Google is coming around the corner with its first Pixel Watch in the fall and probably wants to offer a few new functions for connecting to the smartphone. This includes the ability of the connected smartwatch to keep the smartphone unlocked when the devices are closed. Now there are a few more details thanks to the latest version of Google Play Services.
Nearby Unlock for Wear OS: Smartwatch can unlock the smartphone
Text modules and a final name for the new feature can be found in the source code. Google calls it “Nearby Unlock”. It reads that the watch must be unlocked, on the wrist and close to the respective phone. I know this similarly from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which locks itself immediately when you take it off your wrist. So that’s quite well secured from strangers.
Here’s an animation found within Google Play Services that illustrates this “Nearby Unlock” feature. pic.twitter.com/ChjxbkieZK
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) June 17, 2022
In the text modules, you cannot read whether the new feature is suitable for Wear OS in general or only for the Google Pixel Watch. To me, the text modules sound very neutral. A short animation seems to show that you really have to move your smartphone and watch towards each other, like with contactless payment, in order to unlock the phone.
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