Ahead of the Galaxy Unpacked event on August 10, Samsung’s executive vice president teased the Galaxy Watch for those who are “passionate about the outdoors” and want to “strive to be the best version of themselves.”
While it’s unclear if these announcements are specific to the rumored Galaxy Watch 5, they suggest that Samsung is working on a smartwatch that’s more like one of the best Garmin watches than the Apple Watch 7.
Following rumors that Apple itself is working on an Apple Watch 8 Rugged and will launch alongside the upcoming Apple Watch 8, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Samsung diversifying its wearables portfolio to appeal to a wider range of client.
Galaxy Watch made just for you
As explained by Executive Vice President TaeJong Jay Yang (who also heads Samsung’s health R&D team), everyone has a different view of what health means. For some, it’s just about hitting a daily step goal and getting a little exercise, while for others it’s just about breaking last week’s PB to reach a new level of physical performance. It added that Samsung’s goal is to make technology that enables people to achieve their personal goals, no matter what they happen to be.
For those with more subtle goals, something like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 might be enough for you. There’s basic step counting and GPS tracking to keep track of how far you’ve walked, and BioActive sensors can track your heart rate and sleep patterns, giving you a comprehensive view of key health factors.
However, data collection and presentation from sensors can be too much for the average user, and features like body composition monitoring are better suited for those with more ambitious health goals. The Galaxy Watch may not quite meet all the needs of fitness fanatics, though, as those who enjoy the outdoors will want a fitness tracker that can take a beating better and has a longer battery life.
As a result, Samsung appears to be planning to launch a wider variety of watches, Yang said: “Samsung is excited to continue expanding our Galaxy Watch lineup to better meet the many unique needs of our users.”
The rumored “Pro” model of the Apple Watch could launch this year, and Apple could give its Apple Watch its biggest design shakeup in years.
According to reliable tipster Mark Gurman, the new Pro version won’t have the long-rumored square shape. In his start-up newsletter, Gurman mentioned that the design could be an “evolution of the current rectangle rather than a circle.” It also won’t have flat sides.
Apple is rumored to be launching not one, but as many as three this year — the Apple Watch 8, and a high-end Apple Watch 8 Pro (or simply the Apple Watch Pro). The Apple Watch 8 could also be released alongside the new Apple Watch SE. But the Pro should be the solid, sporty, and premium product of the line.
The Apple Watch Pro’s display will be “bigger.” So much so that it only “attracts a subset of customers.” Its display will reportedly be 7 percent larger than the standard Apple Watch. This is something we’ve heard before, and Gurman has mentioned that the diagonal of the display may span a full 2 inches. But a 7 percent larger screen could mean it could be bigger than the 2-inch figure previously thought.
The Pro will be different, not only in its improved design, but also in its materials. It will reportedly be made from higher-quality materials, such as “durable titanium,” to make it more robust.
The Apple Watch Pro gets better battery life and a new body temperature sensor, something Gurman mentioned recently. This time around, he said, the Apple Watch Pro can last for days on a single charge, thanks to a rumored low-power mode.
The only new sensor that could make its debut will be a body temperature sensor. Like the Apple Watch 8, the Pro is also rumored to run on the older S8 chip that supports the Apple Watch 7 and Apple Watch 6 models.
If Apple launches a Pro tier of the Apple Watch this year, it could be more aimed at athletes or high-intensity workouts. It is also rumored to have enhanced hiking and swimming tracking capabilities. In that sense, it’s on par with high-end Garmin sports watches and everything Apple does “professional” — and it’s also likely to command a higher price tag.
It remains to be seen whether the Apple Watch Pro will be able to include “professional”-level features beyond the rumored new design and premium build. Gurman mentioned that “the upcoming Apple Watch will be one of the company’s more exciting product launches this year.”
Fitbit has quietly added a major feature to its Charge 5 activity tracker, and it’s all about tracking your phone, not you.
The latest firmware version, 57.20001.171.50, released on Tuesday, adds the ability to ping your paired smartphone and make it make a loud noise in order to find it. After using the Find Phone button, tapping the Cancel prompt on Fitbit Charge 5 will stop the noise.
The feature isn’t new to Fitbit, but it was previously exclusive to the company’s smartwatches, such as the Versa and Sense lines. Of course, using the feature requires the phone to be paired via Bluetooth, within close range of the watch, and the Fitbit app running in the background. The Find Phone feature should work on any phone that supports the Fitbit app.
