In order to connect to Fossil’s new Wear OS 3 watches, users will be able to use Fossil’s hybrid smartwatch companion app.
What you should be aware of
- The companion app for Fossil’s hybrid smartwatch has received a new look.
- Working with Google’s developers, the company is bringing Wear OS compatibility to the app.
- This year, Fossil plans to upgrade its smartwatches to Wear OS 3.
A new version of the companion software for the company’s hybrid smartwatches is in development, according to Fossil. As we await the Wear OS 3 upgrade later this year, the app has recently undergone a re-design following the debut of its latest hybrid smartwatch model.
The Fossil crew made the announcement on Reddit (via 9to5Google). It shows that the company is working hard to produce the greatest smartwatch experience for everyone using its software and that it is listening to feedback from users and from within the company.
The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid smartwatch’s phone app isn’t ideal, which forced Fossil to upgrade the software following the watch’s release. Fossil’s app for its Wear OS 3-compatible watches is being prepared ahead of the big update, which is slated for later this year for devices such as the Fossil Gen 6 and its successors.
By saying it’s working closely with Google, Fossil further hints that a good app experience will be provided. For Wear OS 3 support, significant changes have been made to the existing companion software.
It makes sense for Fossil to incorporate Wear OS into its existing app, as Samsung already has a smartwatch companion app for the Galaxy Watch 4 and there are speculations that the Pixel Watch will also have an app.
Fossil has also explained the rationale for the UI modifications on its latest hybrid smartwatch, which also includes a companion app.
“Many people find it difficult to understand. When there were only three vertical buttons on the side to navigate, it used a combination of vertical and horizontal scrolling and a lot of convoluted push vs. press-n-hold vs. extremely long press that was plain unintuitive and took too much understanding.”
An improved user interface is being touted for the new hybrid smartwatch UI.
While we wait for Wear OS 3 to arrive, Fossil’s announcement gives us even more reason to be excited. The recently released Montblanc Summit 3 is the only smartwatch other than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 with Wear OS 3 on board, which makes us hopeful that some of the greatest Wear OS watches may soon get it.