Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) saw plenty of announcements, from the new 15-inch MacBook Air M2 to a way to listen to your voicemail messages in real time, to a notable change to WatchOS.
The company said WatchOS 10 now focuses on a widget-based display to make things easier to watch and view. Full app updates also reflect this new design. Here’s an overview of everything new in WatchOS 10.
The question of widgets
WatchOS 10 will let you display widgets in a software stack using the digital crown. This stack uses machine learning to show you relevant information when you need it.
For example, if you have a meeting later today, you’ll see upcoming meetings in your stack.
Apple
You can long press to add widgets important to you. According to Apple, this new way of displaying information will be ideal for active sessions such as the stopwatch, workouts or listening to podcasts.
The new watch faces
Two new watch faces are coming to WatchOS 17. One of them represents a wide range of colors using three superimposed layers that change as the time shifts.
The other is new animations that include the Peanuts Snoopy and Woodstock characters coming to life on your watch face.
Activity Updates
Cycling
Riders will appreciate new features designed specifically for cycling, including connection to Bluetooth-enabled bike sensors and live activity on your iPhone. Additionally, using power, heart rate, and motion data, the Apple Watch will be able to estimate your functional power threshold, which can provide insight into your power zones and track the time you go through each of them.
Hiking
Compass and maps are updated in WatchOS 10 for hikers. In WatchOS 10, the compass automatically generates two new landmarks. A new cellular connection landmark will show where you last received reception with your carrier if you need to check your messages or make a call to family. Another new waypoint will show where on your route you can make an emergency call using any available carrier’s network.
Apple
Maps on WatchOS 10 will feature a new topographic map with contour lines, hill shading and elevation details, as well as points of interest along trails.
Health app updates
Apple continues to prioritize mental health in new features in WatchOS 10. You will be able to log your momentary emotion and daily mood from the mindfulness app in WatchOS 10. The digital crown allows you to scroll through the emotions to choose how you feel, and you can even identify the triggers that made you feel this or that.
This feature will also be available in the Health app on iPhone and iPad.
Additionally, Apple is helping in the fight against myopia by allowing the watch to measure time spent in daylight using an ambient light sensor.
Learn more about WWDC 2023
Source: “ZDNet.com”