Your smartwatch could soon be obsolete

End of life for tech devices is kind of a fuzzy line. While people on tight budgets, or those who don’t need the latest and greatest features, often use their smartphones, tablets, and watches until they no longer run, the companies behind those devices eventually stop supporting them, which can open the door for hackers. The wording varies by company, and it’s not always set in stone, but at some point users will stop receiving new features, operating system updates, bug fixes, and, most critically, security updates. And for wearers of eight different smartwatches, the next few months will bring an end to at least some of those updates. Apple, Samsung, and Google are all ending or scaling back support for various smartwatch models in the coming months. Some will see updates cease in the coming weeks, while others will continue through year’s end. Regardless of how you’re affected, it might be time to rethink your device. The end of support is generally not because of an issue with the hardware. It has more to do with manufacturer timelines and chipsets. “Smartwatches are deemed end-of-life on a fixed schedule, not because the hardware fails, but because manufacturers pre-set a su…