Eric Zeman/Android Authority
TL; PhD
- Wear OS 3 on Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 introduces many new features to the series.
- The improved Google Maps, Messaging and Play Store applications, as well as the new YouTube Music application can all be controlled directly on the watch.
- Some of them will also be extended to old smart watches running Wear OS 2.0.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are equipped with impressive hardware, but the new software experience may be its biggest selling point.Earlier this year, Google partnered with Samsung to announce a major Wear OS update at the Google I/O Conference, and we can see this now Exciting new update in action. Google detailed five new Wear OS features worth checking out on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which you can see below.
Improved Google Maps navigation on the wrist
Google has made significant improvements to the Google Maps application on Wear OS. You will receive turn instructions sent from your phone to your watch. This time you will also get a more detailed map instead of the basic information previously available. The watch app is synchronized with Google Maps on your phone, showing home, work, and other saved addresses, as well as recent searches, allowing you to quickly and easily start navigation on your wrist without touching your phone.
Use Google Pay for contactless payments to expand to more countries/regions
You can now use your watch to pay in 16 new countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates (You can find a complete list of supported regions here).
The Google Pay application on Wear OS has been improved to include larger credit card icons that are easier to view and make it easier to swipe the stored card. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series will be pre-installed with Samsung Pay, but you can easily install Google Pay through the Google Play app on the watch. This updated Google Pay application and payment support will also be extended to watches running Wear OS 2.0.
Use YouTube Music to download and store your favorite songs
Galaxy Watch 4 series and other Wear OS 3 smart watches will be equipped with a separate YouTube Music application. Even if you don’t have a mobile phone, YouTube Premium subscribers can download and save songs directly on their watch for offline listening and create customized playlists. The smart download feature ensures that the app refreshes your downloaded music only when the watch is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.
Reply to messages from the watch with updated Google messages
With the improved Google Messaging app, you can receive and reply to messages, and even start chatting directly on your watch without your phone. Use your voice, keyboard, or emoji to send a message on the watch. The app also syncs with your phone, so all your conversations are up to date. If you are in the U.S., Korea, or Japan, you need to download the Messages app from the Google Play app. The app will be pre-installed in all other countries/regions where the Galaxy Watch 4 series is available. You can also access the improved messaging app on older watches running Wear OS 2.0.
Easily download apps with the new Google Play app
With Wear OS 3, the Google Play Store has a new look, making it easier to find and download apps on your watch. You will also use the Material You element in a series of Google apps, and third-party app makers such as Calm, Komoot, Period Tracker, Sleep Cycle, Spotify, and Strava will launch updated versions of their watch apps in the coming weeks. You will also see the new Google Play Store application on Wear OS 2.0 smart watches.
see more: The best smartwatch you can buy
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