An Empowered Assistant Is How Wear OS Could Get Back on Track
When Google changed the name of its smartwatch OS from Android Wear to Wear OS, I was pissed. Not because the name sucked, as Wear OS does do a better job of reflecting the platform’s support for both Android and iOS devices. The problem was that the rebranding didn’t come with any new features or updates that advanced the capabilities of the platform. That meant the name change was more symbolic than anything, or at the very least, poorly timed.
However, after checking out a preview of the next version of Wear OS at Google I/O 2018, it seems Google could be finally turning around its floundering smartwatch system, which as of late has seen much more success in the hands of fashion brands like Louis Vuitton or Movado than traditional tech makers, who had largely abandoned Android Wear/Wear OS.
In previous versions of Wear OS, you could ask the Assistant questions and get a response, but that’s about it. However, in the new Wear OS, the Google Assistant has the ability to make smart suggestions based on your questions. So for example, after asking about the weather, the Assistant in Wear OS will also provide you with an extended forecast covering the next five days.
Alternatively, if you ask the Assistant about an upcoming flight, it can provide little buttons right on the watch, so you can tap on one to learn about an airline’s baggage policies, a list of connecting flights, and what time your check-in is. And like the Google Assistant on your phone or a Google-powered smart speaker, the Assistant in Wear OS now has full Actions support so you can turn on your robo vacuum, get updates on the stock market or check the local subway schedule without needing to use a different device.