A gap could not be missing at WWDC 2022, between iOS 16, the expected Apple M2 and ipadOS 16 for watchOS 9, the next generation of the operating system that governs Apple’s smartwatch. And although, having seen what has been seen, it seems that we should not expect new biometric sensors (or at least the announced functions would not make use of them) in the future generation of the Apple Watch, which will surely see the light of day next fall, there are some novelties very interesting, as well as the jump of some functions, until now exclusive to the watch, to the Health app for iOS.
The first thing we have seen of watchOS 9, as expected, is the most visual facet of it, that is, the new spheres, with flavors for all tastes.
- Mole: an interesting proposal that represents the relationship between the Gregorian calendar and the lunar calendar.
- Play time: an interactive artistic creation signed by Joi.
- Fulton: a classic design that we can adjust to our preferences simply by turning the crown of the Apple Watch.
- astronomy– Not a new watch face, but it has been heavily redesigned for watchOS 9, and now includes a new star map and updated cloud information.
Additionally, Apple has redesigned some existing spheres in order to give more prominence to complications (the elements that we can add to the sphere to customize it with the information we want). This seems to me to be a success of watchOS 9, because sometimes their small size makes them somewhat difficult to read, taking away some of the usefulness of an element that, per seif that supposes a great improvement on the standard spheres.
This, however, has only been the introduction of the presentation of watchOS 9, and a small part of it compared to what has come next, when from the hand of several people, we have been able to know everything that the new OS will bring us in terms of both sports and healthwith the particularity that, despite the fact that iOS 16 had already been presented previously, news regarding it and the Health app have also been announced.
The first thing we have seen is un set of new metrics to be applied when we run, and they indicate the length of the stride, the time of contact with the ground and the vertical oscillation. This new data from watchOS 9 provides us with very valuable information, especially if we have to avoid excessive vertical load, correct the style of stride or the level of impulse, etc.
Additionally, every time we play sports watchOS 9 will take and show us more data both in relation to our biometric readings and the training itself: duration, means, distances, etc. And a new function, this very valuable in many cases, is that of the heart training zones. Whether we intend to exploit our full potential safely, or if for health reasons we must avoid forcing ourselves too much, with the information on the zones we will be able to fine-tune to the maximum.
Another element that is incorporated into the functions of watchOS 9 for the practice of sports has to do with warm-up and rest times, and it is that with its arrival we will be able to configure them so that the Apple Watch sets the tone for our training. And, at the end, we will obtain more complete metrics, which will allow us to carry out a detailed analysis of our performance and our progress. And finally, for those who practice sports that combine several disciplines, such as triathlon, it will be able to distinguish each of them to take metrics for each of them.
The second mainstay of watchOS 9 is found in the health section, something that Apple has focused on for several generations of Watch and watchOS, and a section in which we find several new features. The first concerns the sleep measurement function, and that now it will be able to detect in which phase of it we area factor of great importance when trying to determine the quality of sleep.
The metrics related to the cardiovascular system also grow with watchOS 9, specifically in relation to the identification of atrial fibrillation. The watchOS electrocardiogram app is already capable of detecting it, and if it is confirmed, the Apple Watch will permanently monitor the signs that identify it, lor that will allow carrying out a detailed study and generating reports of the incidence of the samewhich will be helpful in determining circumstances that may negatively affect this condition.
On the other hand, and as expected, new workouts and improvements for Apple Fitness + will also arrive from the hand of watchOS 9. Apple’s training service. Nevertheless, The main novelty related to this service is that it will make the leap to iOS 16. And it is that, although the sensors of the iPhone cannot provide the same biometric information as those of the Apple Watch, in Cupertino they do consider that the information provided by the smartphone is sufficient to be able to train and measure our performance with the functions of the service.
And, personally, the latest announced feature, which we will also find in both watchOS 9 and iOS 16, seems like a great success to me. And it is that the Health app, both in watchOS 9 and in iOS 16, adds a new function with which we can keep track of medicines, supplements and vitamins that we must take with a certain periodicity. With it we will have reminders and, to prevent problems, the app will also inform us about interactions and possible incompatibilities of the medication we use.
More information: Apple
