One Google I/O announcement would repair the gaping hollow in Wear OS

Google I/O 2024 arrives this Tuesday, and we think a Wear OS 5 announcement. The remaining 3 I/Os gave us an enormous Wear OS 3 overhaul (2021), a Pixel Watch divulge (2022), and a Wear OS 4 preview (2023). After two bombshells, remaining yr’s wearable information used to be extra perfunctory, so I’m crossing my arms for a bounce-back yr with a long-overdue health repair to Wear OS. 

We know that Wear OS 5 is at the I/O time table, with a chat on “Building for the Future of Wear OS.” Google would possibly carry up the brand new Hybrid Interface that provides Wear OS watches longer battery existence, or possibly it’s going to announce plans to carry Wear OS watches into the brand new Find My community. 

We would possibly see Gemini coming to Pixel and Galaxy Watches, given I/O’s most likely AI focal point. And possibly we’re going to get a glimpse of the Pixel Watch 3, even though it would possibly not arrive till the autumn.

Those all appear to be truthful bets on your Google I/O bingo card. What’s much less most likely, however nonetheless necessary, is that the Wear OS staff broadcasts a correct OS-wide alternative for the loss of life Google Fit. Maybe that is Fitbit, perhaps no longer; it simply must be one thing. 

The Google Fit API shuts down subsequent yr in prefer of “Android Health,” a brand new API with common knowledge classes like steps, distance, and energy. Designed to paintings with Health Connect, it’s going to seamlessly switch knowledge between apps, having the ability to export area of interest knowledge like blood glucose or power as soon as watches get started monitoring them.

Sounds nice, in concept! In follow, it nonetheless creates a vacuum the place Google Fit used to take a seat as an agnostic choice. You can switch knowledge, however you continue to want an finish vacation spot, and maximum health apps are designed to lure you of their ecosystem and price you a price. Yes, the Google Fit app continues to be to be had, however the writing is at the wall for the app to get the boot now that Google has became its consideration to Fitbit. Samsung Health is the nearest “common” and unpaid selection, despite the fact that that app is simplest to be had on Samsung smartwatches.

One may argue that well being and health apps are a key means Wear OS watches differentiate themselves from one every other in this day and age, as it kind of feels to be the massive draw for the Pixel Watch. Also, those corporations promote your well being and health knowledge to advertisers, and a common app would possibly save you smaller manufacturers from profiting. So, with a common health app enjoy, how would Wear OS watches stand proud of every different?

When Samsung joined Wear OS, Google did not insist that it abandon its personal apps, UI, and special approach; leaving Samsung Health because the default choice is a part of that. As for different manufacturers, they may not need their apps to need to compete with Fitbit or Samsung Health. 

That does not alternate the truth that the Wear OS emblem suffers from this fragmentation. Every non-Samsung/Google watch has a proprietary app that is typically stripped down in comparison to what devoted health watches be offering, akin to exercise suggestions and restoration instances. The identical is going with Apple Fitness Plus, with its in style exercise movies.

Instead, we noticed how OnePlus’ first Wear OS providing — the OnePlus Watch 2 — had problems with well being sampling, whilst Fossil deserted Wear OS for just right as it could not stay up at the tool entrance with its woefully lackluster Wellness app. Without extra beef up from Google, I’m no longer sure what number of third-party manufacturers will escape in their small niches.

What’s the answer? My first plan is unassuming sufficient and would make for a splashy Google I/O announcement: Say Fitbit is coming to all Wear OS watches with Wear OS 5, both by the use of the Play Store or as a substitute “default” choice — the similar means you’ll choose from Bixby or Google Assistant on a Galaxy Watch. 

Yes, this makes Wear OS watches extra uniform. However, well being knowledge is solely as necessary for a just right smartwatch enjoy as Google Assistant or apps; Samsung prefers its customers to make use of the Galaxy Store or Bixby, however a minimum of there are dependable Google choices. 

As some distance as how Wear OS watches would stand out, there are nonetheless alternative ways to tell apart between other fashions of their design, shows, UI, and so on, with out leaving well being and health as this Wild West market.

This transfer would additionally give the suffering Fitbit emblem a larger profile with Android customers. I’d even recommend that Google compensate companions like Mobvoi or OnePlus by way of reducing them in at the income for any Fitbit subscriptions purchased on their watches after the trial length ends. 

My different resolution would play into Google’s love of renaming services and products that satisfy the similar goal: Just make “Android Health” an app like Google Fit. Give it some elementary targets and training, make it unfastened, and let other people use it as a waystation between their Wear OS watch and whichever proprietary health app they like.

Eventually, I be expecting Google to supply one thing like “Gemini Coach AI,” which appears at your well being knowledge and provides you with tips about sleep, coaching, and restoration. But except that is every other Fitbit unique to promote Pixel Watches, then it is going to nonetheless want a uniform Wear OS health enjoy. 

We’ll see if Google I/O 2024 has a health wonder in retailer for us this yr, Fitbit-related or another way. All I do know is that, someday, Google’s selection to depart its Wear OS companions to fend for themselves on well being and health — the primary precedence for a large number of Android watch patrons — may backfire on them.