Google I/O 2022 might share the identical focus as final 12 months’s convention: wearable expertise. Several rumors, stories and leaks point out the search large’s first smartwatch — more likely to be known as the Pixel Watch — would possibly lastly make its debut this week. (Here’s the right way to watch Google I/O stay.) The firm can also be anticipated to share updates about its Wear OS smartwatch software program, which it overhauled final 12 months in collaboration with Samsung.Only Google is aware of what’s in retailer for its annual convention. But the corporate sometimes makes use of its opening keynote as a chance to preview developments throughout its main merchandise. That often consists of platforms like Android and Wear OS, and apps reminiscent of Google Photos, Maps and Search.
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What to Expect at Google I/O 2022
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Aside from saying updates, Google’s keynote often says lots about its general strategy and imaginative and prescient. We’ll doubtless get a glimpse of how Google plans to make its gadgets and providers stand out from rivals, like Apple, Samsung and Amazon. If the rumors turn into true, the corporate’s stance on smartwatches may very well be an enormous a part of this 12 months’s occasion. A Pixel Watch announcement could be greater than a brand new product; it will inform us about what Google sees as being the perfect Android smartwatch expertise. Read extra: Google’s Rumored Smartwatch Should Take a Page From Its Pixel TelephonesHere’s what we’re anticipating to see from Google because it pertains to smartwatches and wearable expertise at I/O 2022.
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The Next Pixels: What You Should Know
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The Pixel Watch would possibly arriveThere’s an opportunity Google might lastly introduce its first client smartwatch. Google hasn’t mentioned a phrase about plans to launch a watch of its personal, nevertheless it is perhaps the corporate’s worst-kept secret. Reports from Insider, tech YouTube character Jon Prosser, and up to date leaks claiming to point out photographs of the watch point out a Pixel Watch is certainly coming. Google I/O looks as if a super time to make such an announcement. However, it is attainable we would not get the complete story at I/O. Prosser suggests Google will tease the watch at its convention moderately than reveal all the main points. Instead, the corporate would possibly launch the Pixel Watch within the fall alongside the Pixel 7, Prosser says.Google made an analogous transfer with the Pixel 6 final 12 months. It introduced sure tidbits concerning the cellphone in August however saved the complete reveal for its October launch.So what do we all know concerning the Pixel Watch to this point? Everything but additionally nothing, it appears. Reddit consumer “tagtech414” leaked photographs to Android Central and on Reddit that declare to point out the watch itself. Both units of pictures are in keeping with earlier rumors and renderings indicating it is going to have a spherical design. We additionally anticipate Fitbit to be integrated into the Pixel Watch not directly, though we can’t know for certain till the watch turns into official. Fitbit additionally beforehand mentioned it is engaged on a high-end Wear OS watch of its personal, nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not this Fitbit watch and the Pixel Watch could be the identical system. Pricing is one other thriller. Read More: Should You Upgrade to the Pixel 6? We Compare It to 3 Older Pixel TelephonesWear OS updatesGoogle will even doubtless have common updates to share on Wear OS, the software program it gives for smartwatches made by Fossil, Samsung and different corporations. Google introduced a brand new model of Wear OS throughout final 12 months’s I/O that brings higher integration with the corporate’s apps and smoother efficiency amongst different enhancements. It developed the software program in collaboration with Samsung, the world’s second-largest smartwatch maker when it comes to market share, in accordance with Counterpoint Research. But to this point, we have solely seen the software program on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4, which nonetheless depends closely on Samsung’s personal apps and providers. It would not really feel very Google-like, so it is onerous to inform how a lot of a distinction the refreshed software program makes. Google Assistant is coming to the Watch 4 in a future replace, though a agency date hasn’t been introduced.Wear OS can also be anticipated to return to Fossil wearables and Mobvoi’s TicWatch gadgets in mid-2022. Fossil tweeted in March that the replace would arrive to eligible watches within the mid to second half of the 12 months, however we have now but to listen to extra specifics. A Google spokesperson mentioned the corporate is working to carry Wear OS 3 to extra gadgets this 12 months, however has nothing to share about its accomplice roadmap right now. Now that we’re approaching the center of the 12 months, hopefully we’ll study extra about timing and availability at I/O. It’s attainable that Google might announce the Wear OS Fitbit watch we have been listening to about, however Fitbit product bulletins often occur nearer to the autumn. Google might additionally unveil new options and different refinements to Wear OS now that it has been virtually a full 12 months because the software program’s reveal. Read More: I Want More From the Apple Watch in 2022 Google’s plans for FitbitMaybe the most important query is whether or not we’ll study extra about how Google intends to fold Fitbit into its Wear OS platform. Fitbit plans to launch a model of its app for Wear OS, as my colleague Scott Stein reported final 12 months, though the timing is unclear. A Google spokesperson mentioned it is working to carry the Fitbit expertise to Wear OS this 12 months and can share extra particulars nearer to the launch. It’s been greater than a 12 months since Google’s acquisition of Fitbit closed; it is attainable we might hear extra about how the 2 manufacturers plan to work collectively. There’s already some proof of this in sure Google merchandise. For instance, the second-generation Nest Hub’s sleep monitoring options would require a Fitbit Premium subscription in 2023. But Google and Fitbit nonetheless provide two distinctly totally different experiences, so it will be attention-grabbing to see how they ultimately unite.Google has made a reputation for itself in smartphones and laptops due to its Pixel model, nevertheless it has but to department out into smartwatches. While promoting stays the most important a part of Google’s enterprise, the corporate has made a push to compete with Apple and Samsung as a number one maker of client tech devices in recent times. It even opened its first brick-and-mortar retail retailer final 12 months. Acquiring Fitbit was an enormous step in increasing Google’s footprint within the wearables market, however Apple and Samsung nonetheless lead the business. Apple accounted for 30.1% of the worldwide smartwatch market in 2021, in accordance with Counterpoint Research, whereas Samsung got here in second with 10.2%. Depending on what Google declares at I/O, we might study extra about how the corporate hopes to alter that.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 evaluate: The final Android watch?
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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is available in two seems to be and plenty of colours
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