Posted by Kseniia Shumelchyk, Android Developer Relations Engineer and Kevin Hufnagle, Android Technical Author

Google Pixel Watch 2 is right here and brings the capabilities of Put on OS 4 to customers; get your app prepared for the most recent software program and gadgets!

We’re excited to convey Put on OS 4 and new person experiences to extra gadgets, together with the brand new Google Pixel Watch 2! We’re additionally offering up to date developer instruments so that you can put together your apps for Put on OS 4.

Later this 12 months, Pixel Watches will obtain a system replace to Put on OS 4, additional increasing the set of customers who can get pleasure from your app’s capabilities on the most recent software program.

Builders can even proceed to make use of Samsung Galaxy Watches to check their apps on Put on OS 4.

The newest model of Put on OS gives a number of capabilities that make it simpler to develop reliable, useful wearable experiences:

Watch Face Format

Created in partnership with Samsung, the Watch Face Format is a declarative XML format that permits you to design the looks and habits of watch faces. There isn’t any executable code concerned in making a watch face utilizing the Watch Face Format, and there might be no code embedded in your watch face APK.

The Put on OS platform takes care of the logic wanted to render the watch face that makes use of the Watch Face Format. Which means you don’t have to fret about code optimizations or battery efficiency. We suggest that you just create your watch face utilizing the Watch Face Format.

Extra seamless information switch

On gadgets that help cloud backup—together with Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch—customers can switch information from one Put on OS watch to a different utilizing a cloud backup and restore course of. You possibly can customise the set of information in your app that the system ought to embody in a cloud backup, in order that customers solely restore app information that’s significant to them.

Moreover, Put on OS 4 permits customers to switch their watch to a brand new cellphone with no need to carry out a manufacturing facility reset on the watch. They full this course of when organising the brand new cellphone, as proven within the following circulation beneath.

In case your app shops person configuration information for the watch on the outdated cellphone, you possibly can permit the system to switch this app information onto the brand new cellphone too. The information on learn how to switch Put on OS information to a brand new cell system has extra particulars.

Enhanced Tiles

Put on OS 4 gives enhanced capabilities to your app’s tiles. Model 1.2 of the Jetpack Tiles library introduces help for platform information bindings and animations, so you possibly can present much more responsive experiences to your customers.

Get your app prepared for Put on OS 4

Put on OS 4 relies on Android 13, which is a number of variations newer than the present Put on OS model, so your app might want to deal with the system habits modifications that take impact in Android 12 and Android 13.

Learn the developer documentation to find key habits modifications and learn to work together with new options. We suggest you begin by testing your app and releasing a suitable replace, so that you just’re prepared when the primary gadgets get upgraded to Put on OS 4. This offers your app a fundamental however essential degree of high quality that gives expertise for customers.

Put on OS 4 emulator

Right this moment we’ve additionally launched up to date system photographs for Put on OS emulators, out there beginning in Android Studio Hedgehog to assist take a look at your apps on Put on OS 4.

The brand new Put on OS 4 emulator doesn’t help native 32-bit code, so in case your app makes use of native code, ensure that it consists of each 32-bit and 64-bit native libraries. This may even put together your app for upcoming 64-bit solely {hardware}.

Be taught extra

To start growing apps for Put on OS, strive our Compose for Put on OS codelab, and take a look at the documentation and samples.

Uncover much more! View the Put on OS session from Google I/O, and learn in regards to the newest Jetpack releases for Put on OS.

There’s by no means been a greater time to get your app prepared for Put on OS 4 and all the most recent Put on OS watches. We are able to’t wait to see your apps on Put on OS 4 and what experiences you’ll construct!