Updated with advanced metrics, views, and workout experiences inspired by top athletes, the Training app helps users take their training to the next level. watchOS 9 provides users with more detailed information about their own condition with the sleep stages it brought to the Sleep application and the new FDA-approved AF History feature. The new Medicines app makes it easy for users to conveniently organize, understand and track their medicines without compromising privacy.
watchOS 9 comes with four new dials . The Moon , which symbolizes the relationship between the lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar used in many cultures such as Chinese, Islamic and Jewish cultures ; Playtime , a dynamic artwork created exclusively for Apple Watch in collaboration with artist Joi Fulton ; New watch faces are the Metropolitan , a classic, text-oriented watch face that changes style when the Digital Crown is turned, and Astronomy , which is a completely renewed version of the original dial with a star map and existing cloud data .
Health and fitness innovations with watchOS 9
The Workout app, one of Apple Watch's most popular apps, has been updated with richer options for performance measurement and new workout experiences that help users reach their fitness goals. Moreover, the Training app introduces a new type of training for triathletes called Multisport .
A powerful tool for runners , Apple Watch gets more data and features with watchOS 9 that allow users to understand how efficiently they're running. New running style metrics such as Stride Length, Ground Contact Time and Vertical Swing can be added to the Training Views.
Added as a new stroke type for Pool Swimming workouts, the swimming board detection feature automatically detects when users are swimming with the swim board using data from various sensors in the Apple Watch, and appropriately categorizes the stroke type along with the distance swim in the workout summary.
The Sleep experience on Apple Watch helps users create Relax and Bedtime schedules and track their sleep patterns to help them achieve their goals. The sleep tracking feature of watchOS 9 offers even more information with the newly added sleep stages.
The new Medicines experience on Apple Watch and iPhone helps users control and track their medications, vitamins and supplements.
Features of watchOS 9 that increase usability
Notifications have been redesigned in watchOS 9 . Renewed notifications to continue to be effective without distracting the user are shown as new thin banners while the Apple Watch is actively used.
With new Quick Actions on Apple Watch , users can answer or end phone calls with a double pinch, take a photo, play or pause media in the Now Playing app, and start, pause, or resume workouts.
Apple Watch Mirroring makes Apple Watch more accessible than ever for people with physical and motor disabilities. Thanks to this feature, it is possible to remotely control the Apple Watch with a paired iPhone.
Actively used apps are now displayed above other apps in the redesigned Dock . In this way, users can quickly return to these applications. The Reminders app , on the other hand, allows users to add and edit important details such as date, time, location, tags and notes.
The updated Calendar app increases users' productivity with the ability to create new events directly from the Apple Watch. In addition to the updated List, Day and Month views, users can access the Week view for the first time, and scroll through the events in the calendar.
watchOS 9 is available for Apple Watch Series 4 or later paired with an iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16, or an iPhone SE (second generation) or later.
“Users around the world love Apple Watch, which helps them stay connected with loved ones, be more active throughout the day, and better control their health.” “This fall, watchOS 9 will take the Apple Watch experience to a whole new level,” said Jeff Williams, Apple COO. Users will gain scientifically validated information about fitness, sleep and heart health, while unlocking new creative possibilities to customize their Apple Watch completely.”