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watchOS 7

New features include sleep tracking, new work outs, hand washing detection, and more

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watchOS 7

During the WWDC 2020 presentation, Apple unveiled watchOS 7 for Apple Watch. In watchOS 7, Apple is adding a number of new features.

watchOS 7 features

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watchOS 7 offers updates to faces for more personalization and faster access to your favorite apps. The ultraprecise Chronograph Pro includes a tachymeter to calculate speed based on time traveled over a fixed distance, the Photos face offers color filters, and the bold X-Large face now has an option to add a rich complication to your screen. The Chronograph Pro face features an integrated tachymeter.

Developers can now offer more than one complication per app on a watch face. For example, Glow Baby can display multiple complications that help parents track bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, pumping statistics, and nap times, while Dawn Patrol can show tide, wind speed, and water temperature from a favorite surf spot.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us all the benefits of washing our hands. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the spread of illness. Apple Watch uses motion sensors, microphone, and on-device machine learning to automatically detect handwashing motions and sounds. It then starts a 20-second timer, and if the person finishes early, watchOS 7 will prompt to keep washing. Apple Watch can also conveniently remind the user to wash their hands when they return home.

“We’re energized by the positive impact Apple Watch is having on our customers and are excited to deliver meaningful new tools that support their health, fitness, and wellness,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “watchOS 7 brings sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and new workout types together with a whole new way to discover and use watch faces, helping our users stay healthy, active, and connected.”

With watchOS 7, Apple Watch now offers workout tracking for  Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cooldown. With iOS 14, there is a redesigned Activity app on iPhone, now called Fitness, which provides a streamlined view of workout data.

watchOS 7 also adds sleep tracking to the Apple Watch. Through the detection of micro-movements from the Apple Watch’s accelerometer, which signals sleep, Apple Watch intelligently captures when the user is sleeping and how much sleep they get each night. In the morning, the user will see a visualization of their previous night’s sleep, including periods of wake and sleep. They will also see a chart showing their weekly sleep trend.

watchOS 7 release date

watchOS 7 was released on September 16th, 2020 for Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 4, or Apple Watch Series 5 paired with iPhone 6s or later running iOS 14 or later.

Continue reading for the latest information about the upcoming Apple Watch update.

 

watchOS 7: When will Apple release it to the public and what to expect when it’s available

watchOS 7 release date

Apple officially unveiled watchOS 7 to developers last month at WWDC, detailing new features such as sleep tracking support, facing sharing, and more. While the update is currently available to developers, we’re still a few months away from the general release — but this year, a public beta will also be available to Apple Watch users for the first time.


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Apple VP Kevin Lynch talks Apple Watch sleep tracking, focus on ‘helpful and empowering’ data

Apple Watch will add support for native sleep tracking with watchOS 7, tying it together with new features like Wind Down on iPhone and iOS 14. In new interviews following WWDC, Apple VP of technologies Kevin Lynch offered more details on the strategy behind the company’s implementation of sleep tracking with Apple Watch.


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Apple Watch handwashing detection was years in development; may be more to come

Apple Watch handwashing detection took years

One of the more timely WWDC announcements was Apple Watch handwashing detection. The coronavirus crisis means everyone is being encouraged to wash their hands more frequently, and to ensure that we’re doing so thoroughly.

But the handwashing detection feature wasn’t developed hastily in response, says Apple, but was rather years in development …


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Developer David Smith shares insight on what should be enhanced on Apple Watch with watchOS 7

Apple is preparing to announce watchOS 7 next month, the next major update to the Apple Watch operating system. And while 9to5Mac has already revealed some exclusive details about the upcoming software, developer David Smith has shared some interesting thoughts on what should be improved in watchOS 7 based on his experience creating apps for Apple Watch.


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iOS 14 code reveals updated Activity rings for Apple Watch in upcoming kids mode on watchOS 7

9to5Mac exclusively reported earlier this month that iOS 14 and watchOS 7 will include a new SchoolTime mode and kid mode. The latter feature includes the ability for a parent to set up and manage an Apple Watch for a child with a single iPhone.

Each Apple Watch account is currently connected to a single iPhone’s Apple ID. This new mode will let a parent manage their child’s Apple Watch from the parent’s iPhone, and the child will not be required to own an iPhone to use the Apple Watch.

If this feature in development is completed and released this year, the Apple Watch will become much better for kids than ever before, but how will activity tracking work? Based on iOS 14 code obtained by 9to5Mac, we can now answer that question.


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iOS 14 code reveals Apple working with BMW on futuristic ‘CarKey’ iPhone feature

BMW CarKey

9to5Mac reported exclusively in February that Apple is developing a new ‘CarKey’ feature that will let drivers replace physical key fobs with their iPhone. The new virtual key technology was first discovered in a beta version of iOS 13.4.

New evidence in iOS 14 code obtained by 9to5Mac reveals that Apple is working with BMW to likely be the first carmaker to support the futuristic iPhone feature. 9to5Mac received this non-denial statement from BMW when asked about their involvement:

Please understand that at this point we cannot confirm your request nor give you further details. We would like to refer you to our press release.

The informative press release referenced was published in December and refers to BMW’s efforts to adopt a new smartphone and watch Digital Key standard:


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Apple Watch Series 6 and watchOS 7 to include ‘Infograph Pro’ with tachymeter, SchoolTime and kids mode, sleep tracking, more

9to5Mac exclusively reported over the weekend that Apple Watch will gain the ability to detect blood oxygen saturation, a critical vital for maintaining heart and brain health. The new health feature isn’t the only change coming to Apple Watch Series 6 and watchOS 7.

Based on leaked iOS 14 code obtained by 9to5Mac, we can share many more details including new watch faces, sleep tracking, and parental control features in development for later this fall.


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Apple Watch blood oxygen detection feature found in iOS 14 code snippet

Apple is developing at least two new features focused on health that will expand Apple Watch capabilities in the future. Apple Watch will add the ability to detect blood oxygen levels for the first time, 9to5Mac has learned based on an exclusive look at iOS 14 code snippets

Blood oxygen levels between 95 and 100% are considered healthy; blood oxygen levels below 80% may lead to compromised heart and brain functionality. Risk of respiratory or cardiac arrest is common after continued low blood oxygen saturation.

To that end, Apple is developing a new health notification based on the vital measurement. When Apple Watch detects low blood oxygen saturation below a certain threshold, a notification will trigger alerting the user similar to current heart rate notifications.


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watchOS 7 visual concept dreams up sleep tracking, customizable Activity rings, ‘Weekend Getaway’ and much more

watchOS 7 concept Matt Birchler

Apple Watch Series 5 and watchOS 6 certainly brought improvements and new features last year but they didn’t really bring any major changes. That means watchOS 7 has the opportunity to really push the world’s most popular wearable forward and today, Matt Birchler has shared a very sharp and thorough visual concept for what that could look like. From sleep tracking and customizable Activity rings to new communication options and quicker interactions, and new features like “Weekend Getaway” read on for a look at this great watchOS 7 concept.


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