Apple rethinks watchOS 10 through Smart Stack
Apple is upgrading its watchOS in a crucial aspect for its jubilee 10th edition. No more honeycomb of programs and a focus on the individual watch face – say hello to stacks of widgets and apps that fill the complete screen. WatchOS 10 is published for developers today and will come in Public beta a month from now for everyone to test.
As usual, the OS will appear in final form this fall, accompanying the forthcoming Watch Series 9. With watchOS 10, the main screen is the so-called Smart Stack – a carousel of widgets that give glanceable information and move from one to another using the digital crown.
Apple is making tweaks to the physical controls as well – a push on the side button opens the Control Center at any moment – a double press on the Digital Crown takes you back to your recent apps. With the updated version, apps will use more of the screen real estate, bringing you more information.
Apple rethinks watchOS 10 through Smart Stack
Naturally, there are some new watch faces. The palette indicates the time in various colors and alters as the day progresses. There’s even a customized Snoopy and Woodstock clockface too. The Apple Watch Ultra is growing more competitive than Garmin’s products.
With watchOS 10, consumers will have offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation accessible from an iPhone to a connected watch. Hikers can inspect trails directly on their wrists – including route characteristics like kind, duration, and difficulty. Using the altimeter in Watch Ultra, hikers will get a 3D map of their waypoints, and the watch will automatically construct a waypoint to the last area you’ve had phone service in case you need to trail back and send a message.
Specification
Apple is offering new cycling features in watchOS 10. Users will get a new workout view containing cycling speed, elevation, heart rate, time, and distance. This information may appear twice on the iPhone screen. The watch will also instantly interface with Bluetooth cycling computers. Apple also integrated Vision into the Health app.
By leveraging the ambient light sensor, Apple Watch will estimate how much time you spend in daylight. It will also track the distance you gaze at your phone’s screen by leveraging your iPhone or iPad’s depth camera. If you hold it closer than 30cm for a more extended amount of time, the watch will give you a notification.
Finally, Mental health is a new component of the Mindfulness app. You can monitor your mood using the digital crown to choose among emotions depicted as abstract shapes. There are standardized surveys to measure your risk of anxiety and depression.
