The media output switcher allows users to choose which device should play media and show information about what is currently playing. | Image credit-9to5Google
Update to Wear OS 5 includes a grid view for your apps. | Image credit-Android Police
Wear OS 5 adds support for Astro Mode used for astrophotography. The update also includes a media output switcher that “lets users choose which device should play media and show information about the currently-playing media content,”
Google Pixel Watch 1: AW2A.240903.005.A2
Google Pixel Watch 2: AW2A.240903.005.A1
What’s Included
The September 2024 software update includes an upgrade to Wear OS 5, including new features, numerous bug fixes, and performance updates for Pixel Watch users. Additionally, app updates via the Playstore will be available for Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2 to obtain the grid-view app launcher, improved Camera controls, and the Pixel Recorder functionality.
Device Applicability
Applicable updates are available for all supported Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2 devices.”-Google
Watch face format version 2 comes with a pair of additional preset configurations called Flavors, weather conditions, heart rate system data source, and two new complications which include Goal progress and Weighted elements. The former is employed when a user can exceed a goal such as a step count. The latter is used to show discrete subsets of data.
With Wear 5 OS, there are new metrics for runners:
- Ground contact time: Measures the amount of time that a runner’s foot is in contact with the ground during a single step.
- Stride length: The distance covered by a runner in a single step.
- Vertical oscillation: The distance that a user’s center of mass, with each step, moves up and down.
- Vertical ratio: Vertical oscillation divided by stride length.