In 2017, numerous innovations for Apple's products were also presented in San Jose. This also includes innovations for the Apple Watch, which of course we don't want to withhold from you. Of particular note is the new Siri watch face and changes to activities and workouts.
General information about the Apple Watch at WWDC 2017
As is well known, the Apple Watch is one of the favorite products of Apple boss Tim Cook. It is therefore not surprising that he was very happy during WWDC when he described the positive sales successes.
In terms of pure sales figures, the Apple Watch is the most successful smartwatch to date. Customer satisfaction is also said to be “by far” the highest of any smartwatch. However, this success is no reason for Apple to rest on its laurels. On the contrary: During this year's WWDC, Apple presented numerous innovations that should not only make Apple Watch users happy.
Watch OS 4 mit Siri-Watchface
Probably the most important innovation for the Apple Watch is the presentation of the new OS version 4. Also included:
- Siri-Watchface
- revised activity app
- revised Music app
- revised workout app
- iPhone Armband
The Siri watch face in particular should give you a lot of innovations in everyday life, because with this view it is possible to view useful information quickly and easily. Whether appointments, messages, reminders or even photo memories - depending on the time and also depending on your whereabouts, various information is displayed on the Apple Watch in the Siri watch face.
Very helpful: Within the watchface, not everything is "rigid" and predetermined, but rather very flexible. Using machine learning, Siri automatically adjusts what's most relevant to you, often. You can also look at flight tickets or your smart home areas in the Watchface.
The goal is to get intuitive suggestions from the smartwatch with OS 4 in the future, which might be relevant for you. This function is already known in iOS - here too Siri suggests information that could be important for you at this place and time.
In the future, you can have these suggestions displayed as a kind of deck whose cards you can easily scroll through with a touch. Depending on which information was actually relevant for you, this will be suggested even more in the future.
New dials. Watch Armband Apple.
Although the choice of watch faces for the Apple Watch is already extensive, Apple is still working on improving the possibilities even further. Among other things, two new figures are integrated, which join Mickey and Minnie Mouse. These are characters from Toy Story: the astronaut Buzz Lightyear and the cowboy Woody. A kaleidoscope can also be set as a new dial and sprays colorful plays of colors on your display.
What's new for the workout and activity apps and Apple Watch Armband.
For sports fans and Apple Watch wearers, the appropriate apps have also been given a few new features. Among other things, Apple presented the new interface for the workout app in San Jose. Among other things new:
- Trainingsmodus („High Intensity Intervall“),
- automatic set recognition (e.g. when swimming)
- Gym mode (for fitness equipment from many manufacturers)
If you go to the gym with OS 4 on your Apple Watch in the future, all you have to do is hold your watch up to the fitness device (which is equipped with a special NFC tag and is supported) - now the workout on this device is automatically recorded by the system and saved in your activities.
A little hint: If you are in a workout session with the new update, you can easily switch between modes during training. At the same time, it is also possible in the Apple Watch's Activity app to start challenges that are specially tailored to you.
Musical innovations in OS 4
Of course, not only sports fans get their money's worth, but also all Apple Watch wearers who use the Music app. With the new operating system, Apple Music playlists can be imported automatically on Apple's digital smartwatch.
Of course, it is also possible to import several playlists at any time, so that you can start your workouts with the right playlists.
Apple Watch Dock redesigns showcased at WWDC 2017
To get an idea of the redesigned Apple Watch dock, the Cupertino-based company also presented the new recent applications view during WWDC. In the future, these will be arranged vertically so that there is a better overview and you can navigate to the most recent apps quickly and easily.
When will OS 4 be released?
After all these exciting innovations that are coming to the Apple Watch and thus also to you in the future, you probably want to know when the new OS 4 will be released for your smartwatch.
As a developer, it is already possible to receive a developer preview. Unfortunately, everyone else will have to wait until autumn 2017, as the commercial update will only be released in the third quarter of the year.
Important: Under certain circumstances, it could be the case that not all Apple Watch wearers will be able to enjoy the new OS 4 in autumn. When Apple released OS 2, your own iPhone had to be running version iOS 9, otherwise the new Apple Watch update could not be installed. For OS 3, iOS 10 was again required. Since not only OS 4 will be launched in autumn, but also iOS 11 for the iPhone, it may very well be that this time it is assumed that the iPhone will have the latest operating system version. Unfortunately, that would mean that some older iPhone owners would be locked out of the new version of the Apple Watch update.
Images: © Apple