Facer Appoints Former Fossil Wear OS Executive, Indicating a Strong Fit
Brook Eaton, previously a Vice President at Fossil, known for leading their Wear OS watch initiatives with brands like Skagen and Michael Kors, has embarked on a new journey with Facer. Facer is a company that specializes in customizable watch faces, and Eaton’s collaboration with them comes with high expectations. His extensive experience and established relationship with Google position him well to drive growth in this new role.
Eaton’s primary focus at Facer includes several ambitious objectives outlined by the company’s CEO, Ariel Vardi. These goals encompass expanding Facer’s reach to a wider range of smartwatches and connected devices, enhancing the user experience and personalization features, and innovating the way users interact with their smartwatch faces. Eaton emphasizes the importance of customization in the smartwatch experience, stating that there’s still vast potential to explore in this area. He aims to broaden Facer’s availability across devices and platforms while driving forward innovative ideas.
There has been noticeable frustration among Wear OS users regarding limitations imposed by Wear OS 5. Users have expressed disappointment that Facer was blocked from supporting new watch faces due to Google’s decision to shift to battery-saving XML formats. While there are positives to these changes, such as improved battery life, some users feel that they limit creativity. Facer had previously announced efforts to collaborate with Google to reinstate its services on devices like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3, but those plans could not be realized before the Wear OS 5 rollout.
Currently, many Wear OS users continue to wait for enhanced watch face options. It remains uncertain whether Eaton will find a way to navigate Google’s restrictions before the anticipated launch of Wear OS 6. There is a growing demand for better customization options across different smartwatch brands, a challenge that Eaton is well-equipped to tackle with his history in the industry.
Fossil has had a long-standing relationship with Wear OS, building a line of watches during a time when Samsung’s Tizen was more popular. However, Fossil struggled with updates as Google shifted its focus to partnerships that ensured better market performance. As the landscape of smartwatches continues to evolve, with prominent players like Google, Samsung, OnePlus, and others leading the way, the market is beginning to feel more dominated by mobile developers rather than traditional watch brands.
Eaton’s past experience at Fossil gives him a unique perspective in his role at Facer. He has a proven track record of keeping Fossil’s offerings competitive among larger tech companies, which could be beneficial for Facer’s future endeavors.
Facer’s potential doesn’t just lie within the Android ecosystem; the company also aims to strengthen integrations with other operating systems like Apple’s watchOS and various real-time operating systems (RTOS). There is significant opportunity for Facer to introduce innovative watch faces for fitness-focused watches, which often feature limited options despite the growing popularity of AMOLED displays.
For Eaton, a close partnership with Google could yield great benefits. With advancements in health tracking technology within Android, integrating relevant data into attractive watch faces could significantly enhance user experience. Currently, searching for watch faces on the Play Store is cumbersome for users, which diminishes the incentive for creators to design new faces. By allowing Facer to manage curation and organization of watch faces, users could benefit from a more organized and user-friendly platform.
There is also significant curiosity about Eaton’s plans to push the boundaries of customization at Facer. Potential innovations may include incorporating AI-generated art for watch faces or creating dynamic designs that adapt based on a user’s fitness and health statistics.
As Facer continues on its path with Eaton leading the charge, there is a sense of optimism for what lies ahead in the realm of smartwatch customization and user interaction, particularly if these developments align with Google’s evolving vision for Wear OS.
