YouTube Music on Wear OS is finally in a position to stream music over LTE and Wi-Fi.
Previously, you needed to download a complete playlist to your smartwatch in order to hearken to music. In a latest neighborhood publish, Google defined that you will now have entry to over 80 million songs and 1000's of playlists on the YouTube Music platform.
As a part of the replace, the app now comes with Smart Downloads, which refreshes downloaded songs each time your system connects to Wi-Fi. This way, your music isn’t interrupted because it switches connections.
A brand new YouTube Music tile will likely be added to Wear OS for fast entry to latest playlists or the shopping web page. On prime of that, the revamped software program will supply tailored-made playlists in line with your historical past.
This all feels like nice information and are good additions to Wear OS, however there's a fairly huge caveat hooked up. According to Google, you have to be a YouTube Music Premium subscriber. Otherwise, you can’t use these options and are caught with the outdated technique of downloading playlists.
Wear OS on iOS helps the Wi-Fi streaming functionality however lacks LTE help. Google didn’t state if or when LTE connectivity will likely be making its way to iOS. The YouTube Music replace is simply beginning to roll out to Wear OS. Instructions on how you can stream music can be found on Google’s neighborhood web page.
Analysis: Is it too late?
Seen as uncared for by Google, Wear OS is getting a ton of latest options and a few {hardware} in the close to future. Recently, Google revealed the Pixel Watch throughout IO 2023. Not a lot is formally identified in regards to the Pixel Watch apart from a obscure launch window of fall 2023 and exclusivity to Android gadgets.
The system was extremely anticipated in the lead-up to its reveal with a number of leaks occurring in the weeks previous to the announcement.
Also, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will likely be getting lots of the new software program updates seen at IO 2023. These adjustments embody the revamped Google Wallet, which now has help for fee playing cards, and connectivity with the brand new Google Assistant.
While it’s good to see Google take more curiosity in smartwatches and Wear OS, it begs the query if this wave of help is just too late.
None of the smartwatch manufacturers like Fossil will likely be getting the brand new Google options, so far as we all know. Meanwhile, Apple Watch customers quantity over 100 million and rising. If Google needs an even bigger stake in the smartwatch business, it has its work lower out for it.