Wear OS
Google improves text-to-speech (TTS) engine for Wear OS 4 devices
Google‘s Wear OS 4 devices are getting a new text-to-speech (TTS) engine, which promises to be faster and more reliable than the previous version. The new TTS engine is designed to work well on low-memory devices, such as the Pixel Watch and the Galaxy Watch 6, which have only 2 GB of RAM.
The new TTS engine of Wear OS 4 supports over 50 languages, with seven of them pre-loaded in the system image including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. Users can also download other languages when they connect their watch to Wi-Fi and charge it.
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According to the information (via 9to5Google), the new TTS engine can synthesize speech in about 10 seconds after the device is booted, and apps can pre-load it if they need immediate access. The speed improvement is due to the use of smaller and more efficient machine learning (ML) models for prosody.
The new TTS engine can be integrated into Wear OS apps using the same Android APIs as before. It can be used for various purposes, such as accessibility services, exercise coaching, navigation, and reading-aloud notifications. However, Google mentioned that the TTS engine is not meant for long texts, such as articles or podcasts.
Samsung has pushed a new update for the Internet Browser app for Wear OS devices with version 3.2.00.8. The new update brings new features and enhancements to provide a better browsing Galaxy Watch experience.
The new update improves the app’s performance with the Back and forward feature. This feature allows users to easily navigate through Internet Browser apps by back and forward movements.
In addition to this, the update also fixes some issues that users encountered in the previous version. Through this update, Samsung aims to provide a more reliable and efficient tool.
The installation package size of this update is around 93.19MB. Users can install the latest update through Galaxy Store >> Menu option >> Updates. Also, you can download the update through the third-party app link mentioned here.
The Samsung Internet Browser app for Wear OS offers you the best web browsing experience with Video Assistant, Dark Mode, Customized menu, Extensions such as Translator, and by protecting your privacy with Secret mode, Smart Anti-Tracking, and Smart Protection. The tiles and complication feature is also available for Galaxy Watches.
Google has introduced the ‘School Time’ feature to Wear OS smartwatches through the latest Google Play Services v24.18 update. This new feature allows parents to control their child’s smartwatch usage during school hours.
According to Android Authority, parents can limit the apps their child can use and silence the device to prevent distractions with ‘School Time’. This new feature helps to manage children’s technology use in their daily lives.
The functionality of ‘School Time’ is similar to the ‘Schooltime’ feature on the Apple Watch, which also restricts app usage and enables DND (Do Not Disturb) mode during set times. However, it’s not clear whether Google’s version will include options for breaks or emergency calls like Apple’s does.
It is also yet to be confirmed whether all Wear OS smartwatches will support the ‘School Time’ feature, or if it will only be available on recent models. Nowadays, as smartwatches have become more common for children, features like ‘School Time’ are important to encourage the proper use of technology.
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Google Maps has updated its Wear OS Tile to enhance navigation for wearable device users. The fresh update introduces a direct shortcut to the map view to make it easier for users to access maps and transit information quickly.
With the new update, the Search button has been replaced with a Map button, allowing users to access the map view directly. This view not only shows locations but also serves as a simple compass, a feature not available on the Pixel Watch.
Previously, the Google Maps app Tile included a Search button that opened the app’s main feed and showed recent searches and nearby points of interest on Wear OS devices. But now, you can directly go to the map view.
Users can tap on locations for details and see transit stop schedules. To exit the map view, there’s a close button on the left side. This new change enhances the user experience on Wear OS devices, providing more efficient ways to navigate.
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Stay up-to-date on Samsung Galaxy, One UI & Tech Stuffs by following Sammy Fans on X/Twitter. You can also discover the latest news, polls, reviews, and new features for Samsung & Google Apps, Galaxy Phones, and the One UI/Android operating system.
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