watchOS

Simple, minimalistic, small: The platform for the best smartwatch on the market

196 'watchOS' stories June 2015 - September 2019

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watchOS only runs on the Apple Watch and launched alongside the product back in 2015. It has seen several major revisions since its launch, such as axing glances, the friends UI, and more.

The original version of the software was very slow and relied on your iPhone for its apps. Everything presumably ran over Bluetooth, and would be unable to open any apps if your connected iPhone was out of range.

Apple quickly moved away from interaction model and pushed native applications as of watchOS 2.0, where the majority of the app’s interface and information were installed on your Apple Watch, instead of your iPhone.

watchOS 3.0 added support for background app refresh, which allowed apps to run in the background, but also enabled complications to be updated without needing to completely launch an app.

With watchOS 4.0, and the Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE, Apple took this interaction model a step further. The company introduced APIs to allow applications to run completely independently of the iPhone. This meant that users were allowed to stream Apple Music, get the latest News, or take a phone call without being in the range of your iPhone. However, an iPhone is still required to setup and manage your Apple Watch.

Learn more about watchOS by reading the articles below:

SmartGym iOS Apple Watch update

SmartGym for iPhone gains ARKit 3 Body Detection and Pose Estimation, full Siri Shortcuts support, Apple Watch app now independent, more

Michael Potuck Sep 19 2019 - 9:06 am PT

SmartGym is out with an update today that brings a range of new features and capabilities. Headling the update for iOS is ARKit 3 integration that brings Body Detection and Pose Estimation. There’s also full Siri Shortcuts support for parameters. The SmartGym Apple Watch app is now fully independent with watchOS 6 with a new “Explore” section, while iPad will gain multiwindow support when iPadOS 13 arrives.

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Feature Request: Enable Wi-Fi Assist for Apple Watch when it can’t connect to iPhone

Bradley Chambers Aug 4 2019 - 6:00 am PT

Apple Watch

While I haven’t worn an Apple Watch 100% of the time since the release of the Series 0, I have owned every single one. There are benefits to wearing one for health reasons, and there are also reasons to wear one for connectivity purposes. I particularly love owning a cellular version so I can go running without my iPhone or make a quick trip to the store. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I could see future versions of the LTE Apple Watch as a great first cell phone for kids. There has been something that has frustrated me about the Apple Watch from the first day I owned it to today, that’s when Apple Watch doesn’t have a network connection. Is it time for Apple to release a version of Wi-Fi Assist for Apple Watch?
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Comment: Is Apple Watch with LTE becoming the perfect cell phone for kids?

Bradley Chambers Jul 21 2019 - 6:00 am PT

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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watchOS 6 will give customers with older Apple Watches new reasons to upgrade

Zac Hall Jun 21 2019 - 9:30 am PT

watchOS 6 includes six new watch faces with even more customization options for personalizing your Apple Watch — if you have a Series 4 model. The upcoming software update is also coming to Apple Watch Series 1 through 3, but you’ll need to upgrade your Apple Watch if you want to try out all the new watch faces.

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watchOS 6: Exploring California and the many forms of the new Apple Watch face

Zac Hall Jun 20 2019 - 2:20 pm PT

watchOS 6 introduces several new watch faces for the Apple Watch Series 4 including the new California option. Much like the recent Infograph face, California can be customized in a range of ways to fit your style.

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Apple Watch gains ‘2019’ Pride face update in watchOS 5.2.1

Zac Hall May 13 2019 - 12:06 pm PT

Apple debuted a brand new Pride face in the middle of the WWDC 2018 keynote last year, pairing a rainbow colored watch face with a matching band. Now Apple’s Pride face is getting a new design on the Apple Watch with an updated style option. There’s also a new Pride Analog version with full screen and circular versions.