Quietly add utilities
While it’s odd that Fitbit, now owned by Google, isn’t hyping the Charge 5’s newfound phone-finding feature, it’s the only notable feature in this firmware update. Fitbit’s own line of Versa smartwatches sell for similar prices, so the company may not have announced the feature loudly because it didn’t want to cannibalize Versa sales.
Still, the feature does add more utility to an already value-oriented fitness tracker (compared to finding a misplaced iPhone), and provides another option for those who don’t want a full-featured smartwatch A way to find a misplaced smartphone. Fitbit also has the benefit of not being locked into a particular ecosystem. Samsung and Apple Watches have similar features, but they only work with Samsung and Apple phones, respectively.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 will get some new features in the coming months, including a full QWERTY keyboard similar to the Apple Watch Series 7. The company said Tuesday that the upgrades are part of Samsung’s One UI Watch 4.5 software, which will be available in the third quarter of this year. It will work on the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, and upcoming Galaxy Watch models.
The biggest addition appears to be the new QWERTY keyboard, which Samsung says will be an option to work with the current dictation and handwriting capabilities. You can also switch between different types of input methods when writing sentences, just like with Apple Watch Series 7.
Samsung also added more accessibility features to the Galaxy Watch 4. Updates will include expanded options to adjust display colors and contrast, as well as options to reduce blurring effects and remove animations. Hearing Aid can balance the sound between the left and right ears when using headphones.
More watch face customization options are also coming to the Galaxy Watch. Samsung says you’ll be able to duplicate the watch face and adjust its color, allowing you to basically wear different versions of the same watch face. Dual SIM support will also be available when the update is released, and Samsung says more features will be announced.
According to the International Data Corporation, as of the first quarter of 2022, Samsung was the second largest wearable device maker in the world. During this period, it captured 10.3% of the global market, but Apple took the top spot with a 30.5% share.
Samsung‘s announcement comes as the company is expected to unveil its next-generation Galaxy Watch in August. Rumor has it that Samsung will release two versions of the watch: the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which will replace the current “classic” model. The addition of a body temperature sensor and a larger battery are expected to be the biggest improvements.
Apple also just launched a public beta of its upcoming Apple Watch WatchOS 9 software this week. The update, due to be officially released in the fall, will bring improved sleep monitoring, more in-depth runner metrics, and a new app for tracking medications. Like Samsung, Apple is also expected to release a new version of the Apple Watch called the Series 8 in the coming months.
WatchOS 9 public beta is now available for all Apple Watches starting with Series 4. You’ll also need to have the iOS 16 public beta installed on your iPhone. Both updates are free to download from Apple, but you should be cautious when installing any beta software. Features may change between now and final release, and there may be bugs or elements of instability. If you’re installing a public beta, I highly recommend backing up your Apple Watch and iPhone. Here’s a look at all the new Apple Watch features coming soon!
WatchOS 9 looks fresher and more iPhone-like
One thing I noticed after installing the public beta was the different notification appearances on the Apple Watch. A new banner notification similar to the iPhone now appears at the top of the screen. When a text or email arrives, notifications no longer take up the entire screen unless your watch is inactive or locked.
Siri also borrows some of the same look from the iPhone by showing icons at the bottom of the screen when you summon the virtual assistant. How to swipe up to access Control Center, now you can see text size settings. Before, you had to pop up the Settings menu to change the font size.
Another small but welcome improvement is the battery widget, which you can add to the iOS 16 lock screen. Now you can easily check the battery level on your Apple Watch without unlocking your phone. If you put the watch on the charger, it can even reflect the charging status in real time.
New watch faces take full advantage of the Apple Watch Series 7 screen
There are four new watch faces to choose from:
1. Metropolitan: A customizable clock face with complications and numerals that moves in and out as you turn the digital crown
2. Astronomy: Higher resolution than before, you can now see hourly updated cloud coverage
3. Playtime: As the name describes, big bouncy numbers float around the screen and move when you tap the screen or rotate the crown
4. Lunar calendar: The lunar calendar is displayed when the crown is rotated
WatchOS 9 enhances workout app with more screens
The new multisport mode automatically lets you link two or even three activities together at once, without the need to manually stop, restart, or add another workout using the Add function. You might be competing in a triathlon, or just want to jump right off the bike for a run. WatchOS 9 will automatically detect when you start this new activity and switch between workout types as you do.
Even more exciting are the heart rate zones. Your Apple Watch can now show you your heart rate zone at any given moment during your workout. Based on your personal estimated maximum heart rate, you can be alerted when entering different zones. This can help you understand how hard your heart is working during cardio and if you’re reaching your limit. All of these zones are fully customizable and you can change them by going to Settings > Exercise > Heart Rate Zones.
