Skip to main content

Volvo jumps on the connected watch bandwagon with new app

Following the path blazed by rivals Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and BMW, Sweden’s Volvo has introduced a car control application designed for smartwatches such as the Android Wear and the brand new Apple Watch.

Volvo’s software is essentially an updated version of the Volvo On Call app that has been available for smartphones and tablets for the past couple of years. The app has been given a brand new design inspired by the state-of-the-art infotainment system found in the new XC90.

Recommended Videos

Volvo owners can use their connected watch to instantly find their car in a crowded parking lot, and they can remotely lock it and unlock it without having to find their keys or get their phone out. However, one of the most practical features of the Volvo On Call app is the ability to set the climate control. Owners can use their watch to turn the heater on before they head out on a chilly winter morning, or to turn the A/C on before they step out into the scorching heat to ensure the cockpit is at a comfortable temperature.

The updated app also allows Volvo drivers to check the mileage of their car, see how much fuel is left in the tank, get an estimate of how far they can drive before filling up, and receive instant service reminders. Additionally, plug-in hybrid drivers will likely be able to use the app to start, schedule, and stop the charging process.

Smartwatch-clad Volvo owners can download Volvo On Call right now, but the company is already planning on releasing an updated version of the app that will include enhanced send-to-car capabilities for the navigation system. When the update is ready, drivers will be able to send an address directly from their connected watch to their Volvo’s navigation system.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Future Apple Watches could tell you if you’re at risk for diabetes
Someone wearing an original Apple Watch Ultra showing the weather app.

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but an Apple device on your wrist could replace them altogether. Well, sort of. The Apple Watch is already chock-full of health-focused applications, but according to a recent report from Mark Gurman, an app for testing blood sugar levels is in development.

Apple has always been good at keeping a lid on its projects, but that approach has reached the next level with this app. Multiple layers of non-disclosure agreements and vetting were required before anyone could participate in the employee-only trial, so details regarding the progress of this app are limited. However, it's another step toward needle-free measurements of your blood sugar levels.

Read more
This Apple Watch tech might make your iPhone better
The screens on the titanium and aluminum Apple Watch Series 10 cases.

According to Korea's The Elec (via MacRumors), LTPO3 display technology, which was first utilized in the Apple Watch Series 10, may also be adapted for future iPhones. This new technology improves both power efficiency and display performance.

On the flagship Apple Watch Series 10, LTPO3 enables Apple to optimize each pixel to emit more light at wider angles and improve battery efficiency.  As a result, the display is 40% brighter than on the previous model, the Apple Watch Series 9, which employed LTPO2. The newer technology also allows for a faster refresh rate when the watch is in always-on mode.

Read more
Apple’s new app could be the next big thing in mobile gaming
Apple Vision Pro gameplay of Gibbon: Beyond the Trees.

Mobile gaming isn't what it used to be. While we might all look back fondly on the days of playing Snake on an old, indestructible Nokia, platforms like Apple Arcade have revolutionized on-the-go gaming. You can do so much more than play silly time-wasters now; there's a litany of addictive, engrossing games that are on par with consoles and PC in terms of performance. And now it seems  likeApple has set its sights on trying to create a Discord-like experience.

Details on this come courtesy of 9to5Mac, which cites "reliable sources familiar with the matter." That's not much to go on, so it's OK to be somewhat skeptical of the news, which centers on a new app that is said to combine features from both the App Store and the Game Center, as well as chat features, into one place.

Read more