The field of smart watches continues to be an interesting way to go for companies like Apple. Californians have added exciting new features in watchOS 7 that not only make Apple Watch look better in aesthetics, but also, continue to bet on improvements in the field of health and physical activity. We tell you everything new that has changed in this new version of software.
Further customization of complications
Complications are those elements that could be a hybrid between a widget and an app preview that appear on the spheres of the Apple Watch. There are all kinds, having native and third-party and are used for things as varied as seeing how many activity rings are left to close, the temperature, the battery level of the watch or directly access an application. In watchOS 7 we wanted to emphasize the possibility of having multiple complications from the same app . For example, if you are a surfer and use a specialized app, you can have the temperature of the water and the prediction of the wind and waves in the same page in the same sphere.
New native complications have also been added to add to the dials, such as the new chronograph with an integrated tachymeter , which will serve to control the speed or altitude at which we are moving and which will be based on the devices’ already integrated sensors. A new Extra G case has also been added with a new central complication in a larger size.
Another relevant aspect to note is that from watchOS 7 developers will be able to design their own complications. These would be automatically integrated when downloading the applications to which they refer, without the need to download them separately.
The revolution of the spheres
As usual in each version of the Apple Watch operating system, in watchOS 7 we find new dials, in addition to the redesign of some such as those shown previously with the tachymeter. However, the main novelty is given by the possibility of finding third-party spheres in the App Store , something highly demanded since the beginning of the Apple Watch and which is a reality from this version.
Developers have the possibility to create their own spheres and make them available for users to download, either from the App Store or from each other’s social networks or websites. Therefore, they can be downloaded from the iPhone or from the watch itself. But do you need to install an app for it? Let’s see it with an example: imagine that you download a sports sphere in which there are complications from a specialized app that you do not have installed, because when you start downloading, a warning will jump and you can decide whether to download this application or not, although if not the downloads will appear empty the space intended for the complication of this app.
Another very important and related novelty is the possibility of sharing the spheres to find the best customizations and that best adapt to your use. The way to do it is very simple, being able to do it from the iPhone’s Watch app or from the watch itself, by pressing the screen and pressing the share button. Download instructions will be sent through iMessage, so you don’t need to be physically close to the person with whom you are going to share the sphere.
Improvements to native Maps
The competition of Apple Maps with services like Google is very strong, but the Cupertino company continues to make efforts to improve its application and in watchOS 7 we have seen something about it, as it already happens in iOS 14. It has come true. the inclusion of the bicycle as a means of transport, being able to find specific indications about bike lanes, roads and highways. Useful directions such as highway road traffic or road elevation also appear.
Let’s dance with the new Trainings!
As we said at the beginning, the Apple Watch is a tremendously effective device for carrying out physical and sports activities, but not all were until now. Isn’t dancing a physical activity? It is and not only because of the dances that we can carry out at a party, but it is also considered a sport in different modalities and that helps to get in shape.
In watchOS 7 we find Dance within the Training app, being able to select it every time we go to carry out this activity. It is remarkable the fact that there are many accepted modalities in this training, from hip-hop style dances, to classical or aerobic dance. When doing this activity we usually move not only the arms, but also other parts of the body such as the hips or legs. It may seem confusing to measure this exercise then considering that we wear the watch on our wrist, but Apple has taken advantage of sensors such as the accelerometer and gyroscope to merge data and complete an analysis of the exercise performed.
Also added in this version is the possibility of recording calories in the abdominal and back training . Others are also added such as functional strength training and also for the stretches and cooldowns that are performed in daily exercise routines.
Goodbye Activity and hello Fitness
The popular iPhone Activity app, with synchronized data from the Apple Watch, is now called Fitness and has a renewed interface . A tab called Summary has been added and in which you can more easily find the history, training and trends in a visually striking continuous view. In this way, there will be a greater focus on navigation and on the indicator view of the physical activity carried out.
Sleep log natively
There were already some applications in the App Store that allowed us to take measurements of our night’s rest to analyze what our sleep routine is like. With watchOS 7 we find it completely natively and for free, with advanced monitoring markers that help achieve sleep goals.
Not only does it count the number of hours sleeping, but also the quality of our sleep. The first thing selected in this new function is the time we would like to go to bed at night and wake up in the morning. In order for us to meet our set goal, the Apple Watch will have the Relax function, which will help our body to get used to minutes before going to bed and we can eliminate any kind of distraction. The iPhone with iOS 14 is also connected to it, so that reminders related to our dream can also be accessed from this device.
In the morning, what we will find will be an alarm clock that goes from less to more to wake us up gently. Then, a good morning message and access to the most relevant data at night, such as reports of our breathing, heart rate we have had during sleep and more. All this is visible in more detail from the Sleep section of the iPhone Health app, without the need for it to be on iOS 14.
The importance of washing hands
Handwashing has always been a very important health habit and one that has become vital in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In watchOS 7 we also find tools that help make this habit that, a habit that we carry out several times throughout the day and in the correct way.
The Apple Watch is capable of automatically detecting when we are washing our hands thanks to machine learning in identifying movements. The amount of running water is detected thanks to the audio sensors. Therefore, we can find a dedicated interface when we are in this process, which will dedicate a countdown with the time considered valid for proper hand washing. If we stop before the countdown ends, the clock will invite us to continue.
Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 7
After several versions in which Apple included old models to its list of devices compatible with new software, in watchOS 7 we find already models that have been left out. The demand for power and specialized sensors in this version require one of these watches:
- Apple Watch Series 3
- Apple Watch Series 4
- Apple Watch Series 5
When to upgrade to this version
At the moment, watchOS 7 is in beta and is not expected to officially hit users until September or October . It is possible to install the betas to be able to enjoy the news, but it is not recommended to do it due to the instability that these versions generate and the fact that it is not possible to remove a beta of watchOS as if it happens in other operating systems such as iOS or iPadOS . Therefore, we recommend having patience to enjoy all these news.