After spending two weeks with the final version of watchOS 7, I've landed on
my favorite new features for Apple Watch. Although obviously
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/09/22/top-10-ios-14-features-iphone-video/> not as
feature-dense as iOS 14, watchOS 7 - with new additions like Family Setup,
watch face sharing, sleep mode, and multiple complications per app - brings
more than enough new additions to the table.
Note: all of these features were tested on an Apple Watch Series 6. If you
want to experience the majority of features, you'll need an Apple Watch
Series 4 or higher.
Family Setup
Launching alongside the new Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, Family
Setup is a new feature that allows you to set up family members with an
Apple Watch, even if that family member is not an iPhone user. Compatible
with cellular Apple Watch Series 4 models and higher, Family Setup is an
option that's configured during the initial pairing process of the Apple
Watch.
Apple notes that Family Setup might be useful for children as well as older
adults who can benefit from wearing an Apple Watch. An Apple Watch paired
via Family Setup gets its own phone number and can be used for telephone
calls and messages. It can also be used with other popular Apple Watch
features such as Music, Workouts, activity goals, etc.
Family Setup may be a good idea for family members looking after older ones
with features like emergency S O S and fall protection. I can also see it
being useful for small children thanks to the communication and tracking
features built into the Apple Watch. Family Setup allows you to stay in
touch with loved ones via Apple Watch without the need for a more expensive
dedicated iPhone and corresponding cellular plan.
Siri enhancements
Thanks to watchOS 7, Apple Watch users gain access to a couple of key Siri
enhancements that can help make life easier. For starters, there's the new
ability to ask Siri how to say a word in another language. For example, you
can ask Siri "How do you say Apple in Spanish" or "How to say goodbye in
Japanese."
Siri will reply audibly and present a translation right on your wrist.
The second standout Siri-related feature involves the ability to perform
offline on-device dictation. Using Drafts, one of my favorite Apple Watch
apps, I found dictation to be fast and precise even while offline.
New Memoji app
I wasn't expecting the new Memoji app in watchOS 7 to be as deep as it is,
but it literally packs in all of the features of the Memoji editor found on
the iPhone. That means you can create brand new Memoji characters from
scratch or edit existing Memoji right from your wrist. Users can even add
their creations to a brand new Memoji watch face.
New watch faces
As usual, the latest major watchOS release comes bundled with several new
watch face options. Along with the already mentioned Memoji watch face,
you'll find the following:
. GMT
. Count Up
. Chronograph Pro
. Artict
. Typograph
. Stripes
All of the new watch faces have their strengths, for example, the GMT watch
face is nice because it allows you to quickly switch between time zones with
just a tap. If you're someone who travels or regularly corresponds with
people in different time zones, it can be an asset.
But the standout new watch face in my opinion is the new Stripes face. I was
impressed with the amount of customization that's available for this face.
It allows you to configure between two and nine stripes, change stripe
rotation, change the color of each individual stripe, and more.
Share watch faces
I didn't initially grasp how beneficial the ability to share watch faces
would be, but after trying it, I was sold. With no doubt millions of
potential watch face configurations, being able to share between friends is
an awesome new addition to Apple Watch. But what really stands out to me is
the ability for app developers and App Store curators to share watch face
configurations as well.
Shared watch faces are a powerful tool in the hands of watchOS developers.
Case in point, the Carrot Weather app, which features several downloadable
watch face configurations that I thoroughly enjoy using. This, coupled with
the complication enhancements made possible by watchOS 7, is hands down one
of the best new Apple Watch features.
Complication enhancements
Not only do we get new complications for moon phases, Camera remote, and
individual shortcuts, there's now the ability to configure multiple
complications from the same app on the same watch face. As demonstrated in
the Carrot Weather example you can have a watch faced filled entirely with
data from a single app, providing rich data-dense experiences on faces like
Infograph Modular. This, above all other enhancements found in watchOS 7, is
the standout
feature that warrants the upgrade.
Four new workouts
I'll admit that I'm not a huge Apple Watch workout fan. I primarily use my
Apple Watch for notifications and messaging, but with the upcoming Apple
Fitness service, I hope to skew my Apple Watch usage more towards staying
healthy. That's why I appreciate the company's continued commitment to
fleshing out its workout offerings. In watchOS 7, there are four new
workouts available:
Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training and Cooldown
workout for post-workout activity.
Customize all activity goals
In watchOS 7, you can now customize all of the activity goals on your Apple
Watch, including the stand goal. This is a great feature that greater
personalizes the health aspect of the Apple Watch, affording more
challenging or more realistic goals for people in all sorts of
circumstances.
Hand-washing countdown
With the advent of COVID-19, the benefits of hand-washing reminders are
fairly self-explanatory. I find that the Apple Watch does a pretty good job
of detecting when hand washing has begun, helping to reinforce good hygiene
habits throughout the day.
Sleep app
Last but certainly not least, the new Sleep functionality present in watchOS
7 is a welcomed new addition to the Apple Watch. Allowing users to track
sleep at night, the new Sleep feature allows users to configure a bedtime,
wake-up time, and select the days that they want a sleep schedule enabled.
During the configurable wind down period, which occurs just before bedtime,
the Apple Watch will automatically place itself into "do not disturb" in
order to get you prepared to sleep. Once bedtime arrives, the Apple Watch
goes into a deeper sleep mode that disables the auto-waking display. Users
can wake the Apple Watch manually, but even then, a dim screen with just the
time and scheduled wake-up time are displayed.
Of course, users have the option of manually unlocking their Apple Watch if
they need to do so, but it requires a turn of the Digital Crown, not unlike
the eject water gesture that's recommended after a swim.
Using the Apple Watch accelerometer, Sleep will notice subtle movements
associated with breathing which can help to differentiate between sleeping
and waking states. These data points can then be tracked to help users
monitor sleep patterns. Sleep for watchOS 7 is closely linked to the iOS 14
version, and while some historical sleep data is displayed within the app on
Apple Watch, you'll find richer data within the iPhone's Health app.
Upon wake up time, users are presented with a screen that displays the
current date and time, Apple Watch battery life, and local weather. Sleep is
also smart enough to prompt you to dismiss your alarm if it notices that
you're already awake and active prior to your scheduled wake-up time.
watchOS 7 is a great new release for Apple Watch users, especially those on
Apple Watch Series 4 and above. The improvements to complications alone
warrant the upgrade, but other features like watch face sharing, activity
enhancements, and the Sleep app make for a well-rounded release.
Watch our hands-on video as I explore the top 10 watchOS 7 features at:
https://9to5mac.com/2020/09/30/hands-on-with-the-top-10-watchos-7-features-f
or-apple-watch-video/
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