GOOGLE EXPANDS Wear OS PARTNERSHIP WITH SAMSUNG AS Assistant AND Play Apps ARRIVES
We will recall that it’s not up to a year when the Android giant and Samsung announced their joint effort in the wearables aimed at taking on Apple’s exclusive dominance of the category. Now, this is taking a new dimension as Google expands its Samsung partnership with the arrival of Assistant and Play Apps.
While it became clear that the joint effort wouldn’t materialize overnight, back in August, we were rather braced with the first glimpse of “the new Wear OS Powered by Samsung”, understood to be part of the Galaxy Watch 4 launch. However, the company’s latest Unpacked event for its wearable line did not get a lot of love owing to the fact that the company had more than enough to talk about on the mobility front.
Google yesterday clarified in its announcement that Assistant will be arriving on Samsung’s latest wearable in the “coming months”. In view of this, it should be borne in mind that Google Assistant makes a lot of sense across Samsung’s platforms.
Moreover, as things evolve in this category, it’s obvious we’ve gotten clear insight over what could eventually emerge down the road for Samsung’s current Tizen/Wear OS hybrid. Samsung – Google expansion in this trajectory actually meant a lot for the wearable space.
Based on the latest, Galaxy Watch 4 would mean things like playing music and setting timers with a “Hey Google”. This meant that the subject app will be among those accessible on the watch via the Google Play store. As part of the integration, available Play apps will start appearing on the Watch once downloaded to a connected Android handset, enabling users to tap and install them on the wearable.
As it is shaping up to be a fun year for the wearable space, the readiness to topple Apple’s dominance in this category, notably with Google – Samsung partnership coupled with the Android giant’s acquisition of Fitbit in addition with further plans to grow out Wear OS is also viewed as early steps in this direction of integration.
In the meantime, Galaxy Watch 4 supports YouTube Music Premium via online listening, yet, it’s also seen as an update that will bring song streaming via Wi-Fi and cellular, allowing users to leave their phone at home and enjoy listening to new songs, while the subject feature which will make its fall in an unspecified time frame will be coming to both the aforementioned device and additional Wear OS.
- What’s your take on this?
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