Google is rolling out a big change for Wear OS that many aren’t going to like. The Google Clock app, which hosts the alarms and timer functions, will now be an exclusive part of the Pixel Watch experience. This change was shared by Google through its own Wear OS help page and spotted by the folks at 9to5Google.
A big change that could be unwelcome
Although Google doesn’t state it, by removing this app from non-Pixel Watch devices, it’s clearing up redundant features from other Wear OS products. On the flip side, though, I’m sure there are plenty of people that enjoy the Google Clock on non-Pixel devices.
Going forward, these devices will no longer have access to the Google Clock, meaning it will not show up for download on the Google Play Store. However, if you already have it installed, you will still be able to use it. With that said, those currently using the app on non-Pixel devices will no longer receive updates.
As stated before, this update will surely cause some people to be a little upset with Google, but it isn’t the first time we’ve seen this. Just last month, Google did something similar with its own Weather app, making it exclusive to Pixel Watches. As you can imagine, it was a pretty big move that left many scratching their heads.
At the time, Google stated that many brands already had their own weather apps, and the one from Google wasn’t needed on all Wear OS devices. While this is understandable, it’s always good to leave that as a choice for users.
Beyond that, Google has been doing a pretty good job updating the Wear OS experience on older Pixel Watches, bringing Wear OS 6 to the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 2. It’s a pretty big deal to get a new update on an older watch because it can really elevate the experience.
So, what do you think about the Google Clock becoming exclusive to Pixel Watches? Is this something that will bother you, or are you fine using other manufacturer’s clock apps? Let us know in the comments.
