Filipe Espósito
Apple Watch has always been certified to work underwater, so users can swim and
get metrics with it. With Apple Watch Ultra, Apple has taken this certification
even further. However, controlling the touchscreen on the Apple Watch
underwater is not exactly possible â but one swimmer has found a good way to
do it.
SwimmerRafael Zeier recently got an Apple Watch Ultra, which has a new Action
button that lets users start a workout or trigger other system actions with
just a press. This certainly helps swimmers to open the new âDepthâ app on
the Apple Watch Ultra when theyâre underwater, but sometimes this is not
enough.
When the watch is submerged, the touch screen becomes unresponsive, and
thereâs not much you can do about it. Zeier then remembered about
AssistiveTouch, which was introduced last year as part of the watchOS 8 update.
This accessibility feature allows users to navigate the system interface using
hand gestures such as a pinch or a clench.
But as some of you may know, the accessibility features of Apple devices can
also be useful for a lot of other things, and this is the case with
AssistiveTouch on the Apple Watch.
The swimmer then enabled AssistiveTouch on his Apple Watch Ultra and,
amazingly, he was able to control Apple Watch under water using just hand
gestures.
âI never thought that would be possible. But it works just as well as over
water,â Zeier told 9to5Mac. He also shared a video on YouTube showing how
everything works.
While most Apple Watch models are certified water resistant to depths of up to
50 meters, Apple Watch Ultra extends this certification to 100 meters. Not only
that, it has more advanced sensors that collects precise data about current
depth and water temperature, which turns Apple Watch Ultra into a real dive
computer.
Some of these features, however, wonât be available until later this year.
How to use the Apple Watch Ultra Action button with third-party apps
Apple Watch Ultra is the first wearable from the company with an additional
button beyond the Digital Crown and side button. While the Action button by
default opens the Workout app it can work with other apps that build in
support. Hereâs how to use the Apple Watch Ultra Action button with
third-party apps.
Since it takes work from third-party developers to implement support for the
Action button, it will take some time before we see widespread availability.
However, some of the first apps weâve seen take advantage of the Action
button is the climbing app Redpoint, the kitesurfing and foil app Volo, and the
stand-up paddle app GoSUP.
For now, big names like Strava, Under Armourâs Map My Run/Ride, etc. have not
released Action button support.
1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch (or head to the Watch app on
iPhone)
2. Swipe down and choose Action Button
3. Make sure Workout or Dive is selected at the top under ACTION
⦠Oceanic+ dive app for Apple Watch Ultra is âcoming soonâ
4. Now tap Workout under APP
5. If you have any third-party apps with support for the Action button,
theyâll show up in the list, choose one
6. Now you can tap under FIRST PRESS to decide what the Action button will do
in the third-party app
⢠If youâre not seeing your favorite third-party fitness or other Apple
Watch app offer Action button support, reach out and let them know you want to
see it
Hereâs how the process looks:
Now you can choose any available app that has Action button support. Depending
on the app, swipe/scroll down to see all the options for customizing the Action
button.
Itâs still early for Apple Watch Ultra so it will be fun to watch how
developers get creative with Action button support.
And when it comes to first-party options to use the Action button, hereâs
what you can choose from:
Native options for the Action button:
⢠Workout
⢠Stopwatch
⢠Waypoint
⢠Backtrack
⢠Dive
⢠Flashlight
⢠Shortcut (from Shortcuts app)
⢠None
===========================================================
The fb-exchange mailing list
Manage account,
List Page: https://www.freelists.org/list/fb-exchange
Archive: https://www.freelists.org/archive/fb-exchange
Administrative contact: insight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
===========================================================
