# Former Fossil VP Brook Eaton Joins Facer as CPO: Implications for Smartwatch Customization
Brook Eaton, previously the Vice President of Product at Fossil, has come on board with **Facer** as Chief Product Officer (CPO) to broaden OEM collaborations and improve smartwatch personalization. Eaton, instrumental in Fossil’s **Wear OS** watches for brands such as **Skagen, Michael Kors, and Fossil**, brings a wealth of knowledge in smartwatch innovation and a solid rapport with **Google**.
With Eaton leading the charge, Facer intends to **broaden its reach across additional smartwatches and connected devices**, enhance user engagement, and challenge the limits of smartwatch customization. This transition may hold considerable significance for Wear OS users, particularly in light of recent discontent regarding Google’s **Wear OS 5 limitations on third-party watch faces**.
—
## **Facer’s Vision Under Brook Eaton**
Facer CEO **Ariel Vardi**, who collaborated with Eaton when Facer was initially installed on Fossil watches, defined Eaton’s primary duties:
– Widening Facer’s access across more smartwatches and connected devices.
– Elevating the user interface, marketplace, and personalization options.
– Innovating the realm of smartwatch customization and user engagement.
Eaton himself underscored the vital role of customization in the smartwatch journey, asserting that **there remains significant potential to tap into**. His ambition is to **broaden Facer’s influence across additional devices and platforms while fostering innovation**.
—
## **Challenges with Wear OS 5 and Facer’s Role**
Wear OS 5 brought forth **battery-efficient XML watch faces**, enhancing performance but also **restricted legacy, more inventive watch face formats**. Furthermore, Google now mandates that users **buy watch faces through the Play Store**, curtailing third-party personalization options.
Facer has been collaborating with Google to introduce its service to **Wear OS 5 gadgets such as the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3**, though advancements have been gradual. Eaton’s fresh position could be pivotal in **navigating Google’s limitations** and reinstating a broader range of customization possibilities for Wear OS users.
—
## **The Fossil Legacy and Its Impact on Wear OS**
Fossil significantly contributed to **maintaining Wear OS’s relevance** during a period when Samsung’s **Tizen OS** prevailed in the smartwatch arena. Nonetheless, Google’s reallocation of focus toward **Samsung and its own Pixel Watch series** left Fossil struggling to compete. Ultimately, Fossil **withdrew from the smartwatch sector**, signifying the close of a chapter for elegant Wear OS timepieces.
Eaton’s background in maneuvering through **Google’s landscape and smartwatch development hurdles** could be crucial for Facer. His capability to **collaborate with major brands and advocate for enhanced customization** may assist Facer in reclaiming its stature as a premier watch face platform.
—
## **Where Facer Can Go Next**
Facer’s press announcement underscores intentions to **broaden integrations with Apple Watch, Wear OS, Android AOSP, and RTOS**. This indicates that Eaton’s initiatives won’t be confined to Wear OS but will also focus on **fitness-oriented RTOS watches** that presently lack varied watch face choices.
Nevertheless, a **deeper partnership with Google** could yield the most substantial results. If Facer manages to integrate more intimately with Wear OS, it could:
– Augment **watch face customization** while ensuring battery efficiency.
– Enhance **complications and data integration** via Google’s **Health Connect**.
– Establish a **superior marketplace for watch faces** compared to the existing Play Store model.
Moreover, Eaton has hinted at **exploring new horizons in customization**, potentially encompassing **AI-generated watch faces, dynamic designs informed by health data, or innovative personalization features**.
—
## **Final Thoughts: Can Facer and Google Collaborate Effectively?**
Eaton’s role as Facer’s CPO heralds an exciting new phase for smartwatch personalization. However, the realization of his initiatives will rely on **Google’s readiness to partner** and permit third-party platforms like Facer to prosper within the Wear OS framework.
If Eaton can **persuade Google to ease its restrictions and support enhanced customization**, Facer could emerge as the premier destination for **tailored smartwatch experiences**. Presently, Wear OS users should closely monitor the evolution of this collaboration, as it holds the potential to shape the future of smartwatch customization for years to follow.
—
### **What do you think?**
Would you appreciate seeing Facer regain full functionality on Wear OS? Share your thoughts in the comments!
