Over a month has passed since Google’s Pixel Watch was released. The Pixel Watch is still in its early stages, and as with many other newly launched products, there are still system upgrades to be rolled out. Several new applications are about to be released for both the Google Wear OS smartwatch operating system and the Pixel Watch. There will be at least three years of software updates for the Pixel Watch, according to Google.
Some of Google’s Wear OS apps have been updated, including a revamped Google Keep app and a weather app. According to 9to5Google, the company is working on bringing Google Calendar and Gmail to your wrist. It’s great news for smartwatch users, and especially for buyers of the recently released Pixel Watch, as Google’s wearable system currently lacks these applications.
Because smartwatches have tiny displays, Google has until now opted to present calendar and email information via complications and notifications on their watch faces. It is only possible to access a user’s Google calendar via the smartwatch-only Agenda app, which only displays events up to three days in the future, with no option to see a full month or week on your smartwatch.
Google smartwatch and Pixel Watch users can only create new calendar events by talking to Google Assistant, whereas Samsung Galaxy Watch owners have access to a full calendar app.
Likewise, Google’s Wear OS and Pixel Watch can only access Gmail through notifications. There is no email inbox and an email can no longer be viewed on the watch after it disappears from the notification panel.
Thankfully, Google seems to be working on changing this. Given the Pixel Watch has a cellular connection, it should be able to check calendar entries and Gmail inboxes without a smartphone nearby.
9to5Google reports that the company is currently testing Wear OS versions of both apps. It is not clear yet if calendar events and emails can be created within the smartwatch applications. However, the capability of viewing events over three days in the future, and scrolling through a Gmail inbox, both represent significant advances for Google’s smartwatch platform.