Digital wallets are the way to do that. Tap to pay with your phone or smartwatch is much easier than pulling out your wallet, finding the appropriate credit card, and tapping it into a card reader. But Wear OS, which powers smartwatches including the Pixel Watch 2, appears to be introducing changes that some are calling disruptive.
Google Pixel Watch 2.
According to 9to5Google’s Abner Li, some Wear OS users will be asked to enter their PIN before paying with Google Wallet. Previously, all you had to do was open Wallet and tap it, just like you would on your Apple Watch.
With Apple, you only need a passcode when you put your Watch on your wrist (even then, unlocking your iPhone automatically unlocks your Watch, saving you a tap). can). With Apple, he only has to tap the side button twice, and that button has a built-in safety feature.
Previously, Google’s Wear OS devices didn’t require a PIN when the watch was on your wrist. But now something different seems to be happening. It’s not yet clear if it’s a bug, a change, or a test being rolled out.
So why change? Google has updated the Google Wallet authentication instructions on your phone.
As the company noted on April 17, “Contactless payments with Google Wallet are now even more secure. Unlock with your PIN, pattern, thumbprint, or Class 3 biometrics before making a payment. You’ll be prompted to verify your identity with one of the options, and you’ll also have the option to turn off transit fare verification.
Note that there is no mention of which device it refers to, so it could refer to a watch as well as a phone.
Tapping a pin isn’t the end of the world, but if you press your watch against a card reader and the person on the other side of the counter says, “I’ve seen that on my phone, but I’ve never seen it on my phone.” Rather than sounding smug, it’s actually more of an inconvenience. Or maybe I just feel full of myself?
