Google has released Wear OS operating system version 5 developer preview based on the Android 14 platform. The main theme of Wear OS 5 emphasizes extending battery life. For instance, using Wear OS devices for running marathons can reduce battery usage by up to 20% compared to Wear OS 4, although specifics on how this reduction is achieved remain vague.
Google has also revamped the development of watch faces on Wear OS to utilize the new Watch Face Format introduced in Wear OS 4. Older watch faces developed with AndroidX or the legacy Wearable Support Library will gradually be phased out in the future. In terms of app development on Wear OS, Google recommends using Jetpack Compose for Wear OS, aligning with their overarching goal of promoting Jetpack Compose across all device platforms.
Finally, Google has shared that the user base for Wear OS devices is projected to grow by 40% in 2023, without disclosing the total number of users. They only disclosed the growth rate.
Source: Android Developers
TLDR: Google unveils Wear OS 5 with a focus on extending battery life, introduces a new Watch Face Format, recommends Jetpack Compose for app development, and predicts a 40% increase in user base by 2023.
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