What an Android Wear watch can do with an iPhone. Experience of use

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A few months ago, the choice of smartwatches for iPhone owners was virtually nonexistent. That changed with the Apple Watch in April and even more now that Google released the Android Wear app for iOS. IPhone owners can now use the Moto 360, LG Watch Urbane, and any other Android Wear smartwatch. How successful and with what convenience - let's figure it out.

Initial setup

Connecting and setting up the clock for the first time is quite simple. You need to install the Android Wear application and, after launching it, follow the wizard's prompts. The watch will connect to the iPhone via Bluetooth, after which a code will appear on it, which must be entered on the smartphone. Next, the application will issue many requests for using the iPhone, which should be accepted if you want the watch to not only show the time, but also be able to do something else.

To run an Android Wear watch, you need at least an iPhone 5 and iOS 8.2, as well as an Apple Watch.

Application

The Android Wear app that is used to set up and operate the watch is rather limited. The biggest inconvenience is the need for its constant work in the background. If you terminate the application, the connection with the clock will immediately be cut off.

On the main tab, you can choose a watch face or download a new one, but since there is, of course, no access to Google Play, the choice will be limited to 15 additional themes. There is also a Tips section containing useful information for watch owners.

Basically, that's all. In addition to watch faces and tips, in the upper corner there is a button for connecting to another watch and settings containing various Google Now options and display behaviors, adding other Google accounts, choosing a default calendar (Apple or Google), and a list of blocked apps. Some of these settings are available on the watch itself.

What works

The closed ecosystem of Apple imposes certain restrictions on the available Android Wear features, especially when compared to Android smartphones. Let's not quibble too much, the fact that they work at all is already a miracle. It's foolish to expect something supernatural, but at least basic functions are available.

Notifications

Of course, the watch receives notifications from the iPhone. The key point is that only notifications from the "Notification Center" arrive. That is, if you allowed applications to send you messages, but did not enable them to be displayed in the "Notification Center", they will not be sent to your watch. To receive them, you need to open the notification settings and check the display options for each of the installed applications. But the main thing is that it works for all applications: both standard and third-party ones.

The ability to interact with the received notifications on the watch is entirely dependent on the applications themselves. Some simply display information about such and such an event. For example, WhatsApp shows that you have received a new message and from whom it is - but the message itself can only be read in the application. Others in the notification immediately display the content: this is what, for example, Instagram does.

When you receive a notification, you can swipe right to make it disappear from the watch and Notification Center on iPhone, or swipe left to block notifications from being sent from this app.

Google now

You also have access to Google Now, which lets you choose specific notifications to appear on your wrist, including reminders for birthdays, flights, weather and traffic. There is also a player control, however, only pause and play are available. The good news is it works on Apple Music, Spotify, and more.

Fitness

For those interested in fitness functionality, Android Wear watches can count steps and offer basic activity tracking. Some models have a heart rate monitor and other sensors, so if your watch is equipped with one, you get more data. The bad news is, none of this information syncs with Apple Health.

What does not work

Android Wear on iOS has a few big drawbacks compared to Android. Of the most obvious, there are very limited, or rather, completely absent, opportunities to respond to messages and emails (if we are not talking about Gmail).

Interacting with notifications

Apple Watch offers answer options, and you can dictate text using Siri. With an Android Wear watch, all you can do is dismiss the notification or block the app that sent it. The only exception is Gmail. By enabling the corresponding option in the Android Wear settings, you can dictate responses to messages. You just need to speak very clearly, because everything you say will immediately go to your interlocutor. Considering the quality of speech recognition, you better not be wrong.

Extensions

Third-party app extensions are currently unavailable for Android Wear on iOS, so anyone hoping to read news on their watch or view social media feeds will have to upset. There are not so many really useful applications that you can work with right on the watch, but they are. If this is important to you, then it is better to look at the Apple Watch, not Android Wear.

OK, Google

The voice assistant works in conjunction with the iPhone, but its capabilities are severely limited. You can request information about upcoming events in the calendar or perform various actions with Google apps, but the number of commands available is noticeably less than with Siri.

Android Wear offers an alternative to Apple watches. However, there is a price to pay for the variety of models and designs available. Whether such a watch is the best choice for you depends on your needs. An Android Wear watch does a good job of broadcasting notifications and allows you to view them without taking your iPhone out of your pocket or bag.

Compared to the functions that are available to users of Android smartphones, in conjunction with the iPhone, the Andoid Wear watch has a number of limitations and provides only basic capabilities. But you have a wider range of gadgets to choose from, including design, brand, and specific features.