Google’s Pixel Watch 3 raises the bar quietly for Android climics. It is released with the Wear OS 5.1 update in March 2024, and this is the first watch on the platform to include Channel Sounding, a Bluetooth feature that measures the exact time a signal takes to move between devices. This approach provides much more precise detection than older Bluetooth methods that only guess distance based on signal strength. The hardware already supports it, but the function still depends on more devices that adopt the same technology before it becomes part of the daily use. What does the channel sound like? Channel Sounding is a Bluetooth technology designed to calculate the distance between two devices, measuring how long it takes a signal to move back and forth between. Unlike older Bluetooth methods that only estimate the distance based on signal strength (which can be unreliable), Channel Sounding uses exact timing data. This allows devices such as the Pixel Watch 3 to show correct information on how close you are to something you are trying to find. For example, if you drop a set of earbuds behind your bank, channel sound can show you exactly how far they are, instead of giving you a vague indication that they are in the same room. It provides the exact location, which helps you find small devices such as earbuds within minutes. How does it differ from the Find My Device function? Find my device function show you where your lost item was last seen on a map, as in your office, in your car or somewhere in your home. It gives you the general area, but does not determine the exact place within that space. Channel sound helps you when you are close to your device. If you stand in your living room, it can lead your step by step and tell you that the earbuds are one meter away, such as under the sofa pillow. So, in short, the Find My Device function tells you what space to look for and channel, lead you to the specific place in the room. This combination of features can make finding lost items much easier for people who often misplace small things at home or work. While you find that my device gives you a good idea of where you can start looking, Channel Sounding can help you quickly finish the search by pointing out the exact distance. Why is it not active yet? Right now, although Google’s Pixel Watch 3 has the technology ready, you can not use this feature fully. The main reason is that channel sound needs other devices that can communicate with your smart watch with the same Bluetooth technology. It may be future smartphones, trackers or other accessories that have not yet come out. Google has not shared a clear timeline for when this technology is ready to use in everyday situations, but this has confirmed that more products will add support over time. Including channel sound, however, now means that Google’s Pixel Watch 3 is prepared for the future. As more accessories and Android devices begin to support this system, people will gradually see the benefits of faster, more accurate detection. In the coming months, anyone interested in this technology should watch the announcements on new accessories and updates that will help make exact detection possible. For the time being, Pixel Watch 3 owners will have to wait until compatible devices are released before they can be in the real world scenarios. The Pixel Watch 3 already has the technology to help you find lost things easier. You can’t use it yet, but it shows the direction that Android is going. As more devices add channel sound, detection will become more accurate and useful for all.
Google Pixel Watch 3 Word First Android Watch with Channel Sounding Bluetooth tracking | Mint
