Smartwatches with Google’s operating system, Wear OS, have been on the market for almost a decade, but undoubtedly only in recent years. splash of quality This is about the hardware of smart watches, but also in everything they can do. Especially with anything they can do without needing a cell phone.

Nowadays it’s easier than ever Using a smartwatch with Wear OS independently. Over the years, many manufacturers have adapted more and more functions to make watches very useful in their own right, and not just as an extension of the smartphone. When it comes to applications, there are some applications that are a perfect alternative when for some reason we want to leave the house carrying only the watch on our wrist and not the mobile phone. This is our selection of unpredictable standalone apps for Wear OS smartwatches.

Recommended apps for Wear OS if you want to use your watch without being connected to your mobile phone

The advantage of having standalone apps on Wear OS watches is more versatility, the ability to perform actions, consume multimedia content (music and even videos) and more without having to take your mobile phone out of your pocket. In fact, I usually go out for exercise carrying only my Wear OS smartwatch and Bluetooth headset. I carry music on my watchand I can quickly check my phone for some notifications or urgent emails without getting distracted while I’m at the gym or going for a run.

Below are the standalone apps we recommend. They can all be downloaded to your Wear OS watch or mobile phone from the Google Play Store:

• Spotify– The Spotify app for Wear OS is extremely useful. If your watch has LTE cellular connectivity or is connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can stream music from your favorite artists directly from the watch to your Bluetooth headphones. You can also download music playlists and podcasts. listen offline From the watch, which comes in handy in situations like the ones I described above: This function is what I use when I go out to exercise and I only have the watch on my hand. Of course, you need a Premium subscription to download music to your watch, and remember that this takes up storage space on your watch.
• Youtube music And Deezer: In terms of music, YouTube Music and Deezer applications are also available for Wear OS. Both applications allow you to download music to the watch for offline listening, so if you do not use Spotify but prefer one of these alternatives, you can also benefit from their applications independently on your smart watch.

• Samsung Internet Browser And Single Browser: Yes, it is possible to surf the internet directly from your smart watch, you can read Xataka Android! If your watch is a Galaxy Watch, we recommend installing Samsung Internet Browser, a fast browser with an intuitive interface on the small watch screen. Another option is Odd Browser, available on Wear OS watches. These apps even allow you to watch YouTube videos directly on your smartwatch’s screen. Why do you want to watch videos on a screen smaller than 2 inches? The real question is: Why not?
• Todoist And Google Keep: One of the best apps for keeping a to-do list and better organizing your daily life is Todoist, and luckily the Wear OS app doesn’t need a smartphone to work, it can do it independently. Once you download the app and sign in with your Todoist account, it’s possible to review pending tasks, add tasks, complete tasks, and even reschedule them; You can do all of this from the smartwatch and without having to touch your phone or computer. Another alternative is of course Google Keep, which allows you to create notes and lists directly from the watch. But between the two, Todoist is undoubtedly the most complete option.

• Google Maps and Gmail: If your watch has a connection to mobile networks or WiFi, you can use the Google maps app directly on your smartwatch to search for a map of your city, search for restaurants, gas stations, hotels and more. You can even type in the address you want to go to or dictate it with your voice and get directions by walking, driving or cycling. Unfortunately, so far it is not possible to download maps on the watch for offline viewing. In the case of Gmail, Google recently launched the official app for Wear OS that lets you check your inbox, read your emails, and even access multiple accounts from the watch.

Cover image | Alejandro Alcolea transferred to Xataka

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