Tag: Fossil

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Mobile Syrup

Skagen Falster Gen 6 Wear OS 3 update starts rolling out

Fossil’s Gen 6 smartwatch received the much-anticipated Wear OS 3 update in October 2022, but owners of the Skagen Falster edition of the Gen 6 weren’t so lucky. Now, some Skagen Falster Gen 6 owners report the Wear OS 3 update is showing up.

As detailed by Android Police, Skagen Falster Gen 6 owners took to Reddit to share that the Wear OS 3 update was rolling out. So far it seems hit-or-miss, with some replies in the Reddit thread that the update hadn’t appeared yet.

The general consensus seems to be that you can manually force the update by heading to Settings > System > About > System Updates and repeatedly tapping the screen. Alternatively, some suggest power cycling the smartwatch to trigger the update. Neither of these have worked for my Skagen Falster Gen 6 so far, but hopefully, your luck is better than mine.

Of course, there are a few things to consider before you actually make the jump to Wear OS 3. First and foremost is that the update is a significant change — so much so, it requires completely wiping your smartwatch and setting it up from scratch again. Once the update is complete, you’ll need to use the Skagen Smartwatches app to pair the Gen 6 to their smartphone and set it up. That process might be too much of a hassle for some.

Coupled with some of the features people will lose by making the switch, it’s unsurprising some would rather stick with the older version of Wear OS. For example, Google Assistant is exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 series and Google’s Pixel Watch for now, so if you like having Assistant on your wrist, you may want to hold off on upgrading. Android Police also reports that the Wear OS 3 update is missing roughly half the watch faces available on the older software.

Those who do update will get a stock Wear OS experience with access to pre-installed Alexa, Spotify, Wellness, and Cardiogram apps.

Source: Reddit Via: Android Police

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Fossil Gen 6 smartwatches getting Wear OS 3 update, no Assistant

Fossil’s Gen 6 smartwatches can start the update to Wear OS 3 starting October 17th. The update has been a long time coming, and even still may prove disappointing for some since it lacks a few things, most notably, Google Assistant.

Fossil detailed the upgrade process and some of the caveats users should consider before updating in a lengthy Reddit post (via Android Police). First, the upgrade process will be a little more involved than a typical watch update. Fossil notes the update won’t be automatic, and instead, users will need to head into the watch settings to update (Settings > System > About > System updates).

More importantly, the Wear OS 3 update will reset the watch, erasing all data. Plus, the update can’t be undone after, which could prove problematic if users encounter any issues. Fossil says the process will require setting up the watch again, except this time with the Fossil Smartwatches app and not the old Google Wear OS app.

Fossil says the ” whole process does take some time and patience” and recommends doing it while watching TV or some other activity, as well as leaving the watch on the charger since there’s a battery hit and “some sluggishness” after updating while apps get updates from Google Play.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the update is technically to Wear OS 3.2, which Fossil notes is the most recent version available to watches using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100 or 4100+ chips. However, Fossil indicates that users shouldn’t notice any major differences compared to watches running another version of Wear OS 3 (such as the Pixel Watch with Wear OS 3.5). There are some minor differences, and some watches sport features and capabilities added by the manufacturer, but for the most part, there doesn’t appear to be a major difference between 3.2 and 3.5.

What’s missing, and what’s new

If that hasn’t scared you off, this might. Fossil also warns that some items will be missing after the Wear OS 3 update. First and foremost, Google Assistant isn’t available on “any Qualcomm 4100-based watches,” which includes Fossil’s Gen 6 line. Fossil said it heard Google is “actively working” to bring Google Assistant to a number of devices, but the company doesn’t have a timeline from Google yet. In the meantime, Fossil does offer Amazon Alexa on the Gen 6, so users won’t be without a digital assistant.

Google Fit also won’t be on the Gen 6 after updating to Wear OS 3, although the app is still available. Fossil says this is because Fit hasn’t been updated to work with the latest Wear Health Services, so the company opted not to preload Fit on the Wear OS.

Finally, for iOS users, some Google apps will be missing too. That includes Google Wallet, although support might come for it in the future. Google Maps also isn’t officially supported for iOS users, but Fossil notes the app appears to work fine once downloaded.

Beyond that, Fossil says the latest third-party apps designed for Wear OS 3 work on its watches. Interestingly, Fossil also notes that “Fitbit seems to be only available on Pixel at this time for other reasons,” suggesting the Fitbit app could come to other Wear OS devices.

Speaking of third-party apps, Fossil lists improved apps as one of the main features of the Wear OS 3 update. Other benefits include better health and wellness tracking thanks to the above-mentioned Wear Health Services, which is more battery efficient than before. There’s a new interface which sounds very similar to the experience you get on Pixel Watch, although Fossil notes it has more access to make changes than before. As mentioned before, there’s a new companion app for phones and plenty of other tweaks and changes too.

Ultimately, if you’ve got a Fossil Gen 6 watch and are considering the Wear OS 3 update, it’s well worth reading through the informative Reddit post. If you have any questions about the update, the post likely answers them.

