More Google Wear OS 5 features discovered in Developer Preview
Google recently launched the Wear OS 5 Developer Preview. At the time, the company announced new features like more advanced metrics for runners and the ability to export older data from Google Health Connect. Plus, a new Watch Face Format and other tools are said to improve the battery life of wearables.
Now, Mishaal Rahman at Android Authority claims to have found additional features that were not included in the release notes. The first of these alleged undisclosed tools is a grid-based app launcher, an alternative to the list view. However, this is included in Google’s change log, where the company notes that it is “visually similar” to launchers on Wear OS devices from other brands, like the OnePlus Watch 2. You can toggle between List View and Grid View by going to Settings > General > App view.
The second feature spotted is a privacy dashboard, also found in Settings. Here, you can view permissions you have granted and whether they have been accessed recently. This should make it easier for users to get a summary of permissions and to reassess as needed. Another privacy feature in Wear OS 5 is screenshot detection, a tool from Android 14. This API detects when a screenshot is taken and can notify the user of the action. There is also an option for developers to block the ability to take in-app screenshots. Wear OS 5 is expected to launch in the second half of this year alongside devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch7 and the Google Pixel Watch 3.
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