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Wear OS 5 blocks one of the best watch apps and it’s high time Google fixes things
October 16, 2024
This new weekly column will delve into the evolving landscape of Wear OS, highlighting the latest developments, updates, and innovative applications that deserve attention. One of the more significant advancements in recent years is Google’s XML Watch Face Format (WFF), which may have gone unnoticed by those who stick to the default watch faces on their Galaxy or Pixel Watches. This upgrade is crucial as it optimizes memory usage, ultimately enhancing battery life—a vital feature for any smartwatch user.
However, the introduction of WFF has also led to a notable decline in the creativity of Android watch faces, resulting in the unfortunate demise of popular apps like Facer on devices such as the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Pixel Watch 3. The WFF replaces the older AndroidX and Wearable Support watch faces, operating without any logic or executable code. Memory usage is strictly limited to 10MB in ambient mode and 100MB in interactive mode, allowing these faces to run efficiently off the watch’s coprocessor, with minimal impact on battery life.
While the mandatory WFF faces, combined with the Wear OS Hybrid Interface, have made the Pixel Watch 3 more functional—extending its battery life to nearly two days compared to just over one day with the Pixel Watch 2—they lack excitement. The XML format restricts complex animations and features, stifling innovation and effectively shutting down the vibrant third-party market for watch faces.
This Mewtwo watch face would change the water level based on how much battery life you had left. (Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)
The Facer app, which boasts a library of hundreds of thousands of watch faces—including those with captivating animations and popular brand designs—has been a go-to for many users. While premium faces come at a cost, the investment has been worthwhile for those looking to keep their devices visually engaging. Facer operates much like a Play Store for watch faces, allowing users to explore various categories, whether free or paid, and curate a personalized collection that could transition to future devices.
However, with the advent of Wear OS 5, the future of Facer hangs in the balance. New owners of the Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 3 find themselves bereft of their beloved watch faces. Users are left with the choice of default options or a tedious search through the Play Store for WFF alternatives, which lack organization and visibility for developers. This environment discourages innovation, as there is little incentive for creators to develop new XML watch faces.
Google needs to fix this and work with Facer
Finding WFF watch faces for Wear OS 5 watches is a pain. (Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)
Facer has publicly expressed its concerns regarding the WFF changes, stating that it is diligently working with Google to integrate its service with Wear OS 5. Despite ongoing discussions since the announcement of the Watch Face Format in 2023, the rollout occurred before a viable solution could be established. The current WFF framework would require Facer to convert its extensive library of 500,000 faces to XML, stripping away features that the limited format cannot support, and re-uploading them individually to the Play Store. Users would lose access to previously purchased faces, necessitating repurchases without the option for a subscription model.
While Google has the right to enforce its XML requirements for Wear OS, the decision to limit creative watch faces raises concerns about the overall user experience. The Play Store’s current structure seems inadequate, lacking a suitable alternative for developers and artists to showcase their work. A potential solution could involve allowing users to continue installing WFF faces from third-party platforms like Facer, fostering an environment where creativity can thrive. Alternatively, Google could consider acquiring Facer, transforming it into a first-party platform that enhances the discovery of watch faces for Wear OS users.
A new Wear OS Weekly column
As the wearables editor at Android Central, I have extensively covered Wear OS watches in my Sunday Runday column, focusing primarily on hardware quality and fitness software. However, this space does not allow for a broader discussion of watches. Thus, I am excited to introduce this new Wear OS Weekly column, which will appear every Wednesday.
Initially, my focus was on fitness watches, as I felt more equipped to address that area. My journey with Wear OS began with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and while I have gained valuable insights, I aim to align my coverage with the expectations of our readers. With increased familiarity with Wear OS, I believe the time is ripe to expand this series. I plan to explore software updates, highlight favored watch apps from the Android Central team, and enhance our smartwatch coverage beyond mere news updates.
Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts or suggest topics for future columns, either through comments or direct emails. Your input will help shape this new endeavor, ensuring it meets the interests and needs of the Wear OS community.
Wear OS 5 blocks one of the best watch apps and it’s high time Google fixes things
This new weekly column will delve into the evolving landscape of Wear OS, highlighting the latest developments, updates, and innovative applications that deserve attention. One of the more significant advancements in recent years is Google’s XML Watch Face Format (WFF), which may have gone unnoticed by those who stick to the default watch faces on their Galaxy or Pixel Watches. This upgrade is crucial as it optimizes memory usage, ultimately enhancing battery life—a vital feature for any smartwatch user.
However, the introduction of WFF has also led to a notable decline in the creativity of Android watch faces, resulting in the unfortunate demise of popular apps like Facer on devices such as the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Pixel Watch 3. The WFF replaces the older AndroidX and Wearable Support watch faces, operating without any logic or executable code. Memory usage is strictly limited to 10MB in ambient mode and 100MB in interactive mode, allowing these faces to run efficiently off the watch’s coprocessor, with minimal impact on battery life.
While the mandatory WFF faces, combined with the Wear OS Hybrid Interface, have made the Pixel Watch 3 more functional—extending its battery life to nearly two days compared to just over one day with the Pixel Watch 2—they lack excitement. The XML format restricts complex animations and features, stifling innovation and effectively shutting down the vibrant third-party market for watch faces.
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)
The Facer app, which boasts a library of hundreds of thousands of watch faces—including those with captivating animations and popular brand designs—has been a go-to for many users. While premium faces come at a cost, the investment has been worthwhile for those looking to keep their devices visually engaging. Facer operates much like a Play Store for watch faces, allowing users to explore various categories, whether free or paid, and curate a personalized collection that could transition to future devices.
However, with the advent of Wear OS 5, the future of Facer hangs in the balance. New owners of the Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 3 find themselves bereft of their beloved watch faces. Users are left with the choice of default options or a tedious search through the Play Store for WFF alternatives, which lack organization and visibility for developers. This environment discourages innovation, as there is little incentive for creators to develop new XML watch faces.
Google needs to fix this and work with Facer
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)
Facer has publicly expressed its concerns regarding the WFF changes, stating that it is diligently working with Google to integrate its service with Wear OS 5. Despite ongoing discussions since the announcement of the Watch Face Format in 2023, the rollout occurred before a viable solution could be established. The current WFF framework would require Facer to convert its extensive library of 500,000 faces to XML, stripping away features that the limited format cannot support, and re-uploading them individually to the Play Store. Users would lose access to previously purchased faces, necessitating repurchases without the option for a subscription model.
While Google has the right to enforce its XML requirements for Wear OS, the decision to limit creative watch faces raises concerns about the overall user experience. The Play Store’s current structure seems inadequate, lacking a suitable alternative for developers and artists to showcase their work. A potential solution could involve allowing users to continue installing WFF faces from third-party platforms like Facer, fostering an environment where creativity can thrive. Alternatively, Google could consider acquiring Facer, transforming it into a first-party platform that enhances the discovery of watch faces for Wear OS users.
A new Wear OS Weekly column
As the wearables editor at Android Central, I have extensively covered Wear OS watches in my Sunday Runday column, focusing primarily on hardware quality and fitness software. However, this space does not allow for a broader discussion of watches. Thus, I am excited to introduce this new Wear OS Weekly column, which will appear every Wednesday.
Initially, my focus was on fitness watches, as I felt more equipped to address that area. My journey with Wear OS began with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and while I have gained valuable insights, I aim to align my coverage with the expectations of our readers. With increased familiarity with Wear OS, I believe the time is ripe to expand this series. I plan to explore software updates, highlight favored watch apps from the Android Central team, and enhance our smartwatch coverage beyond mere news updates.
Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts or suggest topics for future columns, either through comments or direct emails. Your input will help shape this new endeavor, ensuring it meets the interests and needs of the Wear OS community.