watchOS 5: Adding Powerful Activity and Communication Features
Earlier this week, Apple discussed about the new iOS 12 and some of its features at the WWDC 2018. Along with that, Apple also previewed watchOS 5. Apple is bringing some very significant updates to the most popular watch out there. These new updates will help users stay healthier and more connected.
Supporting fitness and communication
Apple Watch will help with fitness, communication and will also provide quick access to information with the help of new features. There are several features like Activity Sharing competitions, auto-workout detection, advanced running features to improve the user experience. There is also a Walkie-Talkie, Apple Podcasts and third-party apps on Siri watch face addition. We are going to discuss more about these features and how useful these are going to prove to be.
Activity sharing
Activity Sharing is a way to invite your friends and compete with them based on points achieved by closing rings. You can compete in a seven-day Activity competition and earn points for closing Activity Rings. You will also be receiving coaching notifications which will help you stay motivated and engaged to win by the end of the week.
Automatic workout detection
The Automatic Workout Detection is another new feature on Apple Watch that comes with the watchOS 5. Auto-work Detection runs for the most popular workouts on Apple Watch. This feature provides an alert to start the correct workout and gives retroactive credit. It will also offer reminders in order to end workout sessions after a period of inactivity if the user forgets.
Yoga and Hiking
WatchOS already offers 12 workouts. The 12 dedicated workouts will be joined by Yoga and Hiking. It will accurately track your active calories burned and exercise minutes earned.
For running enthusiasts
WatchOS 5 offers amazing features for people who love to run. It includes a new cadence metric ( steps per minute) for indoor and outdoor runs and walks. It also has a new pace alarm for outdoor runs. This alarm alerts you when you are behind or ahead of your designated target pace. There is a brand new metric called the rolling mile pace. This new metric is an additional option. You can check your speed for the immediately former mile along with your average speed.
Walkie-Talkie
Walkie-Talkie is another new introduction to watchOS 5. It is an entirely new way to communicate with voice and just a tap of the wrist. It is a fun way to get in touch with your friends and family. The connection here is watch-to-watch. This will prove to be quick and personal. It can be activated between any compatible Apple Watch users living anywhere in the world.
Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts on Apple Watch will let you listen to your favourite podcast and stream any podcast in the catalog by using Siri. Episodes will automatically sync to Apple Watch. If you listen to them on other devices, the app will keep track of that as well. There is a new feature for developers. You will be allowed to sync music, audiobooks etc from apps like Pandora and Audible for playing offline without even using your iPhone.
Siri
Siri now offers more predictive and proactive shortcuts throughout the day based on your routines. Siri also makes use of locations. Along with that, information like heart rate after a workout, travel time with Maps are also made use of. Siri will also show actionable content from third-party apps such as Nike+Run Club.
Notification controls
Interactive controls to notifications from third-party apps is now possible. They can be used without needing to open the app. Apple Watch is also replacing student ID cards, thanks to the watchOS 5. Students can easily gain access to places like library, dorms and events, laundry etc around the campus, simply by adding their ID cards to the Apple Watch. This will be applicable to Duke, University of Alabama and the University of Oklahoma by the end of fall. Santa Clara University, Temple University and John Hopkins will bring it in by the end of this year.
Coming by the end of this year
Apple has also released a new watch face to celebrate Pride. There is a new rainbow stripe for the Pride Edition Woven Nylon band. This is done by donating to LGBTQ advocacy organisations. Apple has released new summer band colors like Marine Green, Peach and Sky Blue. WatchOS will be available this fall as a free update. It will be available for Apple Watch Series 1, and you will have to have iPhone 5S or later on iOS 12.
Dhruvil is a Writer & Marketeer for Nimblechapps, joined in December 2014, based out of Sydney, Australia. He has worked briefly as a Branding and Digital Marketing Manager before moving to Australia. At Nimblechapps, he worked on Social Media Marketing, Branding, Email Marketing and Blogging. Dhruvil studies Business at University of Western Sydney, and also handles Operations for the company in Australia.