Galaxy Watch 4 and Wear OS — 8 things Samsung and Google need to fix

Galaxy Scout four and Vesture OS — 8 things Samsung and Google demand to fix

(Paradigm credit: Amazon Canada)

The Samsung Galaxy Lookout man 4 is a good smartwatch, though far from a perfect one. Information technology represents an try by both Samsung and Google to reset the Android Clothing operating organization, now known as Wear Bone.

Compared to Android proper, Android Article of clothing languished in the dorsum corner of Google'south offices, seldom seeing major updates that ironed out many of its quirks and glitches. It'south what prompted Samsung to create its own wearable operating system based on Tizen, a Linux distribution, which was considered the best culling to Apple's watchOS software.

Now, Samsung has dropped Tizen to instead partner with Google directly on Habiliment Bone. The Korean electronics giant brought many of its design choices from Tizen over to Wear OS, and it'south largely been embraced past the Android true-blue. I'm not certain if it's been a valiant effort or not, as the Galaxy Watch 4 is the first smartwatch I've used for an extended period of time. And after spending the final calendar month with the leader from our best smartwatches for Android list, in that location are definitely some odd quirks with both the Galaxy Watch 4 and Habiliment OS that could use some fixing.

Uninterrupted music playback on the Galaxy Picket 4

This was such a bizarre quirk I couldn't believe it left QA without anyone raising a red flag. As I was out for an evening jog, I had a podcast playing on Spotify via the Milky way Scout iv. The stream was largely consequent, sending the Bluetooth audio signal to my Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds. The sentinel was as well tracking my progress as I ran.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Wear OS — (Image credit: Future)

One time I hit the ane-mile mark, the Milky way Sentinel prompted me, and told me my abysmal time. But information technology didn't resume Spotify playback. I stopped my jog and looked at my Galaxy Watch 4. There was no prompt for me to resume playback. Not only that, I couldn't back out of Samsung's running app to go into Spotify to hit play. I had to completely exit out and cease my run, go into Spotify, press play, and then restart the run counter.

Resuming playback after a prompt seems like a no-brainer. And all the same, the Galaxy Watch 4 drops the ball on this.

Where's Google Assistant?

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Google Assistant — (Image credit: Future)

This seems obvious for any Google product, just surprisingly, the Milky way Spotter 4 does non accept Google Banana. I'm not certain why that'south the case. I doubtable either Google is still working on information technology or that Samsung wants its customers to use Bixby instead.

Going over to the Samsung community forums, users are claiming that the company has plans to innovate Google Assistant to its watches, and Samsung has said every bit much, without giving a time frame. Just until then, doing quick Google searches volition require a telephone or the employ of the Samsung Web Browser.

Optimized responsiveness for the Galaxy Watch four

Compared to by Android Wearable smartwatches, I've read that the Milky way Sentinel 4 and its dual-cadre Exynos W920 processor are a major leap over the Snapdragon 2100 scrap. Even then, there are times when the sentinel tin can lag a little and non be equally responsive every bit I would like. I'grand not certain if this is a ability shortcoming or a software optimization effect, but if it'south the latter, both Google and Samsung need to get to work on making this watch a tiny bit snappier.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 showing time — (Epitome credit: Time to come)

Let me delete born apps

It's abrasive when phone makers bake in apps that you tin't delete. Whether it'due south on iPhone or Android, it's possible to grouping these unused apps into a folder and never have to think virtually them again.

That's not the instance with the Galaxy Sentinel 4. At that place are certain apps that cannot be deleted. These include Bixby, Samsung Health, Calendar besides as a few others. It's as well incommunicable to lump them into a different folder. The best thing users tin do is push these apps to the bottom of the icons listing.

At present, I'm not saying whatever of the above apps are bad. To the contrary. I utilize some of them. I just don't similar being told I cannot do something.

Faster calls with the Galaxy Watch 4

Amazon'due south buy with one click feature is one of its well-nigh innovative, if pernicious, features. But mostly, the fewer times a user has to make an interaction to accomplish a job, the meliorate. And when it comes to phone calls, information technology generally should take ane or 2 taps, right?

That's non the case with the Galaxy Watch 4. Initiating a phone call takes too many steps. I have to open up the contacts app, choose a contact, tap on call and then information technology so asks me if I want the call to engage on my phone or my watch. That'south where the story should end. Well, not if I choose to have the call on my sentinel. It then gives me another prompt asking if it's okay to make mobile network calls on my watch.

I've already signed up for a watch programme with T-Mobile. An eSIM is registered on my picket. Why is information technology request for permission every single time? Totally and absolutely unnecessary.

A more accurate step counter

Multiple reviews and complaints on the Samsung Community Forums claim that the Galaxy Watch 4 has an inaccurate pedometer. And yeah, I also feel that's the instance.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 walking — (Image credit: Future)

While I didn't get through the hassle of counting every one of my own steps, something didn't experience right. While sitting largely at my computer doing work throughout the day, only jumping into the kitchen to catch a snack or lunch, in that location's no reason I should have been documenting more than ane,000 steps.

Disappearing notifications with Article of clothing OS

Samsung and Google need to fix Clothing Os'southward notification quirks. There are many times where I volition feel my sentinel vibrate, but to await down afterwards and meet no notifications. Did someone text me? Was Samsung telling me good job for getting off my computer chair? I'm not sure.

Scrolling over to the notifications widget yields no answers either. And no, these aren't phantom vibrations. But if these shenanigans continue, I may really kickoff experiencing this modern psychological phenomenon.

Oh, and if someone on Facebook Messenger sends me a photo, the Galaxy Wach 4 will just notify me of the sent motion picture but won't really show information technology. It'due south equally if Samsung is wanting me to pull out my telephone.

Better Spotify for Galaxy Sentry 4

This last point is less a Google and Samsung event and more than of a Spotify one. If at that place are any Spotify engineers reading this article, please, make the app better.

Right at present, Spotify on the Galaxy Scout is so barebones that it substantially requires a phone nearby to go total functionality. All users tin can do is mind to already subscribed to podcasts and existing playlists. I can't, for example, look up a new album or a new podcast and listen to that instead. I have to first follow that artist or podcast on my phone, and then I'll take the option on the Lookout.

Imad Khan is news editor at Tom's Guide, helping directly the day's breaking coverage. Prior to working at the site, Imad was a total-time freelancer, with bylines at the New York Times, the Washington Mail service and ESPN. Outside of work, you tin can find him sitting blankly in front end of a Word certificate trying desperately to write the first pages of a new volume.