WatchOS 9 is built for runners
For the first time, Apple Watch will be able to display running form metrics in the Workout app, including vertical swing, stride length, touchdown time and running power metrics. These also appear after you run the Activity app on the iPhone.
You can now create custom workouts by tapping three dots before starting an activity to set personalized distance and time goals that may better fit your training program. You’ll also see a new feature called Pacer here. This allows you to choose the distance and desired finish time, and the watch will then give you the speed you need to reach that goal, alerting you when you’re above or below that speed.
improved dictation
Now, WatchOS 9 goes a step further and automatically inserts punctuation into sentences as you speak. No more saying “period” and “comma” or awkward “question marks” to manually add punctuation. This should be on by default, but if not, go to Settings > General > Dictation and turn on automatic punctuation.
Your iPhone can now control and mirror your Apple Watch
Just as Assistive Touch on WatchOS 8 let you control your watch by moving the muscles in your hands and arms, Apple Watch Mirroring on WatchOS 9 changes the accessibility game. It allows you to mirror your Apple Watch on your iPhone, so you can control every aspect of your watch by touching the larger iPhone screen. It even lets you use the digital crown and side buttons.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Apple Watch Mirroring. You’ll now see some simulations of your Apple Watch live on your phone.
If you have an Apple Watch, it’s not always obvious if you’re running the latest version of the Apple watchOS operating system. Here’s how to check for updates and how to perform them. Let’s have a look!
Before updating your Apple Watch, you need to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. That’s because watchOS updates are currently tied to iOS updates, and you can’t get them separately. If your iPhone isn’t running the latest iOS version, you won’t see the latest watchOS update on your Apple Watch or the Watch app on your iPhone.
Usually, you will see the update automatically
As long as your iPhone is fully updated and your Apple Watch is connected to the Internet, your Apple Watch will usually alert you when a new update is available.
If you tap this screen and select the “Update Tonight” option while your watch is on your wrist, your Apple Watch will tell you that it will try to automatically install the update later tonight. For your watch to update overnight, it must be on a charger and connected to Wi-Fi. The installation will begin when your Apple Watch’s battery is at 50% or higher.
If you want to update now, open the settings on your watch and tap “Software Update.” Next, tap Download and Install or Install and place your Apple Watch on the charger. The installation will start automatically when the update is fully downloaded and the watch’s battery is at 50% or higher.
To manually check for watchOS updates on your Apple Watch, activate your Watch and open the Settings app, which looks like a gray gear. When the settings open, tap “General” and then select “Software Update.” If your Apple Watch is completely up to date, you’ll see the “Apple Watch is up to date” message on the screen. Otherwise, if a watchOS update is available, you’ll see the update’s version number listed, along with a brief description of the new features or bug fixes in that release.
To install the update, scroll down and tap “Download and Install” or “Install”, then place the watch on the charger. After downloading the update, Apple Watch will wait until its battery is at 50% or higher to install the update. Once that mark is reached, the installation will begin.
If you want to use your iPhone to check for Apple Watch system updates, first find and launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Once loaded, tap on the watch you want to check for updates. Then, scroll down and tap “General,” then select “Software Update.”
The Watch app will check for updates, and if it’s completely up to date, you’ll see the “Your Apple Watch is up to date” message. In this case, you are done and you can exit the Watch app.
However, if a watchOS update is available, you’ll see it listed, along with information about the features of the latest version.
If you want to install the update right away, put your Apple Watch on a charger near your iPhone. Click Download and Install or Install. Enter your password if necessary. The installation will begin when the battery in your Apple Watch is at 50% or higher.
If your Apple Watch only shows the Apple logo, it may be stuck in a boot loop and not booting properly. While we can’t guarantee success, there are a few things you can try to save your Apple Watch when this happens to you.
A watch that displays the Apple logo and then flashes repeatedly is likely to restart repeatedly, a problem sometimes referred to as a boot loop. You can try to break this boot loop with a hard reset, which starts the same way no matter which Apple Watch model you have.
Force your Apple Watch to restart by pressing and holding the Digital Crown and side button for at least 10 seconds until you see the indication of a hard reset on the display. Usually this is easy to spot because your Watch screen goes black immediately, but if you’re already stuck in a boot loop, it can be hard to tell.