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Comment: Apple Watch’s future excites me more than any other Apple product

Bradley Chambers Apr 28 2019 - 6:00 am PT

Apple Watch

I’ve had a long road with the Apple Watch. I bought the original one on release day, but sold it within a few months due to the slowness of watchOS 1. I purchased a Series 2 when it was released, but I ended up returning it a few weeks later. When the Series 3 Apple Watch was released, I ended up buying one to write a review, but returned it before the return period was up (it was around Christmas so I had a longer return period). In the entire time the Apple Watch has existed, I’ve probably owned it a total of six months. A month ago, I picked up another one. This time, I have a Series 4 Apple Watch with LTE. I know I am late to the Apple Watch party, but I do have some thoughts that I think are interesting based on my past history, and my thoughts on Apple’s health plans with Apple Watch. I’ve been around the watchOS scene from day one, but I’ve definitely come and gone for periods of time.

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Footpath audio AirPods navigation

Footpath custom navigation app for runners and cyclists launches audio guidance with AirPods double-tap support

Michael Potuck Apr 10 2019 - 8:00 am PT

Google Maps is likely the first app to come to mind for navigation in a vehicle, but a sharp app called Footpath offers a great custom navigation experience for cyclists, runners, and walkers. Today, the app is gaining turn by turn audio guidance with dedicated AirPods double-tap functionality and more.

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watchOS 6 Wish List: Bedtime mode, Activity Sharing upgrades, watch face design, more

Zac Hall Apr 5 2019 - 11:11 am PT

watchOS 6 wish list

watchOS 6, the next major version of Apple Watch software, will be an interesting operating system update. In recent years, the Apple Watch OS has focused on health and fitness features matched with software that uses new hardware like streaming Apple Music and Podcasts over LTE and the ECG app.

Apple Watch Series 5 hardware rumors are already extremely light, limited to the return of the ceramic Edition casing, and watchOS 6 rumors are even more sparse. With several Apple Watch features complete and built-in sleep tracking not expected until late 2020, what should we expect to see in watchOS 6?

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Apple Watch Explorer face lost its numbers after watchOS 5.2? You’re not alone

Zac Hall Mar 28 2019 - 9:38 am PT

Notice something weird about your Apple Watch since updating to watchOS 5.2? There’s a software bug affecting the Explorer watch face on the latest Apple Watch update.

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watchOS 6 concept envisions redesigned Siri face, wellbeing + sleep rings, more

Chance Miller Mar 3 2019 - 9:17 am PT

watchOS 6 concept

Matt Birchler is out today with his annual watchOS concept, this time imagining watchOS 6. Birchler envisions some of the features he’d most like to see, including a redesigned Siri face, new sleep tracking rings, and more.

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FlickType gesture keyboard for Apple Watch launches SDK for third-party app integration

Chance Miller Feb 28 2019 - 6:00 am PT

FlickType

A handful of popular Apple Watch applications have been updated today with FlickType integration. FlickType is a third-party keyboard designed for the Apple Watch that uses a gesture system to streamline typing on the Apple Watch’s display, and a new SDK makes it easier for developers to implement the keyboard.

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Apple releasing first iOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2 developer betas today [U: Now available]

Zac Hall Jan 24 2019 - 9:11 am PT

Update: Developer betas are now available including iOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2, tvOS 12.2, macOS 10.14.4, and Xcode 10.2 beta 1.

Now that Apple’s bug fix beta updates to iOS 12.1 are now available to all users, it’s time for the next big point release of iOS 12. Apple will release iOS 12.2 developer beta 1 today. watchOS 5.2 beta 1 for developers is also arriving today. The software update should be available at the top of the hour. We’ll update and report back any changes that we discover inside.

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Apple releasing watchOS 5.1.3, iOS 12.1.3 for iPhone, iPad and HomePod later today

Guilherme Rambo Jan 22 2019 - 9:36 am PT

Two weeks after releasing the latest watchOS 5.1.3 developer beta, Apple is releasing its final version for consumers later today. The release notes only mention bug fixes, but we’ll update if anything notable is discovered on the new release. iOS 12.1.3 is also coming out to all customers.

