Latest news with #Smartwatches
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
Wear OS 6 could finally add a Water Lock mode on the Pixel Watch
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google appears to be developing a 'Water Lock' shortcut for Wear OS, and it could arrive on the Pixel Watch with the upcoming Wear OS 6 update. This feature would likely disable the watch's touchscreen to prevent erratic behavior and false touches when the device gets wet. However, evidence of an accompanying water ejection sound is missing, and there's no guarantee the feature will be in the final release. The best smartwatches are typically highly water-resistant, so you can take them into the swimming pool or shower without worry. However, while getting them wet won't cause damage, it can make them act up. That's because most smartwatches use capacitive touchscreens, which often behave erratically when water lands on them, leading to annoying false touches and a loss of sensitivity. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. To prevent these issues, many smartwatches feature a dedicated 'Water Lock' mode that disables the touchscreen. This mode is often paired with a water ejection feature that plays a specific tone to clear water from the speaker port. On most devices, like those from Samsung and Apple, this water ejection is triggered automatically when you turn off Water Lock, but it can also be activated manually. Water Lock shortcut on the Galaxy Watch Water Lock setting on the Galaxy Watch Water ejection feature on the Galaxy Watch In contrast, Google's Pixel Watch doesn't offer a dedicated Water Lock mode or a water ejection feature. While it automatically disables touch input when you start a swim workout, it won't do so if you're just wearing it in the rain or shower. However, Google may finally add a dedicated Water Lock shortcut with the upcoming Wear OS 6 update. While digging through the Wear OS 6 Developer Preview, I spotted new text strings suggesting a Quick Settings tile called 'Water Lock' is being added. Although the strings don't detail what this mode does, it will likely work as you'd expect: disabling the watch's touchscreen to prevent accidental inputs from water. Code Copy Text Water lock Water Lock Water lock on Turn on Water lock? Notably, the code strings also lack any mention of a water ejection feature. Without one, the new 'Water Lock' mode would be functionally identical to the Pixel Watch's existing 'Touch Lock' feature. If that's the case, its only real benefit would be to give users a more clearly named option to enable before getting their watch wet. Finally, even though these 'Water Lock' strings appeared in the Wear OS 6 Developer Preview, there's no guarantee the feature will show up in the stable update. All we know for sure is that Google is developing this for the Wear OS platform; whether the company enables it on its own watches is something we'll have to wait and see. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
10-05-2025
- Android Authority
Forget Galaxy phones, the Galaxy Watch is the perfect home for One UI 7's Now Bar
Joe Maring / Android Authority Early indications suggest that One UI 8 Watch could be a significant update for Samsung Galaxy Watch owners. We've discovered several potential features, including a new health metric, a watch face randomizer, and tools to enhance battery life. While all these features interest me to some extent, one in particular caught my attention: evidence that Samsung plans to introduce the Now Bar to its smartwatches. The Now Bar was a major addition to Galaxy smartphones with the recent One UI 7 update. Its functionality is straightforward. The 'bar' appears on the lock and Always On Display (AOD) screens, providing glanceable, context-relevant information. When the phone is unlocked, this information can also be displayed in a chip alongside other status icons at the top of the notifications panel. This design ensures that real-time information is always visible to the user. Currently, the feature serves content from Samsung and Google apps and services, including live sports scores, navigation details from Google Maps, current track details from your media player, timers from the Clock app, and exercise info from Samsung Health. Granted, that isn't an exhaustive list, and the lack of utility has led several users to call the feature overhyped and underdeveloped. Do you want the Now Bar on your Galaxy Watch? 