Once you’re sure your watch has hard reset, wait 30 to 45 seconds to start “from cold” again. You’ll probably know soon enough if this works because you’ll either break the cycle or get stuck again. If it doesn’t work, it might be worth trying a few times. Some reports on Reddit say that after ten attempts, the Apple Watch finally booted normally after multiple hard resets. Some users also reported that charging the watch between attempts helped.
If it works, continue with the “Prevent your watch from getting stuck again” steps below, as this may only be a temporary fix.
Try playing a sound in Find My App
It’s unclear why this might work, but there are still reports of users successfully using the Find My app to play sounds on the Watch. This seems unlikely to work if your watch blinks and restarts, but if it shows the constant Apple logo, it might be worth a shot.
On your iPhone, launch the Find My app and tap the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen. Find your Apple Watch in the device list and select it, then tap the Play Sound button. This is designed to help you find your watch if you lose it, a feature Apple has since added to other products. If you don’t see any success, you might want to try it a few times. If it does work, move on to the next step for a more permanent fix.
Prevent the watch from getting stuck again
Even if either of the last two solutions worked for you, there’s a chance your watch will succumb to a boot loop or static logo again. Ultimately, it depends on what caused your watch to get stuck in that state in the first place. It might be a software issue, we can try to fix it by following the steps below. But if there’s a hardware problem, there’s probably nothing you can do about it.
The first thing to do is try to update your Watch software. To do this, launch the Watch app and select General > Software Update. If you happen to own more than one watch, make sure to first select the watch in question using the “All Watches” button in the upper left corner of the Watch app. If the problem is caused by a software bug, updating to the next version of watchOS may fix it.
The next thing to try is to completely wipe your watch to “as new” and pair it again. When you do this, all personal data on your watch will be deleted. If your watch already sends this data to your iPhone, you won’t lose health or workout data.
Before doing this, you can check apps like Health and Fitness to see if things like your recent workouts, activity ring status, and step count are up to date.
When you’re ready to wipe your watch, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, then go to General > Reset and select the “Wipe Apple Watch Content and Settings” option. You can also do this on the watch itself using Settings > General > Reset. You will be invited to enter your Apple ID password to remove Find My from your Watch, after which it will be reset to “as new”.
When you turn your watch on to pair again, you’re invited to restore your watch from backup. It might be a good idea to select the “Do not restore from backup” option to further eliminate the chance of the problem recurring.
if nothing works
If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo, you can try to restore the software on it using a Mac or PC using DFU mode. Because the iPhone has a Lightning port that lets you transfer data and charge the device. Apple hides a diagnostic port under a strap connector on Watch models, but you need a third-party accessory called iBus to use it.
The software that supports the Apple Watch is being upgraded. Apple announced WatchOS 9 at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, and it showed off new fitness features for runners, better sleep tracking, an app to track medication and new watch faces. These features will help Apple close the gap between its smartwatches and rival devices from the likes of Fitbit, Garmin and Oura, as it continues to make health and fitness its main selling point.
With WatchOS 9, the Apple Watch will get new metrics designed to help runners better understand their performance and reduce their risk of injury. These include vertical swing, stride length and ground contact time.
Heart rate zones will give you more insight into your workout intensity in WatchOS 9. New multisport workout options allow triathletes to easily switch between running, cycling and swimming tracking. Apple also added a custom workout option that allows for interval workouts that include rest.
The Apple Watch is already a well-rounded fitness tracker, but it lacks the more specific tools found on dedicated running watches. Even an entry-level Garmin watch like the Forerunner 55 has cadence reminders, pace guidance, and training plans. New features in WatchOS 9 will help the Apple Watch catch up in this area, possibly making it more appealing to runners.
Apple is also improving its sleep analytics by bringing Sleep Stages to its smartwatches. As the name suggests, sleep stages tell you how much time you spend in REM, core, and deep sleep, giving Apple Watch wearers a more complete picture of their sleep. Fitness trackers from Fitbit, Samsung and others have offered this feature for years, while Apple has been focusing only on sleep duration and breathing rate until this point.
But the Apple Watch is still missing a sleep-tracking tool that I’ve come to appreciate on other fitness trackers: Sleep Score. As the name suggests, this feature gives the wearer a score to assess sleep quality based on a variety of factors, often including exercise and heart rate data.
In addition to these new performance metrics and sleep tracking features, there are several other health and wellness improvements in WatchOS 9. Apple Watch will now be able to provide more context about atrial fibrillation through a new feature called AFib History, which tracks frequency and other heart disease-related trends.