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iOS
watchOS

Apple releasing first iOS 12.1.2 and watchOS 5.1.3 developer betas today with ‘bug fixes’

Zac Hall Dec 10 2018 - 9:14 am PT

iPhone XR

[Update: Now available over-the-air with developer profiles installed. macOS 10.14.3 beta 1 and tvOS 12.1.2 beta 1 are also available for developers.]

Apple is releasing the first iOS 12.1.2 developer beta shortly following the official release of iOS 12.1.1 last week. watchOS 5.1.3 developer beta 1 for Apple Watch is also coming today. The release notes for the upcoming iOS developer beta only highlight bug fixes and performance improvements, but we’ll dig in and update if any notable changes are discovered.

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State of Apple Watch in 2018

Bradley Chambers Dec 9 2018 - 6:00 am PT

As I have done over the past few weeks, I am finishing up 2018 by looking at Apple’s various product lines to see how far they have come, where they are at, and where we hope they go in the future. As we think back to the Series 0 Apple Watch (released in 2015), it’s tough to believe how far the Apple Watch has come in just a few short years. The Series 4 Apple Watch was released a few months back, and by all counts, it’s the best Apple Watch ever released (if not the best wearable as well).
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watchOS 5.1.1 coming today following Apple Watch bricking issues with previous update [U: Now available]

Zac Hall Nov 5 2018 - 9:35 am PT

Apple Watch battery life

There’s a new maintenance software update coming for Apple Watch today. watchOS 5.1.1 follows the rocky release of the previous watchOS software update that caused Apple Watch bricking after failing to successfully complete the installation for some customers.

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Fifth iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 developer betas now available

Zac Hall Oct 22 2018 - 10:03 am PT

iOS 12.1

Apple has released the fifth beta versions of iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 for developers. We’ll dig in to the new iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV builds and update with any changes.

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Fourth iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 developer betas now available

Zac Hall Oct 15 2018 - 10:08 am PT

iOS 12.1

Apple has released the fourth beta versions of iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 for developers. We’ll dig in to the new iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV builds and update with any changes.

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Third iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 developer betas now available

Zac Hall Oct 9 2018 - 10:02 am PT

iOS 12.1

Apple has released the third beta versions of iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 for developers. We’ll dig in to the new iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV builds and update with any changes.

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watchOS 5.0.1 coming today, fixes a bug with the Activity Rings

Guilherme Rambo Sep 27 2018 - 12:43 pm PT

[Update: watchOS 5.0.1 is now available.]

A little over a week after releasing watchOS 5 to the public, today Apple is going to be releasing its first minor update: watchOS 5.0.1. This is a small update that aims at fixing some issues with the original release, including a bug that caused an incorrect increase in exercise minutes for some users.

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Apple releases first iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1 developer betas [U]

Zac Hall Sep 18 2018 - 10:02 am PT

One day after the official release of iOS 12 and watchOS 5, Apple has released new developer software beta versions for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Both iOS 12.1 developer beta 1 and watchOS 5.1 developer beta 1 are now available for testing. tvOS 12.1 developer beta 1 is also available.

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watchOS 5 for Apple Watch now available with Podcasts and Walkie-Talkie apps, much more

Zac Hall Sep 17 2018 - 10:06 am PT

The major watchOS 5 software update for Apple Watch is now available. watchOS 5 runs on Apple Watch Series 1 and later; the original Apple Watch is not supported. Read on to see what’s new in watchOS 5:

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Apple Watch and Bluetooth car audio — the last step before leaving my iPhone behind

Zac Hall Sep 4 2018 - 11:07 am PT

There are two things I do with my iPhone on-the-go that my Apple Watch hasn’t been able to do: play podcasts and take photos and video. The upcoming watchOS 5 software update solves the podcast problem, and I have a dedicated camera for shooting without my iPhone. But the inability to pair the Apple Watch with Bluetooth car audio remains a sticking point.

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