Put on OS 5 coming this yr reveals Google is lastly hitting its stride with smartwatches

What that you must know

Forward of Google I/O subsequent month, Google revealed a preliminary schedule for developer periods.
A type of periods is a preview for Put on OS 5, and it serves as the primary official affirmation from Google {that a} Put on OS improve is coming this yr.
The outline for the “Constructing for the way forward for Put on OS” session features a few early particulars about what the improve will convey.

Google I/O 2024 is rapidly coming to the forefront, because the occasion will begin in a number of weeks and will convey new {hardware} and software program bulletins from Google. The corporate gave us our first actual thought of what to anticipate when it launched a preliminary I/O 2024 schedule on Thursday, April 25. That schedule consists of an early affirmation {that a} Put on OS improve is coming quickly.

There are 4 principal classes for occasions at Google I/O this yr: cell, internet, ML/AI, and cloud. One of many cell periods is titled “Constructing for the way forward for Put on OS,” and it explicitly lists Put on OS 5 — the unreleased model of Put on OS beforehand anticipated to return this yr — as its focus. Again in January, references to Put on OS 5 have been noticed in an Android 14 construct, hinting that an improve was on the horizon.

Nonetheless, there was no official affirmation from Google that Put on OS 5 can be launched within the close to future. Whereas we anticipate to listen to about upcoming Android updates at Google I/O, Put on OS upgrades are usually launched on a staggered and inconsistent schedule. That is why Google’s announcement has extra significance than a typical Google I/O software program announcement and bodes effectively for the way forward for Google’s wearable ecosystem.

What we learn about Put on OS 5 to this point

Google Pixel Watch 2 hands-on

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Surprisingly, Google gave slightly bit away about Put on OS 5 within the description for its preview session. “On this speak, we’ll uncover the brand new options of Put on OS 5,” Google says. “This consists of advances within the Watch Face Format, and design and construct for the rising vary of system sizes.”

The Watch Face Format was launched a couple of yr in the past alongside Put on OS 4, and Google explains that it “can be utilized to construct watch faces instantly, or it may be built-in into creation instruments, permitting designers to create watch faces with out having to jot down any executable code.” It shifted a lot of the burden of making a customized watch face — corresponding to optimization, updates, and bug fixes — off of particular person builders and onto the Put on OS platform. Moreover, it added a constant UI for enhancing watch faces throughout first and third-party choices.

Wear OS features

(Picture credit score: Google)

This offers watch face designers a number of methods to customise their choices, and pairs properly with the Watch Face Studio from Samsung, which can be utilized to create XML-formatted watch faces within the Watch Face Format.

So, Google’s speak about updating the Watch Face Format in Put on OS 5 may convey new options and choices to your favourite watch faces. There is likely to be new methods to point out issues, adapt a watch face’s look situationally, or add new design instruments. That is all simply hypothesis, however Google clearly has new methods obtainable within the up to date Watch Face Format that might be showcased at I/O 2024.

The one factor we do know for positive is that the Watch Face Format, or watch face design software program, might be up to date to assist builders construct for various smartwatch sizes. Google says as a lot within the description for the Put on OS 5 showcase, and it is not precisely shocking. Rumors are swirling that Google will lastly add a brand new, bigger Pixel Watch dimension later this yr within the Pixel Watch 3 sequence. It solely is smart that it needs to ensure Put on OS watch faces will look nice on all Pixel Watch fashions.

We have come a great distance since Google’s neglect of Put on OS

Wear OS logo on a Fossil Gen 6 watch

(Picture credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

Overlook particular options — it is a huge achievement that we’re getting a Put on OS 5 improve this yr in any respect. Put on OS gadgets are firmly hitting their stride, with Samsung releasing glorious Galaxy Watch fashions and Google becoming a member of in with the Pixel Watch over a yr in the past. In that context, it is easy to neglect how feeble the whole Put on OS platform was just some years in the past.

Trying again at Google’s Put on OS boards, you could find numerous examples of early Put on OS customers describing the unsure way forward for the platform and points that had gone unresolved for months or years. One submit from 2020 requested, “Is Google abandoning Put on OS?” and obtained help from different Put on OS customers earlier than it was locked and replies have been disabled. The difficulty cited within the submit? Google had developed a YouTube Music app for watchOS, however not Put on OS. It is an ideal microcosm of the issues that plagued the darkish days of Put on OS.

Now, it is rebounding, and Put on OS 5’s launch this yr stands out as the begin of a constant annual launch schedule for Google for main model updates. That might put it on par with Apple’s watchOS launch schedule and can be nice information for Put on OS customers. The {hardware} obtainable in Put on OS watches is sort of good in 2024, because of chips just like the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1, however the software program nonetheless lags behind Apple Watch fashions in some ways. Now, with Google seemingly going all-in on Put on OS with its accomplice Samsung, which may be altering for good.