What it’s essential know
- Google beforehand teased the flexibility to make use of Google Maps on Put on OS with no paired telephone.
- The function is now out there, permitting LTE-connected Put on OS watches to offer turn-by-turn instructions.
- The brand new function is seemingly unavailable on older Put on OS 2 units.
Google beforehand teased the flexibility to make use of Google Maps on Put on OS with out being tethered to a smartphone, and after a while, the function is lastly rolling out.
The corporate introduced the replace in a blog post on Thursday, sharing particulars about utilizing the function. Till now, using Google Maps on your Pixel Watch or different Put on OS smartwatch and beginning navigation would concurrently open the app and navigation on no matter Android phone your watch is related to. Having it open on each units appears fairly redundant, however the newest replace lastly addresses this.
For this to work, your watch ideally must have an LTE connection. Google says a Wi-Fi connection may fit, too, though I doubt that might be as dependable.
You can begin navigation with no paired telephone, simply as you’ll with a telephone. Open Google Maps in your watch, enter or choose your vacation spot, select your mode of transportation (strolling, biking, or driving), and head off.
“That is particularly useful once you’re out for a run or journey and have left your telephone behind however need to take a detour or need assistance discovering your manner house,” Google says within the weblog submit.
The linked Put on OS support page notes that this apparently will not apply to Put on OS 2 smartwatches, stating that “you’ll be able to solely use turn-by-turn instructions within the Google Maps app on the paired telephone.” Which means you may want a more recent Wear OS 3 smartwatch to benefit from untethered turn-by-turn navigation, ideally one with LTE. That leaves you with only some units proper now, together with the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5.
To this point, the function doesn’t seem like engaged on my LTE Galaxy Watch 5 simply but, because it nonetheless prompts me to attach my telephone, however I think about the replace will arrive at any second.
The Pixel Watch is one in every of our favourite Put on OS smartwatches. It has a beautiful design, performs surprisingly properly, and comes with Fitbit integration on your well being and health wants.