WatchOS 9 also introduces a new Medicines app. The app is designed to make it easier to keep track of medications and set regular reminders to take specific medications and vitamins, even without an Apple Watch. You can add medications by scanning the label or entering the name manually. The app will also display information about drug interactions.
The update will bring four new watch faces and support for six new keyboard languages. The new watch faces are called Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan and Astronomy. Other features include notifications that are less distracting when using the Apple Watch, new quick actions for answering a call or taking a photo with a pinch gesture, and a redesigned dock that prioritizes the app you’re currently using.
Everyone knows the latest Apple Watch is designed for everything related to water sports and fitness, and it’s an ideal smartwatch for those looking to track laps in the pool or see how far they’ve surfed . But water-based tracking for wearables also comes with a handy water feature: water lock.
The Apple Watch may be water resistant up to 50 meters, but that doesn’t mean water won’t get into the wearable when you swim, surf, or even shower. Water Lock keeps your Apple Watch locked while you’re in the water, or even squirts water when you’re done. Here’s how to use the Apple Watch’s Water Lock feature. Let’s have a look!
Anyone with an Apple Watch Series 2 or newer can easily turn on Water Lock. Just like you use your Apple Watch as a flashlight, you can turn it on by visiting Control Center. Turning it on locks the screen so it doesn’t respond to inadvertent input when the user is in water, and turning it off using the Digital Crown makes it easy to squirt water from the Apple Watch’s speakers.
Below you’ll find a quick guide to turning your Apple Watch’s water lock on and off to spray water:
1. On Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the Control Panel.
2. Once opened, scroll down and tap the water drop icon.
3. A water drop icon will appear at the top of the watch face.
4. To spray water, turn the Digital Crown until the display reads “Unlocked”.
5. A series of sounds will play to the clear water in the speaker. Once done, the Apple Watch is ready to use.
You can do this multiple times if the water is still there. It’s a handy feature for any swimmer and surfer, and it’s even useful in the shower. Although, Apple doesn’t recommend using its wearable in the shower because soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and fragrances can affect it.
Google’s first smartwatch is out. The company teased the watch, called the Pixel Watch, at its I/O conference on Wednesday, alongside the Pixel 6A, the Pixel 7 with the new Tensor chip, the Pixel Buds Pro, and Android 13.
But Google‘s announcement is just a preview, not the full release. That means many details remain a mystery, such as the watch’s price, battery life and health sensors. Google will likely reveal more details about the Pixel Watch closer to its fall 2022 launch, but here’s what we know so far.
It will launch with the Pixel 7 this fall
In an announcement on Wednesday, Google said the Pixel Watch will be officially released this fall. The exact time hasn’t been set, but Google typically holds a fall product launch in late September or October. For example, the Pixel 6 debuted at an event on October 19, 2021, while Google held a press conference on September 30 to launch the Pixel 5 in 2020.
Pixel Watch features a circular design with customizable straps
As the leak states, Google’s first smartwatch has a round face with a dome design and what looks like glass with curved edges. The watch is made from recycled stainless steel and has a tactile crown similar to the Apple Watch. Customizable shoulder straps will also be available.
Google’s Wear OS software and apps will power watches
Google’s new smartwatches will run on its Wear OS platform. Other than calling it “smooth” and “easy to navigate,” Google hasn’t commented much on the watch’s software features. Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, described the operating system as “clickable, voice-enabled and self-explanatory.” During the presentation, the company briefly showed how apps like Google Maps, Wallet, Home and Google Assistant would appear on the watch.
It will integrate with Fitbit, but not replace it
You can expect to see some familiar Fitbit features on Google’s watch. These include continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and active zone minutes, which measure how much time you spend in specific heart rate zones during exercise. Google also showed how to view Fitbit health stats, such as heart rate and steps, directly from the watch face. However, we don’t know which specific health tracking sensors will be used in the Pixel Watch. But it seems clear that the Pixel Watch will inherit more Fitbit features in the future.
It will only be compatible with Android devices
Since the Pixel Watch is designed to complement Google‘s Pixel devices, it won’t be compatible with the iPhone, according to a Google spokesperson. Given that Fitbit’s watches and trackers are compatible with both iOS and Android, that may be part of the reason why the Pixel Watch won’t replace Fitbit’s products.
There will be a cellular option
Google will offer a 4G LTE option for the Pixel Watch, which will allow it to maintain a cellular connection when the phone isn’t nearby. Fitbit’s smartwatches don’t have the option to support cellular, so it’s a way for Google to differentiate the two product lines.
