Among the major announcements at WWDC 2017, watchOS 4 is on top of the list. With this new release, lots of new amazing features will be introduced to Apple Watch. Here we have detailed all the latest that is expected to come in the watchOS 4. So, have a look!
Jump To Section:
- New Better Watch Faces
- The Flashlight
- Updated Activity Feature
- The Latest Workout Features
- Music App
- Person-to-Person Payments
- Native Core Bluetooth
New Better Watch Faces
There are three new watch faces introduced in watch OS 4 besides the capability to create your own customized watch faces. Here is a description of each.
- Siri Watch Face: It automatically displays everything that is most relevant for you from photo memories to reminders and is updated dynamically every time your wrist is raised. The watch face also comes with sunrise and sunset features, updates on news app and home application features.
- Kaleidoscope Face: It plays on the photos in one’s photo albums and creates visuals as the crown is rotated by the user.
- Toy Story Faces: There is a whole collection of new toy story faces featuring popular characters of the animated film like Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jesse. The animations allow them to keep moving around on the screen.
- Customized Watch Faces: You can also create customized faces right from the photos application on your phone. Open the Share Sheet on your desired photo and then keep swiping until you are able to reveal option labeled Create Custom Watch Face. You will be taken to the Watch App that you have on the iPhone and here you can be able to create your new custom faces with desired animations.
The Flashlight
You can find latest flashlight feature in Control Center in the new watchOS. When turned ON, the screen of your Apple Watch will become fully white and bright. You can also have red-light and strobe flashlight in the watchOS 4.
Updated Activity Feature
There are some updated activity features included in the latest watchOS 4 that remind users on how they can reach their goals or what they should do for achieving their everyday goals. The OS comes with some monthly challenges as well to help users accomplish something. Let’s take a look at these features one by one.
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Daily Inspiration
As soon as you have your watch on the wrist, you will be given personalized updates on your Activity progress. It will inform you about the achievements that you are closing in on and will also offer some motivation as to how you can keep things going in your favor.
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Evening Push
Towards the end of the day, the Apple Watch will tell you about all the pending daily goals that you still have to achieve before the day ends. Even some activity suggestions will be provided on how you can accomplish all the specified goals.
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Monthly Challenge
Customized monthly challenges will be created by the Apple Watch for you depending on the activity you had in preceding month. The progress on the challenges can be monitored whenever you want in Activity app.
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Celebrations
There are animated celebrations included in the new watchOS allowing you to celebrate small on your everyday successes while the celebrations go big each time a considerably bigger goal is achieved.
The Latest Workout Features
There are some major upgrades made to the new workout app to make it even better with tracking workouts. It now includes better swim tracking, better tracking of high-intensity training, and quick start options. The best part is that you can now connect your watchOS 4 to specific gym equipment for syncing your data in a better way with the machine on which you are using your Workout app. Here are some of these features discussed one by one.
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Quick Start
All it takes is a finger tap for starting any workout you want. Just choose your specific workout and it’ll begin after 3-sec countdown.
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Better Swim Tracking
Pool Swim tracking is now updated and will track your sets as well as rests automatically. So, you just have to keep your focus on the workout as you start doing it. The updated tracking also comes with capabilities to track the pace at which you do each set besides the distance for every stroke type.
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High-Intensity Interval Training
Motion and heart rate algorithms have been updated in the latest watchOS 4 and they can now better track your high-intensity interval training. The Apple Watch can now keep better track of the calories you burn during your HIIT workouts.
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Gym Equipment Syncing
Apple Watch is now compatible with quite a few modern pieces of gym equipment. Just pair the two and sync all the important workout data including speed, heart rate and calories burned during workouts. Different new equipment from all major brands is going to hit the markets this fall.
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Do Not Disturb
The ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode is turned on automatically by your watchOS 4 as soon as your workout begins and you will be able to continue without being distracted from the notifications.
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Quick Switch
Quick Switch is your perfect partner when you are training for some big event. The watchOS 4 allows you to start new workout without having to end the current one. This way, you won’t even miss a single beat like when you pick up your bike quickly after that swim. Once the workout ends, you will be able to see all the activity in final summary. Besides, all key metrics will be provided for better understanding your workout progress.
Music App
Music app in watchOS 4 has also been upgraded with some new tricks that allow you to listen to your favorite music whenever you want. The most prevalent change, however, is the automatic sync feature that we have detailed here.
Automatic Sync
Any Apple-curated playlist on your Music App will now be synced automatically to the Apple Watch. This means that you’ll have instant access to your Favorites Mix and the New Playlists everywhere and every time. However, it is important to mention here that subscription of Apple Music will be needed to put your hands on all these options.
Person-to-Person Payments
With Apple Pay upgrades made to watchOS 4, users can now be able to make/receive person-to-person payments through Siri or Messages. Any payment received is placed into the ‘Apple Pay Cash Account’ from where you can send it immediately to anyone else, directly transfer it to your personal bank account, or make further payments through Apple Pay.
Native Core Bluetooth
The latest watchOS 4 now offers support for native core Bluetooth as well. This way you can be able to link with other wireless products and work with them. It adds capabilities like uninterrupted glucose monitoring, getting info from the surfboard while on water, etc.The watchOS 4 is expected to release this fall and will come with whole new set of features and upgrades that are really exciting for the Apple Watch users.