt for HarmonyOS watch rather than Google’s Wear OS. Apart from innovations, this growth is powered by the sentiments of Chinese citizens.
Image: Huawei
Last year, the overall HarmonyOS shipments grew almost 2x, surpassing Apple’s WatchOS. HarmonyOS’ shipment share is further estimated to reach 61% in China in 2024, up from 48% in 2023, Counterpoint Research report highlights.
The report predicts growth for the entire smartwatch ecosystem including Wear OS and WatchOS. However, Huawei’s resurgence is a potential threat to Google’s Wear OS and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch segment – the same way as HarmonyOS Vs Android smartphones.
Huawei is pushing the boundaries of innovation with next-gen features in wearables. The company’s recent smartwatch offers a satellite SOS feature, which is one of its kind in the industry. At the same time, HarmonyOS is smart, smooth, and fluid that readily attracts users.
Stay up-to-date on Samsung Galaxy, One UI & Tech Stuffs by following Sammy Fans on X/Twitter. You can also discover the latest news, polls, reviews, and new features for Samsung & Google Apps, Galaxy Phones, and the One UI/Android operating system.
Do you like this post? Kindly, let us know on X/Twitter: we love hearing your feedback! If you prefer using other social platforms besides X, follow/join us on Google News, Facebook, and Telegram.