Apple has previewed watchOS 9, which brings new features and enhanced experiences to one of the world’s leading wearable operating systems.
Apple Watch users will now have more watch faces to choose from, with richer complications that provide more information and opportunity for personalisation. In the updated Workout app, advanced metrics, views and training experiences inspired by high-performing athletes help users take their workouts to the next level. watchOS 9 brings sleep stages to the Sleep app and a new FDA-cleared AFib History feature provides deeper insights into a user’s condition. The new Medications app makes it easy for users to conveniently and discreetly manage, understand and track medications.
“This fall, watchOS 9 takes the Apple Watch experience to the next level with scientifically validated insights across fitness, sleep and heart health, while providing users more creative ways to make their Apple Watch their own,” said Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Apple.
Workout app updates
The Workout app has been updated to provide richer metrics for measuring performance, as well as new training experiences to help users reach fitness goals. The familiar in-session display now uses the Digital Crown to rotate between easy-to-read Workout Views, so users can see important metrics for different training styles.
Heart Rate Zones, which can be manually created or automatically calculated using personalised Health data, can be used to monitor the intensity of a workout. Interval training is an important part of any training plan, and in watchOS 9, the Workout app introduces Custom Workouts, which can be used to create a structured workout that can include work and rest intervals. New alerts – including pace, power, heart rate and cadence – can be added to guide users throughout the workout.
For triathletes, the Workout app now supports a new multisport workout type that automatically switches between any sequence of swimming, biking and running workouts, using motion sensors to recognise movement patterns. When each workout is complete, a redesigned summary page in the Fitness app offers additional details with interactive charts for more precise analysis.
Hit the ground running
Apple Watch is already a powerful tool for runners and watchOS 9 brings more data and features to help track how efficiently users run. New running form metrics, including stride length, ground contact time and vertical oscillation, can all be added as metrics on Workout Views. These metrics appear in the Fitness app summary and in the Health app, where users can see trends over time and learn from patterns.