Joe Maring / Android Authority
It’s a damn good time right now to be a smartwatch fan. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 series recently launched, the Pixel Watch 4 is right around the corner, Wear OS 6 is chock-full of impressive changes, and Gemini has finally replaced Google Assistant on our wrists.
The Pixel Watch 4 is expected to arrive on August 20, and it’s shaping up quite nicely. We’ve seen leaks teasing a bigger battery, brighter display, and faster charging (with a funky new charging mechanism, too). Paired with Google’s new Material 3 Expressive interface, there’s a lot to look forward to.
While I’m excited to see Google’s latest smartwatch innovations, I can’t help but keep thinking about one of Samsung’s. I just finished reviewing the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and it has a software feature that’s so good, I can’t help but hope that Google blatantly copies it for the Pixel Watch 4.
What do you think about the redesigned tiles in One UI 8 Watch? 9 votes They're amazing! Exactly what I've been waiting for. 22 % They seem cool, but not that big of a deal. 67 % I don't like them/I prefer the full-screen tile design. 0 % Other (let us know in the comments). 11 %
The problem with Wear OS tiles, and how Samsung solved it
Joe Maring / Android Authority The current (and bad) full-screen tile design on Wear OS
Tiles have been a part of Wear OS since 2019, and in the six years they’ve existed, they haven’t changed much at all. You view your tiles by swiping left or right on your clock face, with each tile taking up its own new page. For example, you may have a weather tile on one page, a Google Maps tile on another, a Spotify tile on the next page, and so on.
In theory, tiles are great. If you want to check an upcoming calendar appointment, start a new Google Keep note, or see a preview of your Gmail inbox, you can do all of it just by scrolling through your home screens without ever having to open a new app. But therein lies the problem with Wear OS tiles: scrolling.
I love the concept of tiles, but the endless micromanaging deters me from using them.
... continue reading