At its annual WWDC Kickoff Keynote, Apple unveiled the latest version of watchOS 9 with some new features designed to keep you healthier and more connected. Here are the top features of your Apple Watch this fall
The face of the new watch
Without the face of the new watch it would not be a watchOS update. Apple has four new ones this year, including a “completely remastered” classic face Here’s how Apple describes the new faces:
- Moon: It depicts the relationship between the Gregorian calendar and the lunar calendar, used in many cultures such as Chinese, Islamic and Hebrew.
- Play time: A dynamic industry unique to the Apple Watch and created in collaboration with artist Joey Fulton.
- Metropolis: The face of a classic, type-driven watch where the style changes as the digital crown rotates.
- Astronomy: An original face that has been completely redesigned and includes a new star map and current cloud data.
You’ll also find “advanced and modernized” complexities on many of Apple’s classic faces, including utility, simple and activity analogs, including modular, modular compact, and background color editing for X-Large for extra personalization. And Portrait, Focus and California Faces also have some new features.
Good workouts
Workout is a go-to app for fitness enthusiasts, and it’s getting better at watchOS 9. The app will now provide richer metrics for performance measurement as well as new training experience. Users can use digital crowns to cycle to cycle in the workout view.
Custom workouts and heart rate zones will help athletes keep a better track of their progress while new alerts for speed, power, heart rate and cadence will give you a live picture of your metrics. Triathlets will be able to use the new multisport workout type that can automatically detect movement patterns using Apple Watch’s sensors in swimming, biking and walking.
Runners will get more from watchOS 9 with new running form metrics including straight length, ground contact time and vertical oscillation, which can be added as metrics to the workout view. Finally, swimmers can now track their skills with a SWOLF score গণ calculating strokes combined with the length of time it takes to swim one length of pool.
Smart sleep tracking
After introducing sleep tracking in watchOS 7, Apple has improved the system in watchOS 9 by adding sleep stages. Like the Fitbit watch, Apple will use an accelerometer and heart rate sensor to determine when you are in REM, core or deep sleep. Users will be able to see detailed information about their sleep time and quality, including additional metrics, including heart rate and respiratory rate, in the Sleep Comparison Chart in the Health App.
watchOS 9 will work better for tracking sleep and affib.
Apples
AFib History
Apple Watch has been able to detect possible symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AFIB), but there is no way to see your previous readings. is in watchOS 9. Apple Watch users who have been diagnosed with AFib will be asked to launch the new FDA-Clear AFib History feature and access important information to provide in-depth insights into their condition. Users will be able to download a PDF with a detailed history of their AFib and Lifestyle Factors.
Drug tracking
Apple is bringing a new drug app to watchOS 9 to help users track and manage prescription mediation, daily vitamins and supplements. You’ll be able to create a medication list and set up schedules and reminders in the Health app. Each drug will be able to have a custom schedule and users may be alerted if there are potential problems with using two or more drugs together.