watchOS 5 unveiled; adding Walkie-Talkie app, Podcasts, Activity Sharing challenges, and more
Apple’s wearable is ready for its latest software update bringing us to watchOS 5. watchOS 5 adds plenty of new features for health and fitness tracking. Aside from adding new workout types for yoga activities and hiking, you can now challenge your friends to activity competitions up to seven days in length. watchOS 5 includes a new workout tracking mode that allows Apple Watch to track an activity when it detects that you might be working out. Inversely, it also allows Apple Watch to stop tracking the activity when it detects you have stopped working out. You will also be able to see more detailed information such as rolling mile times and pace reminders.
Apple has also incorporated a new way to communicate with other Apple Watch users. The new feature, walkie-talkie, pretty much speaks for itself. Push a button, speak, wait for the voice of someone communicating back.
With the additions to Siri in iOS 12, it’s no surprise that similar features were also added to the watch. The Siri watch face has been updated with sports, maps, as well as shortcuts to the new Siri actions. Apple has also eliminated the need to say “Hey Siri” before invoking a command. Instead, Apple says that you will be able to just raise your wrist and start speaking.
Select notifications are becoming more interactive. For example, paying for rides directly within the Apple Watch version of an app or responding to Yelp reservations. Additionally for the first time ever, Apple is adding the ability to view certain webpages directly on the watch, through new WebKit support. Allegedly the sites will be optimized for usability on the watch.
Wrapping up, the company has included a new Podcasts app, the ability to play background audio, and a customizable Control Center. The Wallet app can now also support student ID cards and is being piloted on a limited amount of universities. The smartwatch will also be receiving a new Pride Edition watch face and band, both of which are available starting today.
watchOS 5 will be available as a free update this Fall and will be compatible with the Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 watches. This is the first update that will not be coming to the original first-generation Apple Watch that was released three years ago.