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watchOS 6 Release Date

watchOS 6 for Apple Watch is expected to be released in the fall of 2019. A developer beta was released in June at WWDC 2019. It’s not expected that a public beta will be available.

watchOS 6 Features

The next version of software for Apple Watch will include new watch faces and complications, new first-party apps like Audiobooks, Voice Memos, and Calculator, as well as a dedicated watchOS App Store. It will also include a new Hearing Health feature. If your watch detects ambient noise, it will notify you if the levels may harm your hearing. Apple has said all audio is stored locally on the device.

It was announced that there will be a streaming audio API available to developers. This feature would allow apps like Spotify or Overcast to stream over a LTE connection when users are away from their iPhone.

There are also new health and fitness features such as new “Trends,” “Highlights,” and “Favorites” views to compare your activity over time. One more new app called “Cycles” allows users to track their menstrual cycles on both Apple Watch as well as iPhone and log important information.

watchOS 6 Compatibility

When Apple released watchOS 5 last year, support was dropped for the original Apple Watch (1st generation, aka Series 0). This time around, watchOS 6 will be supporting all of the same Apple Watch hardware as watchOS 5, meaning even Apple Watch Series 1 users will get to update to the latest software when it’s publicly released.

Apple does note that not all features will be available on all Apple Watches that can run the software, however, it doesn’t specify details on that for now.

watchOS 6 will be compatible with Series 1, 2, 3, and 4 and will require an iPhone 6s or later. The iPhone hardware requirement moves up from 5s and later for watchOS 5.

Top Stories

[Update: Now available] watchOS 6.2.5 enables ECG and Irregular heart rhythm notifications for Apple Watch in Saudi Arabia

Apple Watch ECG – AliveCor Patent health

Update: watchOS 6.2.5 is now available to everyone. iOS 13.5, macOS Catalina 10.15.5, and tvOS 13.4.5 are still only available to developers. Apple has also released watchOS 5.3.7 for users who have an Apple Watch paired with an iPhone running iOS 12, as watchOS 6 requires iOS 13. You can read the original article below:

Apple today is releasing the GM seed of watchOS 6.2.5 to developers. While we already know that this update comes with new Pride watch faces, today’s release notes mention that the ECG feature is coming to Saudi Arabia this week.


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How accurate is Apple Watch noise level detection for hearing health?

Apple Watch now doubles as a hearing health monitor thanks to new noise level detection features in watchOS 6. After being turned on by the user, the new Noise app on Apple Watch can measure decibel levels and send alerts when a noisy environment that could affect hearing is detected.

So how accurate is the Apple Watch at measuring sound? One Apple Watch customer who works as a test stand operator for a nuclear motor facility put the new Noise app to the test.


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watchOS 6: Hands-on with the top new features for Apple Watch [Video]

On the eve of tomorrow’s Apple Watch Series 5 release, Apple has released watchOS 6. It’s a major new update for the Apple Watch that adds new watch faces, new complications, a standalone App Store, enhanced Siri support, and much more. Watch our hands-on video covering the top new watchOS 6 features, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple Watch coverage. 
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watchOS 6 GM includes new Meridian watch face featured during Apple Watch Series 5 reveal

Fans of the new Meridian watch face that was revealed during the Apple Watch Series 5 portion of yesterday’s Apple event don’t have to wait until next Friday’s hardware release in order to take the new watch face for a test drive. Today’s release of the watchOS 6 GM includes the new Meridian watch face as the default option for Apple Watch Series 4 and higher.
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How to protect your hearing with iOS 13 and watchOS 6

iOS 13 hearing Noise app Apple Watch watchOS 6

9to5Mac is brought to you by JustAnswer: Connect 1-on-1 with an Apple support Expert to get step-by-step assistance via phone or online chat, 24/7. Try it now

watchOS 6 and iOS 13 are just a few weeks away from being released to the public, and both updates include new features that you might not have even known you needed. With this year’s watchOS 6 release for Apple Watch and iOS 13 for iPhone, Apple is implementing a pair of new hearing features, designed to help you prevent exposing yourself to loud environments and headphones levels for extended periods of time.

Here’s how both of those new features work.


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Comment: Is Apple Watch with LTE becoming the perfect cell phone for kids?

Apple Watch

I’ve been thinking a lot about my kids, and how we will approach technology as they get older. I recently wrote about our approach to social media, and that led me to thinking about how I will approach cell phone usage in their lives. My oldest son will turn nine this year, so it’s something I know is going to come up sooner rather than later. After thinking about the role of a cell phone in a child’s life, I’ve realized that an Apple Watch with a LTE connection will eventually become the perfect kid cell phone. We’re not quite there yet technology-wise, but I can see a day when all the stars will align.
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Hands-on: 80+ watchOS 6 changes and features [Video]

watchOS 6

The Apple Watch receives a huge update with watchOS 6, bringing more independence to Apple’s wearable device than ever before. Among the watchOS 6 changes is a brand new App Store app that allows you to manage and download apps directly to the Apple Watch, a new Software Update provision that lets you perform updates, and a new Enhanced Siri voice assistant that’s much more capable than before.

Of course, there’s also many new watch faces, complications, and additional changes and features to enjoy in watchOS 6. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as we step through dozens of new watchOS 6 changes and features.
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Feature Request: Three ways Apple Podcasts could become the ultimate Apple Watch podcast client

Apple Watch Series 4

Since I am currently training for a marathon later this fall, I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts on Apple Watch during my long runs. I’ve been a heavy podcast listener since before Apple integrated it into the iPod, so being able to listen to them on a watch is a dream come true for me. Pairing Apple Watch with the new Powerbeats Pro is the perfect combination for running.

While I am generally an Overcast user, I have experimented with Apple Podcasts here recently as well. I wrote an article about the best podcast app for Apple Watch that I encourage you to read as well. This week, I want to talk about what Apple could do for Apple Podcasts on watchOS 6 and beyond to improve the experience.
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Apple Watch users will be able to delete stock apps with watchOS 6

Apple Watch

Since the first version, Apple Watch has shipped with a lot of stock apps on the honeycomb grid. watchOS 6 adds even more; App Store, Audiobooks, Calculator, Cycle Tracking, Noise, and Voice Memos.

To date, Apple Watch users have not been able to cleanup their home screens and delete these stock apps, like has been possible with Apple’s apps on iOS for a while now. However, TechCrunch reports that this will change later this year with watchOS 6’s public release.


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