Pixel Watch 2 might soon tell you the time by vibrating

The Pixel Watch 2 introduced more precise haptics and Google might soon offer a feature that can tell the time by vibrating.

This capability lets you “quickly tap your watch face” with two fingers to get the current time” as a series of vibrations. A single tap returns the hour, while you double-tap for minutes.

The Pixel Watch 2 will offer two vibrating time readouts:

• Digits: Your watch gives a long vibration for 10 and a short vibration for one 
• Terse: Round current time to the nearest quarter hour. Your watch gives a short vibration for each 15-minute increment

Lastly, there’s a “Vibration speed” setting, like Medium. 

Source: u/DeFQoN_1_469

• Related: Pixel Watch 2 lets you change vibration intensity

As of today, “Vibration watch” was spotted on a Pixel Watch 2 by at least one owner under Settings app > Vibrations. This looks to be an A/B test that most people don’t have, like how some people have the beginnings of Dynamic Color theming. 

This serves as a subtle way to tell the time without having to look at your watch, while it also helps those that are blind or have low vision use the Pixel Watch. It would join Fitbit Relax’s breathing exercises as another demo of the updated vibration motor.

The Apple Watch offers a similar feature called “Taptic Time,” which also supports a Morse Code readout. It’s not clear when “Vibration watch” is rolling out, but the next Pixel Feature Drop should be next month if the January one didn’t disrupt the schedule.

More on Pixel Watch:

• Hands-on: This 3-in-1 Pixel Watch 2, phone, and Buds charging dock is better than the ‘official’ one
• Google offering out of warranty Pixel Watch replacements at discounted price
• Check out the new Wear OS app grid on Pixel Watch – or try it yourself [Gallery]

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