GoKawiil
Tech News
Google has confirmed that a system status bar showing the time and icons like airplane mode and Do Not Disturb will launch with Wear OS 8. The company had previously let developers test the feature in a Wear OS 7.1 emulator but said it wouldn't ship until a later release, and has now shared an image of the status bar's design.
Google has released an updated Wear OS emulator built on unreleased Wear OS 7.1 software, based on Android 17. The emulator introduces a persistent system status bar that appears over app windows at the top of circular watch displays, showing the time and system icons after a few seconds of inactivity. Google says the feature currently only displays a placeholder star icon and won't be present when Wear OS 7.1 actually ships to devices.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch9 brings a new Snapdragon Wear Elite processor, Wear OS 7 with customizable widgets, and a raise-to-talk Gemini feature, alongside a modestly larger battery. Despite the bigger battery, real-world battery life stayed around 25 hours with always-on display enabled, similar to its predecessor. The reviewer calls it a solid but incremental update over last year's Watch8, better suited for those upgrading from older Galaxy Watches.
Google rolled out its latest Pixel Feature Drop, adding expanded home-screen widgets and notification badges for quickly reaching VIP contacts on Pixel 6 and newer. The update also broadens Scam Detection across chat apps and Gboard in ten countries, brings a Wear OS 7 update with offline Gemini and improved GPS to Pixel Watch 5, and introduces Harry Potter-themed customization packs with free Audible access.
Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 9 Watch beta, based on Wear OS 7, to the 2023 Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic models in South Korea. The update follows earlier beta releases for the Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 7, and Watch Ultra, though a full changelog has not yet been published.
Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 9 Watch beta to the Galaxy Watch 7 and the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, beginning in South Korea. The roughly 1.9GB update brings an upgraded Samsung Health app with better sleep insights, refreshed UI elements, and the Vascular Load metric, though US units will likely get Blood Pressure Trend instead.
Samsung has released the second One UI 9 Watch beta for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic to testers in South Korea, carrying firmware ZZI1 and the September 2026 security patch. The update stabilizes the Samsung Health app, resolves watch face switching problems, and corrects an Always On Display bug that showed incorrect time.
Samsung has begun rolling out the One UI 9 Watch beta to US-based owners of the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic, following an earlier launch in South Korea. The update, accessible through the Samsung Members app, brings a redesigned Galaxy Wearable app, revamped Samsung Health metrics, and new workout and camera remote features.