During the Worldwide Developers Conference 2023 (WWDC 2023) in June, Apple announced watchOS 10 alongside many other software-related updates for the entirety of Apple's products. Rollout of the new software releases were meant to happen in a staggered manner and the watchOS 10 update has now become available to all. This means that Apple Watch users can download and install it onto their compatible smartwatches without having to be beta testers.
The new watchOS 10 update brings a new visual language to apps enabling users to see more information at a glance. These include a new Smart Stack to show relevant widgets right when they’re needed, new watch faces, and much more.
Also read: Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2: India price and new features
With watchOS 10, Apple Watch apps such as Weather, Stocks, Home, Maps, Messages, World Clock, and others, now utilise more of the Apple Watch display to showcase more information with each glance.
There is also a new Smart Stack containing widgets that display timely information that adapts to the user’s context. For example, at the beginning of the day, the Weather app will show the forecast, or, when travelling, the Smart Stack app will show boarding passes from Wallet.
Moreover, Control Center is now accessible using the side button, making it easy to quickly open it at any time, over any app.
The watchOS 10 update introduces five new watch faces: Snoopy, Palette, Solar Analog, Nike Globe, and Modular Ultra for Apple Watch Ultra.
When a cycling workout session is started from the Apple Watch in watchOS 10, it will automatically show up as a Live Activity on the iPhone and, when tapped, will utilise the full screen. Workout Views, such as Heart Rate Zones, Elevation, Race Route, Custom Workouts, and a new Cycling Speed view, have been optimised for the display size of the iPhone, which can be mounted to a bike’s handlebars for convenient, easy viewing during a ride.
Also, with watchOS 10, the Apple Watch can now automatically connect to Bluetooth-enabled cycling accessories, such as power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors.
With the watchOS 10 update, the Compass app on Apple Watch automatically generates two new waypoints when available: A Last Cellular Connection Waypoint will tell the last place with cellular reception, which might be useful for checking messages or making a call. In case of emergencies, a Last Emergency Call Waypoint will estimate where on the route the device had the last connection to any available carrier’s network so that an emergency call could be made.
With the Mindfulness app in watchOS 10, users can log their momentary emotions and daily moods. Users can turn the Digital Crown to scroll through engaging, multidimensional shapes to choose how they are feeling, select what is having the biggest impact on them, and further describe their feelings.
In the Health app in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, users can see valuable insights to identify what might be contributing to their state of mind.
With watchOS 10, users can now initiate playback of a FaceTime video message and view it directly on Apple Watch. Additionally, Group FaceTime audio is now supported on Apple Watch.
The new watchOS 10 update is available for Apple Watch Series 4 and later, and requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 17. “Not all features are available on all devices and in all regions,” Apple noted.
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