Around 3 to 4 weeks ago Apple announced the newest version of the Apple Watch operating system and in my opinion it’s the biggest update to the Apple Watch in a long time potentially ever with long awaited features added to the Workouts app it finally feels a lot more useful, but I’ll start with;
Watch Faces
Each year we get new Watch Faces and this year we’ve been delighted with 4 new ones. The names of the new ones are:
1. Lunar (To-do with the Georgian calendar)
2. Playtime (A fun one, likely aimed for kids) it’s also animated
3. Metropolitan (A retro themed watch face that looks like a real watch to me)
4. Astronomy (A newer version of the original from the first version of WatchOS)
The Workout App
Workout got the most attention in this update in my opinion with some much-needed
updates which is now giving you more and more of a reason to not use a third-party app. I’ll use running in as my example to describe what’s new. (Obviously this applies to most of the workout types)
Now you can view even more stats than before whilst on your run. (For some of the workout types you may need to set it up in the watch app) When you start the run you will be looking at your usual screen of the 5 stat figures i.e
Distance run. However now if you turn the digital crown, you will be faced with another page which is the same as before but with a difference.
The one before was displaying the total for the workout like before but now it’s showing you the one for the “Current Split”. Even Splits have slightly changed. It now automatically Pings a split for each mile as well, this will then be displayed in the Fitness App too. Don’t worry whilst it now does this you can turn this off or / and you can still double tap on the screen to create a new split.
Turn the digital crown again and you will see another new view. This one is displaying your heart rate and “Heart rate zone” information as well as your total time in the current zone. Turn the crown again and you can see information all about your current elevation as well as the amount gained in a cool updating graph as you go! Turn the crown a final time and your see an updating view of your activity rings.
I absolutely love the addition of all these new features which don’t even end there! Now Siri can read pretty much any sort of goal out for you. I mean anything because I had a little play with this, and it has gone from being able to set pretty much only 3 goals to just so customisable.
If you used the workouts before but wasn’t a fan or thought it just lacked to many features, when these updates roll out. Give it another try. It is like a new app. Here's even more proof below - Check out some of these images from Apple.
Sleep
I personally don’t use the sleep app made by Apple. I’ve never really been a fan of the design of it on both iPhone & Apple Watch as well as it’s basic features, so I won’t comment too much but worth mentioning that it now tracks your different stages of sleep (For example “Deep Sleep (REM)” and then shows this data in the health app.
I would personally recommend the third-party app which did come out before the “Sleep” app called “Autosleep” it does cost £4.99 but worth it for how much more it does and once calibrated it does everything automatically.
Link to App store here
Honestly, it’s a biggie – There’s too much to cover, here’s another quick 3.
1. An incredible increase in different ways you can use your Apple Watch, now you can even control your entire Watch using your iPhone with the Watch screen appearing on your iPhone via Airplay.
2. Notifications are far less intrusive now if you’re using an app, it now appears like an iPhone notification. Press it or you’re raising your wrist after you feel a ping and it will still appear like before! Pretty neat.
3. The Calendar app is much improved. Now you can easily go across different views without leaving the app. (Something removed after the removal of 3D Touch) now you can even create an event in the app. (Or Ask Siri of course)
In September it’s definitely worth downloading the update, which won’t come out for the Series 3 but that is something long overdue and for a different blog post. (I mean come on Apple, you still sell this device!)
Thanks for reading,
Kyle Wilkinson
Twitter – Talking about Apple but to be honest all sorts of small geeky things & running – www.twitter.com/kylewilkinson46
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All images in this post above are owned by Apple and are available on this webpage for downloading - https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/06/watchos-9-delivers-new-ways-to-stay-connected-active-and-healthy/
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