Google looks set to finally release the Tiles API for WearOS

Google appears to be gearing up to finally release the Tiles API for its WearOS wearable platform.

Compared to Apple’s WatchOS, developments for WearOS are so few and far between that it often feels that Google has given up.  However, it’s clear Google hasn’t fully thrown in the towel when it comes to its wearable platform.

In 2019, (yes, 2019…) Google announced ‘Tiles’ for WearOS. Tiles are essentially widgets which offer glanceable information to the...

5 January 2021 | API

Samsung announces Bixby DevJam contest with $125k prize money

Samsung has announced the launch of Bixby DevJam, a contest with $125k prize money in total up-for-grabs.

Developers are tasked with developing new “Bixby Capsules” (voice apps, basically) which must be submitted and approved before December 9th to be eligible.

The overall winner will receive $10,000 while second and third place finalists will be awarded $5,000 each. A further five runner-ups will receive $1,000 each.

Winners of the following 20 store...

21 October 2019 | Artificial Intelligence

Opinion: WearOS may yet be revived amid potential Huawei Watch 3

Google’s fledgeling wearable platform WearOS may be given a shot at a revival following a certification indicating that Huawei is releasing a new device.

Huawei is widely considered to have been WearOS’ best device manufacturer. Despite lacklustre sales across WearOS devices, the Huawei Watch 1 and 2 continue to be among the most stellar of smartwatches.

Fossil and Mobvoi have become WearOS’ biggest manufacturers in recent years. Huawei has focused on its own...

23 July 2019 | Android

Apple sends out WWDC 2019 invites – here’s what to expect

Apple has begun sending out invites for WWDC 2019 so here’s your customary rundown of what to expect from the keynote.

The date, time, and location of Apple’s keynote has been set for June 3rd at 10:00 am PT in the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

Often the invite has subtle hints of what to expect so fans around the world spend hours analysing it. We’ve attempted it for you, and the only thing we’ve gathered so far is Apple plans to...

23 May 2019 | Developer

Apple Watch apps became 64-bit due to ‘Bitcode’ feature

Apps developed for the Apple Watch transitioned from 32-bit to 64-bit last month thanks to the ‘Bitcode’ feature hidden in Xcode.

The feature was added to Xcode 7 three years ago in November 2015. While optional for iOS apps, it was mandatory for watchOS and tvOS. Now we know why,

Rather than update and recompile each app for 64-bit, Bitcode sits between human-written code and machine code to prevent this being necessary. Bitcode provides a partially-compiled app to...

2 October 2018 | App Stores

Google will soon be reviewing every WearOS app for quality

Google will soon be reviewing every WearOS app to ensure those on the platform are high quality as part of its bid to revitalise the platform.

WearOS has struggled to take off quite as people hoped. Part of the reason is a perceived lack of reason to hand over hundreds of pounds for a glorified notification extender.

To help ensure users find good apps for WearOS, Google will soon be assessing whether submitted apps are of a decent standard.

Having a WearOS app review by...

16 August 2018 | App Stores

Samsung set to switch from Tizen to Wear OS smartwatches

Prolific leaker Evan Blass (of @evleaks and Venture Beat fame) produced a rather interesting morsel this week: reportedly, Samsung employees have been spotted wearing smartwatches running Wear OS, rather than Samsung's own Tizen operating system.

Samsung has been committed to its homegrown platform for a few years now, with Gear smartwatches and fitness trackers exclusively using the Tizen OS, so seeing a switch to Wear OS is something of a sea...

25 May 2018 | Wearables

Open source Android Wear alternative AsteroidOS released

After more than three years of development, AsteroidOS has finally reached the version 1.0 milestone. This open source smartwatch OS is designed to offer Android Wear owners an alternative, especially for older watch models that have stopped receiving Wear OS updates.

The first stable release of AsteroidOS includes what its creators call 'all the features needed for a modern wearable experience'. That includes core watch apps like alarms, timers and weather, plus smartphone...

17 May 2018 | Android

Developer argues Apple could shutter Series 0 support for latest watchOS iteration

Usage of the Apple Watch Series 0 continues to decline - so much so that one developer argues Apple should dispense with it altogether when the company launched the watchOS 5 operating system.

The figures come from David Smith, an independent iOS developer whose apps include Pedometer++ and Sleep++, the latter being focused primarily on the Apple Watch with both apps in the top 200 in the App Store for health and fitness.

Smith says the Series 0 first generation of Apple Watch...

19 March 2018 | iOS

Fitbit now supports third-party apps on its smartwatch

Fitbit has updated the OS on its first smartwatch to support third-party apps from its App Gallery.

Following the company’s $23 million acquisition of smartwatch maker Pebble, all eyes were on Fitbit’s next move to counter the increasing threat from the Apple Watch and Android Wear-based devices.

What emerged from Fitbit was the Ionic smartwatch. Many critics say its design is uninspiring, but the most shocking revelation was the lack of support for third-party apps...

5 December 2017 | App Stores