Source: Fossil (Reddit) Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Fossil will add Alexa to its Gen 6 smartwatch in the first half of 2022

Fossil announced two new versions of its Gen 6 Wear OS smartwatch at CES 2022 — one for gamers and one for Dutch jewelry enthusiasts. However, another announcement from the company that flew a little under the radar is that it will add support for Amazon Alexa to its Gen 6 watches.

As for when Fossil will add support, well, that’s not entirely clear. The company told 9to5Google in a statement that the Alexa update would arrive in the first half of 2022. It also told The Verge in a CES briefing that Alexa would come to Gen 6 smartwatches “early this year.” Moreover, The Verge’s Victoria Song received a Skagen Falster Gen 6 and the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 watches, both of which include an Alexa widget that simply displays a “coming soon” message.

With all that taken into account, that means Fossil could add Alexa to the Gen 6 smartwatch anytime between now and June. Presumably, Gen 6 owners won’t need to wait six months for the Alexa update, but we’ll see how it plays out.

The Verge also pointed out that Fossil teasing Alexa support may be a way to give customers something to look forward to until Wear OS 3 arrives (which could be anywhere from a few months to the end of the year). Plus, Alexa support would be a win both for Fossil and smartwatch customers. Currently, Apple Watches are Siri-only, Wear OS watches only have Google Assistant and Samsung watches force Bixby on users (although the Galaxy Watch 4 will eventually offer Google Assistant too). The only other smartwatches that offer a choice are Fitbit’s Sense and Versa watches.

In other words, most customers are limited to using whatever assistant ships on their smartwatch. Plus, Amazon’s Alexa is a relatively popular voice assistant, so Fossil’s move to support it will both give customers a choice in what assistant they use and give people access to Alexa on a smartwatch, which so far hasn’t been available outside of Fitbit’s smartwatches. Hopefully, this starts a trend with smartwatch makers and we see more watches offer a choice of on-wrist voice assistant.

Source: The Verge, 9to5Google

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Fossil unveils new Gen 6 smartwatches with exclusive Razer and Skagen styles

Fossil announced two partnerships at CES 2022 that will see unique versions of its new Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch made available.

First up is a partnership with gaming accessory maker Razer. The two companies will release the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch with three exclusive Razer watch faces (‘Analog,’ ‘Text’ and ‘Chroma’) and two interchangeable straps. The Razer X Fossil watch will launch globally but in a limited quantity of just 1,337 units.

The Razer X Fossil smartwatch will be available starting January 10th, 2022, on Razer’s website, Fossil’s website and at select retail stores for $329 USD (about $417.91 CAD). MobileSyrup has reached out to Fossil for more details about Canadian availability and pricing.

The second partnership is with Danish-inspired watch and jewelry brand Skagen. It will see the launch of the ‘Falster’ Gen 6 smartwatch, available in six styles with a 42mm case size. The Flaster watch will have silver-tone, rose-gold tone, charcoal and black case colours, as well as straps made with Skagen’s iconic stainless steel mesh, silicone and leather.

Each Falster Gen 6 smartwatch style will retail for $295 USD (about $374.72 CAD) and be available for purchase on Skagen’s website. MobileSyrup has reached out to Fossil for more details about Canadian availability and pricing.

While both of these special editions of the Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch look great, it’s worth noting that aside from the unique straps and watch faces, these smartwatches essentially provide the same core experience as Fossil’s new Gen 6 smartwatch. That means the watches still run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100+ platform, sport fast-charging up to 80 percent in 30 minutes, have heart rate and SpO2 sensors, and more.

It also means the watches will be compatible with Google’s upcoming Wear OS 3 update slated to arrive sometime in 2022. However, some of the information Google has shared so far suggests upgrading to Wear OS 3 could be a rough process.

Still, if you like Wear OS and Fossil’s smartwatches but want something unique, both the Razer and Skagen models look like excellent options.

You can check out more news from CES 2022 here.

Images credit: Fossil

Categories
Mode et accessoires

Karl Lagerfeld makes time with Fossil

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld – creative director of Chanel – is partnering with accessory manufacturer Fossil to launch his own line of timepieces.

"It is essential for us to work with the best license partners in each segment – that is why we are happy to partner up with Fossil," said label president Pier Paolo Righi.

The new timepieces – which will be available in both men’s and women’s styles – are part of the namesake signature line that Lagerfeld announced in Paris last week, and according to Righi, will be the beginning of several licensing deals. The watches are expected to start appearing in stores in spring 2013.

"We look forward to working with Karl Lagerfeld," added Fossil vice chairman, Mark Quick. "It is a pleasure to work with such an inspiring fashion visionary."

Lagerfeld – best known for his haute couture designs for Chanel, Fendi and his own eponymous label – recently announced that he will be introducing a line of affordable womenswear under the label Karl which will be available in the new year.

Over the past year, Lagerfeld has been carefully marketing himself through joint projects like his limited edition collection for Macy’s and the launch of his new fragrance Karleidoscope. He also appeared in advertisements for Magnum ice cream bars, Diet Coke and Volkswagen.