0 votes Yes! I love using it on my phone, I'd like it on my wrist too. NaN % Yes. I'm not a fan of it on my phone, but it could be great on a watch. NaN % No, I don't believe Now Bar is useful in any guise. NaN % The Now Bar is designed for phones, but it makes so much sense on the wrist Ryan Haines / Android Authority Despite these criticisms, I quite like the idea of the Now Bar. Our phones bombard us with information constantly, so any tool that highlights contextually relevant details is helpful. However, when I'm on the move, my smartphone is often inaccessible, stored in my pocket or a bag. Watches are designed for immediacy, accessibility, and convenience, making them the perfect platform for live updates. Watches are purposely designed with immediacy, accessibility, and convenience in mind — they're the perfect platform to deliver live updates. Those who don't see the potential of the feature might argue that Galaxy Watches don't need it, but I believe it would be a step in the right direction for Wear OS at large. The current state of the smartwatch OS Samsung smartwatches are based on makes accessing pertinent information challenging. It often takes many taps, swipes, and screens to find what I need hidden in the app drawer or the clunky tile carousel. The Now Bar would solve this problem by highlighting exactly how well my run is going, how far I have to walk to reach my destination in a foreign town, how long my roast needs in the oven, or whether Man United is (once again) trailing at halftime. Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority There are indications that Samsung will offer users plenty of options to customize the Now Bar overlay on watches, too. We've found hints at two distinct display styles: a detailed Now Bar or a minimalist icon resembling a complication. This gives users the option to prioritize their clock face if they prefer. Samsung appears to be adding a pinch gesture to control either on the watch, but I would also love support for rotating bezels. Nevertheless, it all sounds promising so far. The Now Bar on Galaxy Watch is exciting, but I'd like to see live update features across the Wear OS ecosystem. Notably, Samsung's desire to bring the Now Bar to its devices should give Pixel Watch series and other Wear OS watch users hope for a similar feature. We've previously detailed Google's upcoming live updates feature for Android 16, which functions similarly to One UI 7's status bar chip and live notifications. There's no reason these features couldn't become part of Wear OS builds in the future, and I'd appreciate the option to use a complication slot for a live update chip. Ryan Haines / Android Authority Before I get well ahead of myself, let me say that the feature does still need plenty of work. The Now Bar is still in its early stages, so it has issues that haven't yet been addressed. Such a feature relies heavily on third-party support, which it currently lacks. I expect its list of supported apps and services to grow as the feature matures. Once time-critical services like ridesharing, public transport, and delivery apps are supported, the experience should improve significantly. For now, we're limited to what Samsung and Google offer. It's also important to consider the battery life implications of the Now Bar on a watch. Aside from the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra, Galaxy Watches are not known for their endurance. The Now Bar, likely running in the background, could exacerbate this issue. If this prompts Samsung to consider using silicon-carbon batteries, it might be a blessing in disguise. However, a the feature could be a terrible prospect for my aging Galaxy Watch 4 that struggles through a day on a single charge. Nevertheless, the Now Bar's potential value to smartwatches excites me about One UI 8 Watch. I appreciate any feature that quickens my access to relevant information, especially on my wrist, and I'm thrilled that Samsung's making a genuine effort to transform its Wear OS experience. Whether the company ports the feature and leaves it as is or actively improves it over time remains to be seen. For now, I'm optimistic, and all Galaxy Watch users should be, too.
GSM Arena
10-05-2025
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 series to switch to a squircle design
Samsung's Galaxy Watch8 series is likely to arrive in a squircle body shape, similar to that of the Galaxy Watch Ultra released last year. The Galaxy Watch8 will come in two sizes, while the Watch8 Classic, which is expected to bring back the rotating bezel, will only be available in one single size. This information comes from a deep dive inside the One UI 8 Watch firmware for the Galaxy Watch8 Classic. One of the animation files shows the images you can see below (to the left of the names are the internal codenames Samsung used for these devices). Interestingly, there's no reference to a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, so the original may remain the top dog of the line for another year. As evidenced by the images above, the Watch8 series will have a squircle body but will retain a circular screen, just like the Galaxy Watch Ultra. So its divisive design is now being implemented throughout the range. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic could also get a Quick Button like the Galaxy Watch Ultra, as well as extended vibration pattern support. Unfortunately it's unclear from this data whether it will also have the much-anticipated rotating bezel. The Galaxy Watch8 series will launch with One UI 8 Watch, which will bring the Now Bar that debuted in One UI 7 on smartphones, to watches. There will also be support for randomized watch faces, a battery protection feature that limits charging to a certain percentage, and a new Shortcuts app which will allow you to place some frequently used apps right onto your watch face. Source
