Apple will formally announce its subsequent main software program replace for Apple Watch in lower than a month. Coming at WWDC on June 5, watchOS 10 is rumored to pack various main modifications and new options, together with a serious rethink of how customers entry data from completely different apps and companies.

watchOS 10: What new options are coming?

watchOS 10 is predicted to pack various important modifications, in keeping with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The ace Apple reporter has described the replace as being a “pretty intensive improve” targeted on “notable modifications to the person interface.”

Notably, the deal with Apple Watch software program comes throughout a 12 months through which Apple Watch {hardware} is usually anticipated to remain the identical. Whereas the Apple Watch Sequence 9 coming this fall might feature improved efficiency for the primary time in a number of years, there are not any different main {hardware} modifications rumored. This implies Apple’s purpose for this 12 months is to maintain Apple Watch customers excited with modifications to software program somewhat than {hardware}.

As for what precisely is in retailer for watchOS 10 this 12 months when it comes to new options, one space of focus will probably be a new reliance on widgets. In response to Bloomberg, watchOS 10 will embody a newfound deal with widgets as a “central half” of the Apple Watch’s interface.

As a part of this deal with widgets, Bloomberg has stated that watchOS 10 may even change the perform of the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown. Within the present model of watchOS, urgent the Digital Crown takes you to the Apple Watch’s residence display screen. In watchOS 10, nonetheless, Apple is testing having the Digital Crown open up the brand new widgets interface as a substitute.

Glances

If this new widget system sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of it’s much like the “Glances” characteristic of the primary Apple Watch. The thought of Glances, which Apple eliminated in watchOS 3, was to offer customers easy accessibility to bits of knowledge from completely different apps and companies. The characteristic, nonetheless, was killed off as Apple tried (and failed) to push standalone apps as a substitute.

So, why is Apple as soon as once more attempting to make widgets on the Apple Watch a factor? The reasoning is probably going two-fold:

  1. Over time, there’s been a steady decline within the variety of standalone Apple Watch apps. Firms starting from Fb to Uber and plenty of others have discontinued their Apple Watch apps totally.
  2. Now that widgets are broadly supported on the iPhone and iPad House Screens, will probably be far simpler for builders to convey their current widgets to Apple Watch. Presumably, widgets on the Apple Watch will probably be powered by the identical WidgetKit framework that powers widgets on iPhone and iPad. In principle, this implies will probably be comparatively simple for builders to convey their current widget construction to Apple Watch.

Trying past widgets, there are a few different issues that Apple is engaged on this 12 months that may probably have an effect on watchOS 10. In response to the Wall Avenue Journal, Apple is working on a new journaling app for iOS 17. This app will probably have no less than some kind of integration with Apple Watch.

One leaker on Twitter, who has since deleted their account, additionally claimed that watchOS 10 will embody assist for folders on the House Display screen.

At WWDC this 12 months, Apple can also be anticipated to preview its new mixed-reality headset after years of growth. The headset is predicted to supply a number of features, together with health and mediation, that would tie in properly with current Apple Watch options.

Lastly, Bloomberg has also reported that Apple is growing new temper and emotion monitoring options. One would suppose that these options will probably be obtainable on Apple Watch, even when it’s simply within the type of wealthy notifications of some type.

One factor that continues to be unclear is which Apple Watch fashions will assist watchOS 10. Final 12 months’s launch of watchOS 9 dropped assist for the Apple Watch Sequence 3. Whether or not or not Apple has plans to drop the Apple Watch Sequence 4 this 12 months stays to be seen.

Wrap-up

watchOS 10 is about for an official announcement at WWDC, which kicks off on June 5. The corporate will launch the primary developer beta that very same day, adopted by a public beta someday in July, and a launch to most of the people in September. We’ve received extra particulars on the precise timelines in our dedicated watchOS 10 roundup.

What are you most excited to see in watchOS 10 this 12 months? Do you suppose a shift to specializing in widgets will probably be an enchancment for Apple Watch software program? Tell us within the feedback under.

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