Apple watchOS 10 gets a new interface with a focus on widgets
Apple unveiled watchOS 10 during its annual WWDC presentation. The new version of the smartwatch OS will have a completely new interface with a greater focus on widgets. WatchOS 10 will be available this fall for the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.
WatchOS 10 widgets
WatchOS 10 retains are digital dials that display the time or a clock. However, when users turn the digital crown, a new ‘smart stack’ with widgets appears on the screen. According to Apple, these widgets show ‘clear’ information, which users can scroll through with the crown.
According to Apple, the ‘stack’ shows relevant widgets that ‘appear when they are needed’. For example, in the morning, before users leave the house, a widget with weather forecasts can be displayed. Tickets from the Wallet app can be displayed while traveling. The Calendar app can appear at the top of the stack to show upcoming meetings or tasks. Music or podcast apps can also be pushed to the top when actively used.
Various watchOS apps also get a new look, making better use of the screen surface. The Weather app, Apple Home, Apple Maps, Messages and Stocks, among others, will receive an updated interface. The Activities app and Fitness app should also make tracking daily exercise easier with more details. Developers will also have the option to update their own Apple Watch apps with similarly redesigned interfaces.
Furthermore, the way the buttons are used changes in watchOS 10. Control Center is opened with the side button in the new OS. With a double click on the digital crown, users return to a recently used app. WatchOS 10 also gets new watch faces, including a Palette watch face that changes color as the day progresses. The OS also gets a Peanuts watchface with Snoopy.
Some Apple Watch apps with updated interfaces
After the update, the workout app will receive more advanced metrics for cycling. When a cycling workout is started, it will automatically show up as a live activity on iPhones, optionally in full screen view. Users can display information such as heart rate, altitude differences and routes. According to Apple, the Watch will also have the ability to automatically connect to bicycle accessories, such as speed sensors, via Bluetooth.
Finally, the Apple Watch gets new health functions. Users can use the Mindfulness app to reflect on their state of mind by recording their emotions and moods. In the Health app on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, users will receive help identifying where certain moods may come from, for example due to lifestyle factors such as sleep and exercise.
Users can also get depression and anxiety assessments to help them estimate their risk. These can be shared as a PDF with a doctor. WatchOS will also have a function to register how often a user comes outside into daylight. The OS uses the ambient light sensor of Apple Watches for this. WatchOS 10 will be available this fall, probably at the same time as the Apple Watch Series 9. The new OS is supported on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.
New sports and health features in watchOS 10