Wear OS

Telegram is now available on Galaxy Watch through official Wear OS support, giving Samsung smartwatch users a way to handle conversations without reaching for their phones. The update marks a notable expansion for the messaging app inside the wearable ecosystem. The move matters because Galaxy Watch devices did not previously have an official Telegram app. Telegram once appeared on Wear OS more than five years ago, but Samsung’s watches were still using Tizen at the time. What Galaxy Watch users can do The smartwatch version is designed to do more than show alerts. Users can send and receive text messages, record and receive voice messages, mute chats, view videos, and pin important conversations. That range of features makes Telegram more practical on the wrist than a simple notification companion. It can now cover core messaging tasks during a walk, workout, or any moment when a phone is not convenient to use. Some functions are still missing in the initial release. Telegram does not yet support stickers or location sharing in the Wear OS app. Telegram says both features will be added soon, suggesting the smartwatch experience will continue to expand after launch. A meaningful return to Wear OS Telegram is not new to Wear OS, but the Galaxy Watch situation is different. Because Samsung’s smartwatch lineup had been on Tizen, this is the first official Telegram release for Galaxy Watch users. The shift from Tizen to Wear OS on Samsung watches has made it easier for apps like Telegram to reach the Galaxy ecosystem. It also brings Samsung’s wearable platform closer to the broader Android smartwatch app environment. Other changes in the phone app Alongside smartwatch support, the latest Telegram update for phones adds link support in polls and support for Markdown files with the .md extension. The app also adds a long-press option to open links in an external web browser, with the ability to force certain sites to always open externally. Telegram has also improved text formatting for bots and added AI Guardian bots for group chats. Together, these updates show Telegram pushing ahead on both wearable support and core app features. For Galaxy Watch owners, the most immediate change is simple: Telegram can now be used directly from the wrist with a surprisingly broad set of tools. Source: www.sammobile.com

Telegram Lands on Galaxy Watch, Bringing Chats and Voice Notes to the Wrist