At its latest Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced watchOS 11, a significant update focused on enhancing health and fitness tracking features. Although it didn’t receive any of the Apple Intelligence features seen in other OS updates, watchOS 11 brings a host of new capabilities and improvements to Apple Watch users.
Enhanced Health Tracking
One of the standout additions in watchOS 11 is the new Vitals app. This app consolidates key health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep tracking, presenting them at a glance. Vitals also provides alerts when two or more of these metrics deviate from the normal range and offers tips on how to improve your condition.
Activity and Fitness Features
watchOS 11 introduces Training Load, a feature that calculates the intensity of your workouts over a 28-day period. It provides a summarized rating from one to ten, helping you understand how hard you’re pushing your body. Additionally, the popular Activity rings can now be paused to accommodate rest days or injury recovery. Users can also modify activity goals for specific periods, such as days, weeks, or months.
The Check-In feature is another useful addition, allowing users to notify loved ones when they’ve safely arrived at their destination. Moreover, Apple Translate has been integrated into watchOS, supporting over 20 languages and bringing translation capabilities directly to your wrist.
Smart Stack and Live Activities
Smart Stack has been updated with new personalization options. Users can now add widgets for apps like Shazam, Photos, and Distance. The system also provides widget suggestions based on the time of day, location, and daily routines. Live Activities, which debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro series, are now available in watchOS 11. This feature integrates with Smart Stack in supported apps like Uber, providing real-time updates and information.
Photos and GPS Enhancements
The Photos watch face in watchOS 11 can analyze your photo library to select the best images for your Apple Watch. It also offers image composition and depth adjustments to enhance the visual experience.
The Workout app now includes GPS routes, offline maps, and additional workout types, further enhancing its utility for fitness enthusiasts. Additionally, Summarized Notifications powered by Apple Intelligence will be available on Apple Watch for users with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. The Tap to Cash feature, allowing for quick monetary exchanges, is also coming to Apple Watch.
Availability
Apple has released the watchOS 11 developer beta, with a public beta scheduled for July. The final version of watchOS 11 is expected to be available in the fall.
With these new features, watchOS 11 aims to provide a more comprehensive health and fitness tracking experience while introducing useful tools and enhancements to improve everyday life for Apple Watch users.
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