smartwatches Archives

Winsage

June 13, 2026

On this day: Microsoft’s unreleased Moonraker smartwatch still feels ahead of its time

Microsoft developed an unreleased smartwatch called Moonraker, codenamed LS-50, designed to run on Windows OS with a Modern UI. It was intended to launch alongside the Lumia 930 but was canceled after Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's devices and services division. Prototypes were showcased at Mobile World Congress, but the device never reached consumers. Recent images of the Moonraker were shared by Microsoft design employee Pei-Chi Hsie on Tumblr before being removed.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Telegram’s Wear OS app makes a comeback, now with full chats, voice notes, and more

Telegram has reintroduced its app to Wear OS, allowing Android smartwatch users to access a fully functional messaging interface. The new version enables users to scroll through complete conversations, view photos, videos, and location previews, and play voice messages directly from the smartwatch. Users can actively engage in conversations by replying with text or voice, sending stickers, and managing chats. On the smartphone side, Telegram has enhanced its Android app with features such as bots that send richly formatted messages and manage group interactions. Group administrators can assign bots for moderation, and Telegram Polls now support clickable links. The in-app browser has been improved to handle links more flexibly, allowing users to customize how links open.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

7 widgets I always add to my home screen on every Android phone

App widgets enhance the functionality of smartphones by providing quick access to information and features. The battery widget offers a comprehensive overview of battery levels for connected devices, displaying detailed information that surpasses the Quick Settings panel. The Brave browser widget features prominent bookmarks, a built-in search bar, and a shortcut for opening private tabs, improving the browsing experience. The Gemini widget allows immediate access to shortcuts for conversations, prompts, and screen sharing, replacing the traditional search bar. The Digital Wellbeing widget displays daily screen time usage and the three most-used apps, promoting mindfulness about device engagement. The Samsung Health widget tracks step count and daily activity, while Google Fit provides similar functionality for non-Galaxy phone users, emphasizing fitness monitoring. Google Maps includes location-sharing widgets for quick access to safety and coordination features with loved ones. The Google Keep widget facilitates quick note-taking, offering shortcuts for various types of notes, making it a versatile tool for users. Maintaining a balance between utility and clutter is important, and widget stacks in One UI can help organize the home screen efficiently.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

I actually don’t hate the new Google Health app, but it could still use some work. Here are my highlights after testing the revamped Fitbit app, and how I think Google can improve

The Google Health app has been redesigned from its previous identity as Fitbit and launched alongside the Fitbit Air. It features daily run recommendations enhanced by AI, but lacks the ability to send non-running workouts to the Pixel Watch. The workout interface is user-friendly, but the Pixel Watch cannot automatically count reps or sets. The categorization of workouts as "suggestions" in the Fitness tab is less definitive than before, though Google plans to reintroduce structured schedules later this year. The app provides motivational messages based on user activity and sleep metrics, allowing for flexible goal adjustments. The food logging feature allows users to log meals through descriptions or photos, but nutritional accuracy is inconsistent. The app syncs with MyFitnessPal for better meal logging. Additionally, users can link medical records to access health information in one place, although the presentation of historical data can be overwhelming. Google Health is actively working on updates based on user feedback, though some features, like sleep profiles, are not currently available.

AppWizard

May 29, 2026

Telegram’s finally getting an official Wear OS app again

Telegram has reintroduced its app for Wear OS smartwatches after a hiatus since 2021. The new version is available to users in the beta program for download from the Play Store. The app features customizable chat backgrounds, a condensed layout for navigating large group chats, and an Open on Phone button for transitioning back to mobile devices. Prior to this, users had to rely on generic notifications or third-party apps for messaging on Wear OS. To install the app, beta participants can access it on the Play Store, and others can join the beta program through Telegram’s Play Store page.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Wear OS 7: 5 New Features Coming To Your Android Smartwatch In 2026

Google has unveiled Wear OS 7, set to roll out in late 2026, featuring new enhancements for smartwatch users. Key updates include: 1. Real-time tracking with Live Updates, allowing users to monitor data and notifications directly from their wrist. 2. Integration of Gemini Intelligence for AI automation, enabling voice-activated tasks and direct actions from smartwatches. 3. More customizable widgets, offering "Small" and "Large" sizes for a personalized interface while maintaining visual consistency with Android devices. 4. Improved media controls for apps like Spotify and YouTube, allowing users to customize playback triggers and switch audio sources more easily. 5. A 10% improvement in battery life and the introduction of the Wear Workout Tracker kit to enhance fitness app development without draining battery life.

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

Google wants AI to make Android apps and make them well

AI is being utilized in software development, particularly in coding, with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini enabling users to create functional applications. However, AI models often lag behind updates in the Android core, leading to potential bugs and security issues in the apps they generate. Google has responded by providing real-time access to its official Android guidelines for AI coding agents and has introduced new tools to improve app development. This initiative allows AI agents to access the latest information from various developer resources, ensuring they can provide up-to-date guidance. Additionally, scaling AI applications across different devices has become easier, allowing Android apps to transition smoothly to platforms like smartwatches and tablets. The use of AI in app development is seen as a beneficial application amidst mixed feelings about AI-generated content in creative fields.

BetaBeacon

April 14, 2026

An update has been released for the official Android emulator that makes testing multiplayer games and other applications easier, and allows for easier interconnection of multiple virtual devices.

The latest update to the Android Emulator in Android Studio allows multiple instances to coexist on the same virtual Wi-Fi network and interconnect using standard Wi-Fi-based protocols.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

Samsung replaces Messages app with Google’s. What does this mean?

Samsung is discontinuing its Samsung Messages application and transitioning users to Google Messages by July. Users are encouraged to switch themselves for a smoother transition, with advantages including enhanced AI capabilities, multi-device connectivity, and RCS Messaging. The exact date for the discontinuation has yet to be provided. Users will receive in-app notifications to guide them through the transition, or they can manually download Google Messages and set it as their default SMS app. Samsung Messages will not be available for download on new devices, including the Galaxy S26. Users with Android 12 or 13 will need to manually add the Google Messages icon to their home screen dock after switching. Those with devices released prior to 2022 may experience temporary disruptions in RCS conversations. Messaging support will also cease for older generation smartwatches running Tizen OS, specifically those launched before the Galaxy Watch4.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

Samsung shares an ‘End of Service Announcement’ for its Messages app in the US, here are the devices impacted

Samsung will discontinue the Samsung Messages app in the United States by July 2026 and is encouraging users to transition to Google Messages as their default messaging app. This change primarily affects Samsung smartphone users in the U.S., particularly those with newer Android versions. Devices released prior to 2022 may face temporary disruptions in RCS conversations, though SMS and MMS will remain functional. Newer devices, such as the Galaxy S26 series and later, will not have Samsung Messages available for download from the Galaxy Store. After July 2026, the app will be completely inaccessible, and sending messages through Samsung Messages will be limited to emergency numbers or designated contacts. Users of older Galaxy smartwatches running Tizen OS will lose access to full message conversation history. Transition steps to Google Messages include downloading the app, setting it as the default SMS app, and confirming the choice.