Choose from a wider range of dials and complications
One of the major features of Apple Watch is the “ dial ” that allows you to express yourself and display information that is easy for you to use.
In the next watchOS 9, four dials, “Lunar”, “Playtime”, “Metropolitan” and “Astronomy” have been added, and new customizations are also possible for some dials so far.
From the left, “Lunar,” which expresses the relationship between the Gregorian calendar and the lunar calendar, “Playtime,” an artwork by artist Joi Fulton, “Metropolitan,” with impressive clock typography, a new star map and current cloud data. “Astronomy”
In addition, watch faces such as “Utility,” “Simple,” and “Activity Analog” are equipped with modernized complications to make it easier to use and personalize Apple Watch.
Among them, what I personally liked was that I was able to set a colorful background on the dial of my favorite “Modular Compact”. You can change the appearance in various ways according to your mood and usage scene.
Classic dials such as ‘Modular’, ‘Modular Compact’ and ‘Extra Large’ can be set with your preferred background color
The portrait watch face has also evolved, allowing you to use depth effects on more photos of cats, dogs, landscapes, and more
Another nice point is that the Apple Watch dial can now automatically switch according to the concentration mode set on the iPhone. For example, you can easily switch to a dial that displays only the information you need while in “work” concentration mode, and a dial that displays a personal photo when you are in private.
Focus Assist settings in your iPhone’s Settings app let you choose your Apple Watch’s watch face when you turn on a specific Focus Assist.
A new training experience is possible
The next thing I tried with watchOS 9 was the “Workout” app. This app is useful for measuring performance when doing various exercises, but watchOS 9 has even more new features.
Among them, the addition of three indicators, “length of stride”, “grounding time”, and “vertical movement”, is especially pleasing when running. You can know your performance from a new aspect, such as how efficiently you are running.
You can check “stride length”, “contact time”, and “vertical movement” during running with the iPhone’s “Fitness” app, etc.
The workout screen also shows more information in addition to these metrics, allowing you to cycle through other key metrics such as altitude by turning the Digital Crown.
Turn the Digital Crown during your workout for instant access to a variety of information
Other features include the ability to customize workouts to suit your training style with the new Workout app, multisport that automatically switches between swim, bike and run for triathlons, personal best or previous Functions that allow you to compete with running are also newly implemented.
For users who use Apple Watch to work out on a daily basis, these updates are sure to help boost motivation.
“Heart rate range” has been introduced, and you can also know what range your current heart rate is
You can assemble workout time and break time according to your training content.
“Multi-sport” automatically detects swimming, cycling and running and switches the measurement
Compete against either personal bests or previous records, and see how you’re pacing towards your distance and finish time goals
New “medication” app and evolution of “sleep” function
In watchOS 9, various updates have also been made to the “Health” function.
First of all, the new function of “medication” is useful in daily life. By registering the medicines, vitamins, supplements, etc. that you normally take from[Medication]in the “Healthcare” app on your iPhone and setting a schedule, you can check them from the “Medication” app on your Apple Watch and set reminders. can receive With this, you will never forget to take your medicine.
You can set the reminder time by registering medicine from[Medication]in the iPhone Health app.
Also, Apple Watch is a perfect device for recording sleep, but watchOS 9 adds a new function called “sleep stage”. Using signals from the accelerometer and heart rate sensors on the Apple Watch, it detects when you are in REM sleep, core sleep, and deep sleep, and uses the Sleep app on the Apple Watch and Health on the iPhone. You can check it in the Care app.
According to Apple, the introduction of this sleep stage “was trained and validated against clinical data from one of the largest and most diverse subjects in a study of wearables, polysomnography. It was done.” With such advanced features included by default, it’s amazing to be able to analyze your sleep yourself.
See how long you’re in REM, core, and deep sleep in the Sleep app on Apple Watch
The Health app on your iPhone will show you sleep measurements such as your heart rate and breathing rate, as well as how those numbers change while you sleep.
Many other new features
So far, we’ve mostly looked at the big new features, but watchOS 9 comes with plenty of other updates as well. Here are five features that I found particularly useful.
First, notifications have been redesigned. Notifications are displayed in a new thin banner while using Apple Watch, so you can see your notifications without distraction.
Second, the Dock has been redesigned to prioritize the apps you’re using over others. By pressing the button again, you can return more easily and quickly than before.
The third is that Japanese has been added to the Apple Watch Series 7 QWERTY keyboard. With this, you can do keyboard input in Japanese without relying on voice input.
Fourth, you can now create new events in the “Calendar” app. Until now, I was only able to view the contents of the iPhone calendar, but being able to create and move schedules on the Apple Watch is very convenient.
Fifth, a new “quick action” has been added. Finger gestures give you even more control over your Apple Watch, like double-pinch gestures to answer or end calls, take photos, start or pause your workout, and more.
Notifications now appear as thin banners when using Apple Watch
When you start the Dock, the apps running in the background are prioritized.
Siri has also been improved.When calling, an icon is now displayed at the bottom of the screen like the iPhone
So far, I have told you the first impressions of watchOS 9. How was it? Anyone can get the public beta version of watchOS 9 for free by registering for the Apple Beta Software Program.
It’s not a commercial release at this point, so be aware that it may have errors, glitches, or not function properly, but I’d love to try it myself! If you think, please try it. The Apple Watch models that watchOS 9 supports are Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, 7, and SE.
*The images used in this article are from a work in progress and are subject to change in the future.
Text/Ayumu Mizukawa