Fossil is no newcomer to wearables. The company has been involved with smartwatches since the early 2000s, and it has garnered a fair amount of praise for its products worldwide. Back when the Wear OS 3 update was released, Google Assistant mysteriously disappeared from many smartwatches, including Fossil smartwatches. Only the Pixel Watch and Samsung’s newer Galaxy Watches had support for the feature. However, Fossil is now stepping in, ensuring that users no longer have to switch brands just to have the convenience of talking to Google on their wrist.
Fossil has also included support for Amazon’s Alexa Voice Assistant
This month, Fossil is rolling out an update that adds Google Assistant to its Gen 6 smartwatches running Wear OS 3. This update extends to not only Fossil’s own models but also to counterparts from Diesel, Michael Kors, and Skagen. There is a small catch, though – the smartwatch needs to be paired with a phone running standard Android with Google apps.
If you’re already familiar with using Google or Samsung smartwatches, the functionality of the Assistant on Fossil’s Gen 6 watches will feel quite similar. You can activate the AI helper by saying “hey Google,” holding a button, or tapping a watch face complication. This feature allows you to answer texts, control music, and perform various tasks that typically require your phone. Notably, unlike many other alternatives, Fossil’s implementation also includes support for Amazon‘s Alexa, offering users flexibility in choosing their preferred ecosystem for voice commands.
While this update is undoubtedly good news for Fossil smartwatch owners, it may not be as helpful for those using Wear OS 3 watches from other brands, such as Mobvoi or Montblanc. However, given Fossil’s reputation as one of the leading names in Google-powered smartwatches, this support significantly expands the number of wearable owners who can now enjoy the benefits of Google Assistant without the need for a tiny smartphone screen.
While details about the release date and features of the anticipated Gen 7 remain unknown, it’s expected to be a substantial upgrade whenever it arrives. Consequently, it’s advisable not to rush into buying the Gen 6 solely because of the Assistant update. Instead, the update primarily caters to existing Gen 6 owners who experienced a loss of functionality last year because of the update.
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(Via)
