Tim Cook CEO of Apple | Apple
Apple has previewed watchOS 11, an update to its wearable operating system, designed to enhance health and fitness tracking through new features and personalization options. The update introduces the Vitals app, which consolidates key health metrics for better daily decision-making. It also includes a training load measurement feature to optimize workout intensity and duration.
David Clark, Apple’s senior director of watchOS Engineering, stated, “watchOS is the world’s most advanced wearable operating system, supporting Apple Watch users throughout their day to stay healthy, active, and connected. This fall, watchOS 11 makes Apple Watch an even more essential companion by offering users additional actionable insights into their health and fitness.”
The Vitals app provides quick access to important health data such as heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels. Notifications are sent when multiple metrics fall outside typical ranges, offering potential explanations linked to lifestyle factors like elevation changes or alcohol consumption.
Developed with input from clinical experts and real-world data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, the Vitals app aims to provide accurate out-of-range classifications. Additionally, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 offer support for pregnant users by reflecting changes in physical and mental health within the Health app.
Training load insights in watchOS 11 help users understand workout strain over time by comparing recent activity against a longer-term average. This allows for better-informed decisions regarding training routines. Effort ratings on a scale from 1 to 10 can be manually adjusted or automatically generated using various data sources.
Customizable Activity rings now allow users to pause them without affecting award streaks and adjust goals by day of the week. Enhanced customization options are also available in the Fitness app on iPhone.
The Smart Stack feature offers improved access to important information with new widgets based on time-sensitive contexts like weather alerts. The Photos watch face uses machine learning for optimal photo recommendations based on composition and facial expressions.
New connectivity features include Check In during workouts for added safety and a Translate app supporting 20 languages directly on the wrist. A double tap gesture facilitates easier interaction with apps like Messages and Calendar.
Other updates in watchOS 11 include expanded workout types tracked via GPS positioning enhancements; offline hiking routes for U.S. national parks in Apple Maps; summarized notifications forwarded from iPhone; enhanced ticketing information in Apple Wallet; Tap to Cash transactions between devices; new APIs for developers enhancing Smart Stack intelligence; interactivity capabilities; Live Activities updates; Double Tap API actions within apps; end-to-end encryption of health data synced with iCloud.
The developer beta of watchOS 11 is available now at developer.apple.com. A public beta will launch next month at beta.apple.com with general availability expected this fall as a free update for Apple Watch Series 6 or later paired with iPhone Xs or later running iOS 18.
For further details visit apple.com/watchos/watchos-preview.
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