TechSmartwatchesPixel Watch will borrow one of our favourite Apple Watch featuresMentions of a dedicated Pixel Watch app have been discovered in beta Google softwareWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSmartwatchesPixel Watch will borrow one of our favourite Apple Watch featuresMentions of a dedicated Pixel Watch app have been discovered in beta Google softwareWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Mentions of a dedicated Pixel Watch app have been discovered in beta Google software
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Google)
(Image credit: Google)
We already know thatGoogleplans to finally launch its first own-brandsmartwatchlater this year, with thePixel Watchdue out in the autumn.
Now, it has been revealed that Google is working on a dedicated Pixel Watch app to help control the new wearable from a pairedAndroidsmartphone.
This is much like how iPhones have a dedicatedApple Watchapp, and signifies how Google wants the Pixel Watch to operate differently to other watches running the company’s Wear OS software. This approach is similar to how theGoogle Pixel Budsearphones have their own app, instead of relying on Android’s existing audio controls.
As well as a Pixel Watch app, mentions of a ‘Smart Unlock’ system were also unearthed. Having managed to forcibly enable a new settings page for this feature, a screen describing how it works was revealed. The page states: “When your watch is unlocked, on your wrist, and close to your phone, it’ll unlock this phone.”
(Image credit: Google)
(Image credit: Google)
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We suspect that, like theApple Watch, when the Pixel Watch can’t detect a heartbeat it will assume it is no longer on the owner’s wrist, and the Smart Unlock system will be disabled.
As ever, there is no guarantee that features found buried in beta software will actually see the light of day. Google might also delay the Smart Unlock feature until after the Pixel Watch arrives. However, we feel confident this simple but useful feature will be available at launch.
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