What you have to know
- Google is actively encouraging watch face builders to embrace Watch Face Format, as failure to take action might restrict their watch faces to primary options.
- The new format permits Wear OS to deal with processing, enabling builders to deal with aesthetics with out the want for in depth code optimizations.
- Google’s push for WFF is intently tied to the hybrid Wear OS interface unveiled at MWC 2024.
Google desires builders to get on board with the new Watch Face Format (WFF) for creating watch faces on Wear OS to make the most out of your battery life.
Back at I/O 2023, Google and Samsung joined forces to create WFF for Wear OS 4. This recent format will not be solely simpler to deal with but additionally packs a power-saving trick, giving your smartwatch an extended battery life.
At the second, builders nonetheless cling to the older Jetpack or Wearable Support libraries, although they’re lacking out on harnessing the full potential of the new format.
But Google is now encouraging watch face builders to embrace WFF. Otherwise, their watch faces will solely deal with the fundamentals like battery, app shortcuts, unread notification rely, date, time and date, day of the week, day and date, and world clock (by way of 9to5Google).
The new format is declarative XML, which principally means no logic or executable code. Wear OS does the heavy lifting, leaving builders free to craft watch faces with out getting slowed down by code optimizations. According to Google, this new format is low-maintenance, requiring fewer updates.
However, WFF will not be with out its limitations. Many have complained on Reddit about the way it does not play good with advanced options or animations. It looks as if Google is nudging everybody in direction of less complicated designs with this one.
Although Watch Face Format will not be as loaded with options as the Jetpack or Wearable libraries, Google’s push is tied to the new hybrid Wear OS interface revealed at MWC 2024. In Wear OS 4, watch faces can easily run on the lower-powered co-processor with out drawing power from the most important processor in dual-chip smartwatches.
Making WFF a must have in upcoming Wear OS releases is a strategic transfer to ensure top-notch battery life on hybrid Wear OS watches like the OnePlus Watch 2, irrespective of which watch face you select.