You Shouldnt Need Multiple Apps To Control A Smartwatch

You'll need at least the Google Pixel Watch app and the Fitbit app to get the most out of the upcoming Pixel Watch.

The sad truth is that getting a smartwatch usually means you need multiple apps to control a device. And it looks like the Pixel Watch will be no exception. As Android Police points out , you can find the Pixel Watch as an available device in Fitbit's app menus. To select the Pixel Watch, users will need to download the Google Pixel Watch app from the Play Store.

As far as we know, you'll need to download at least two apps to use the Pixel Watch properly, regardless of your preferences.

Based on other smartwatches, the Google Pixel Watch app lets you use settings, choose watch faces, and manage watch apps. Adding the Pixel Watch to the Fitbit app means your health and fitness data will likely be there. (What that means for Google Fit, who knows.)

All the major smartwatch manufacturers are guilty of this – the Pixel Watch is just one case in point. Get the Apple Watch. If all you want to do is track your activity and get notifications, you need at least a Health app, a Fitness app, and a Clock app — three separate apps for one device. For example, if I want to adjust some settings in the Workout app, I have to go into the Watch app on my phone. (Unfortunately, some settings in the training app are not available on the wrist). If I really want to see this workout data, it's in the fitness app. If I want to see general health trends based on certain metrics, I need to look at the Health app.

Samsung is another good example of how it can get boring very quickly. Samsung Wear OS watches require at least the Galaxy Wearable app and the Samsung Health app. But if you want to use the ECG feature, you'll need to download a third-party disposable app called Samsung Health Monitor. This number can easily be increased if you want to use a Google service instead of Samsung's default ones (eg Google Wallet instead of Samsung Pay, Assistant Bixby, etc.). And while it's great that Android users now have more options, this piecemeal approach to apps is tough.

This is nothing like previous Wear OS 2 smartwatches. For the Fossil Gen 6, I needed the Wear OS app, Cardiogram app, and Google Fit app for the bare minimum of functionality, notifications, and health. Garmin watches aren't completely immune either. If you want to download additional watches or use Spotify on a Garmin, you need the Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect IQ apps.

I have to admit that my complaint is the world's first reviewer problem. But this problem also stems from the fact that we treat smartwatches as mini-phones when they're not really standalone devices. If you don't need an app on your laptop to control your phone. They can work independently of each other. This is not true for smart watches. You can't fully use a smartwatch without a phone. However, I don't know why smartwatch manufacturers have avoided using a single companion app to make everyone's life easier.

In an ideal world, you would never need more than one companion app per device

In an ideal world, you would never need more than one companion app per device. Simpler fitness trackers still stick to this model. (That could change for Fitbit if it ever makes a premium Wear OS smartwatch.) I think the separation of health data and settings is good for people who want nothing more than simple text notifications. But if you want more than that minimum, as I imagine most smartwatch owners do, you'll have to juggle multiple apps when all you have is a panoramic view.