watchOS 4 Brings a Bevy of New Features to the Apple Watch
Including a new Siri face and renewed focus on fitness.
While Apple didn’t unveil any new Watch hardware — save for some new summery bands — at WWDC today, it did take the wraps off the wearable’s latest operating system: watchOS 4. The highlight? A new Siri watch face. With each raise of the wrist, the new face will automatically display dynamic updates based on the time of day and pertinent data from the user’s own apps like Activity, Alarms, Breathe, Calendar, Maps, Reminders, and Wallet, not to mention headlines from Apple News. Other improvements include redesigned Music and Workout apps, which include auto-sets for pool swim workouts and new motion and heart rate algorithms for High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Apple Watch can now even work in conjunction with cardio equipment, thanks to GymKit, to pair directly to treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, stair steppers, and more for more accurate workout stats. Person to person payments are coming, too.
“Apple Watch is the ultimate device for a healthy life and is now more intelligent than ever with watchOS 4,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “We’ve created a truly individualized experience with the smartest Activity and Workout apps, the Siri watch face that shows you the information you need when you need it and we’re seamlessly bringing users their favorite music right on the wrist.”
watchOS 4 is due out as a free upgrade for Apple Watch wearers this fall.
