Today, Apple previewed watchOS 3, featuring significantly improved performance with the ability to launch favorite apps instantly, enhanced navigation like the new Dock and all-new fitness and health capabilities for Apple Watch. Available this fall, this software update introduces the breakthrough Breathe app, designed to encourage users to take a moment in their day to do deep breathing exercises for relaxation and stress reduction. The Activity app now includes the ability to share, compare and compete as well as enabling wheelchair users to close their Activity rings.
“Apple Watch is the ultimate companion for a healthy life and with watchOS 3, there’s now even more to love,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement. “Favorite apps launch instantly and are simple to access, and the breakthrough new fitness and health features like the Breathe app make it feel like a whole new watch.”
Instant Performance & Simple Navigation
It is easier and faster than ever to perform common tasks with watchOS 3, including replying to a message, starting a Workout or skipping a song. By pressing the side button, users can access the new Dock with their recent and favorite apps. Right from the Dock or the watch face, users can launch their favorite native and third-party apps instantly and have the latest information in the app already updated and ready for viewing. Similar to iOS, users can swipe up from the watch face for the new and improved Control Center, continue to swipe down for Notification Center and swipe left or right to easily switch out a watch face.
Fitness & Health
Motivation through social engagement is an important factor in changing fitness and health behavior, and now with watchOS 3, it’s possible to share, compare and compete with friends, family or even a personal trainer. Users receive notifications about their friends’ progress, including completed Activity rings, finished workouts and earned achievements. Activity sharing is now directly connected to the Messages app, so users can communicate, motivate and celebrate with friends and family with new Smart Replies specially customized for Activity and Workouts. In watchOS 3, the Activity app experience is now optimized for wheelchair users. Wheelchair pushes contribute to all-day calorie goals, the “time to stand” reminder is now “time to roll” and there are dedicated wheelchair-specific workouts.
The all-new Breathe app encourages users to take moments in their day to do short deep breathing sessions. The beautiful, calming visualization and haptic cues guide users through deep, full breaths in sessions lasting one to five minutes and on completion, they will receive a heart rate summary.
All-New Communication
Receiving and quickly replying to messages is more powerful and expressive in watchOS 3 with stickers, handwriting, full-screen effects and invisible ink, which reveals the message only after a friend swipes over it. Smart Replies are even faster as they are now available right in the message notification. When a more custom reply is needed, the new scribble feature allows users to quickly write words on the display and Apple Watch will convert the handwriting to text.
SOS in watchOS 3 enables people in critical situations around the world to initiate a call with emergency services through their iPhone or while on Wi-Fi, and notify their emergency contact by simply pressing and holding the side button.
Watch Faces
Apple Watch is even more personal with new watch faces including Minnie Mouse, Activity and the simple and elegant Numerals. Even more apps can launch straight from the watch face including Workout, Music or Messages. Users can also now add complications to the Photo, Motion or Timelapse watch faces. It’s easier to customize watch faces and discover third-party apps with the new Faces Gallery in the Watch app on iPhone.
Availability
watchOS 3 will be available this fall as a free update to Apple Watch. Apple Watch requires iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8.2 or later. WatchKit for watchOS 3 is available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. For more information, visit apple.com/watchos-preview. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions.
Source: Apple Inc.
Can I see the mini mouse…
Why not have Siri do all that rather than interface with nano-to-human clinking?
As soon as you sober up, update your comment for clarification. Thanks in advance.
Yawn.
Still an unbeliever.
I was skeptical but finally bought one last fall. It’s pretty great.
Any word on the release of new watches? Thinner, better battery life, etc…
Battery life is not an issue, nor is the thinness of Apple Watch.
I’m surprised you’d say that. Most fitness trackers will go days without needing to charge them and that allows sleep tracking and more. I’ve had mine for over a year, so you might want to see if your opinion changes over time. Even Apple knows that battery life is not acceptable in the long run.
A thinner iWatch is definitely on the horizon too, so you don’t bang it into things as easily.
Neither of these points are particularly controversial, so perhaps you can elaborate a tad more your minority opinion?
It really needs to have a health app that can monitor blood pressure too and that was originally destined to see iWatch 1.0, but was pulled a few weeks prior to release.
It’s a first gen product, so these improvements are necessary and expected.
Any word on the release of new, improved watches? Thinner, better battery life, etc…?
WWDC…
WorldWide
DEVELOPERS
Conference
Hardware to follow.
Yah, I know. But the 1st gen hardware is over a year old and in much need of a sexy upgrade. There are been hardware announcements at WWDC many times in the past, with the INTEL shift being one of the more famous.
Still curious if they going to wait till the Fall and overlap on iPhone 7, or maybe announce something in the next few weeks.
But will it run ALL new features on Watch 1.0…?