What you want to grasp
- Google up to now teased the power to make use of Google Maps on Put on OS with no paired telephone.
- The function is now to be had, permitting LTE-connected Put on OS watches to offer turn-by-turn instructions.
- The brand new function is outwardly unavailable on older Put on OS 2 units.
Google up to now teased the power to make use of Google Maps on Put on OS with out being tethered to a smartphone, and after a while, the function is in spite of everything rolling out.
The corporate introduced the replace in a weblog put up on Thursday, sharing information about the usage of the function. Till now, the usage of Google Maps in your Pixel Watch or different Put on OS smartwatch and beginning navigation would concurrently open the app and navigation on no matter Android telephone your watch is attached to. Having it open on each units turns out beautiful redundant, however the newest replace in spite of everything addresses this.
For this to paintings, your watch preferably must have an LTE connection. Google says a Wi-Fi connection might paintings, too, despite the fact that I doubt that might be as dependable.
You’ll get started navigation with no paired telephone, simply as you could possibly with a telephone. Open Google Maps in your watch, input or make a choice your vacation spot, make a choice your mode of transportation (strolling, cycling, or riding), and head off.
“That is particularly useful when you find yourself out for a run or trip and feature left your telephone at the back of however wish to take a detour or want lend a hand discovering your method house,” Google says within the weblog put up.
The related Put on OS beef up web page notes that this it appears would possibly not practice to Put on OS 2 smartwatches, pointing out that “you’ll best use turn-by-turn instructions within the Google Maps app at the paired telephone.” That implies you can want a more recent Put on OS 3 smartwatch to make the most of untethered turn-by-turn navigation, preferably one with LTE. That leaves you with only some units at the moment, together with the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5.
Thus far, the function does now not seem to be running on my LTE Galaxy Watch 5 simply but, because it nonetheless activates me to glue my telephone, however I believe the replace will arrive at any second.
The Pixel Watch is one among our favourite Put on OS smartwatches. It has a beautiful design, plays strangely neatly, and is derived with Fitbit integration to your well being and health wishes.