Samsung showed us the new Wear platform for the first time at MWC. Despite it being the most anticipated event of this year's conference we didn't see much new in this teaser. Next month's Unpacked event will feature more. The Galaxy Watch 4 will be first watch to use the new unified platform. We also learned that Samsung will create a skin for the platform called One UI Watch. This makes sense, as Samsung wants it to look and feel more like the Galaxy phone. When it came time to see how the new platform would look and behave, however, we saw two more gifs than at Google I/O. This is it. The Google I/O presentation was the source for all app examples. The splash screen showed all app icons, along with a few examples that looked like a shuffled version Google I/O's hero. We saw how the top-level Settings menu would look on a phone, and also the automatic app installation. VPN Deals: Monthly plans starting at $16 for a lifetime license and monthly plans starting at $16Source: SamsungWill notifications look the same as before? We don't yet know. What is the current status of Samsung Pay and Google Pay? No. There is a new system that watches faces will work on, we keep hearing. Does this mean that current watch faces will not work on the new system or vice versa? Je sais pas. We should have the answers within a month. Either way, I know that I will buy the Galaxy Watch (Active 4) as soon as it becomes available. I'm not alone, I'm certain. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the new watches' appearance and behavior, it is clear that they will be an improvement on the best Android smartwatches running Wear OS and Tizen. The Fossil Gen 5e, which I reviewed earlier in the year, is a good choice. My two-year-old Galaxy Watch Active is still my favorite watch, especially when I'm sweaty at Walt Disney World or nightly with medication-induced insomnia.Source: Ara Wagoner/ Android CentralBixby voice is too slow for me to respond to notifications on my wrist. I also can't use any Google apps such as Google Keep for grocery list or Google Pay (so I can place my Annual Pass on my wrist), however, the Watch Active feels great and is small. It's a great watch that can be used Assistant, Google Play Apps, and Fitbit. Anyone who has purchased the Fossil Generation 5e or any Wear OS watch within the past year, it is a shame to spend $150-300 on a new watch. They are not wrong. I would be pissed too. Mobvoi, Fossil and Samsung kept pushing new watches, even though a new platform was being introduced at Google I/O. The new platform will be available on watches this fall. If you purchased a Wear OS watch within the past year, it is likely that you have wasted your money. This is the short and simple version.Source: Android CentralYou might be able to recover some of these costs by trading your old watch in when you buy the Galaxy Watch 4, Pixel Watch or any other Wear platform watch this fall. Unfortunately, it is not easy to trade in smartwatches. Source: Android Central This is a complete sham. Apple's trade in program will not accept non-Apple smartwatches except for free recycling. Samsung's trade in program accepts only Apple Watches and Samsung watches. The trade-in values Samsung offers for its watches is almost insulting. 100$ for a Galaxy Watch 3 Guys, it's not so bad! Samsung does have something, but Google, Fossil and Mobvoi do not offer trade-in programs for watches. Fossil did however have limited-time events where you could trade in and trade up. You can't sell your watch on Amazon unless you sign up to become a reseller. Once the new Wear comes out, it will be difficult to find someone willing to purchase a used smartwatch. A strong trade-in program would benefit everyone. Trade-ins can drive greater sales for manufacturers just like the insanely high trade in promotion for the Galaxy S21 prompted many to upgrade this spring. Google as co-manager for the new Wear platform would benefit in two ways. First, Google would be able to collect more feedback early on and refine the system. Second, a faster adoption rate and larger initial pool would allow Google to gather more user feedback. Third, developers could use a larger, newer pool of Wear users to help them create and re-formulate Wear apps.Source: GoogleGoogle has already collaborated with several of the bigger Wear apps to enhance their experience on the new platform. However, the number of Wear apps available on Google Play isn’t as extensive as Google or users would like. Developers go where their customers are. If enough smartwatches are being purchased, this might encourage developers to make (or remake) watch apps. Automatic app installation will become a part of the new Wear platform. This will make it easier to determine which apps will work on your wrist. The best part is that current watch owners will be able to trade in their watches and get money back. This will reduce the outrage at current watches not receiving the new platform and increase the public's and social presence for the new Wear system. After a confusing summer, there have been many unanswered questions and confusion.
