Video: Everything you need to know about watchOS 4 in under four minutes

AppleInsider · August 23, 2017 7:05PM

AppleInsider runs you through all of the most important changes and new features coming with watchOS 4, expected to be released this fall alongside the rumored Apple Watch 'Series 3.'

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randominternetperson · August 23, 2017 7:20PM

That kaleidoscope watch face is great if you want to make it really hard (at times) to see the hands of the clock. Look at that watch face above. How long does it take you to figure out that it's approximately 3:48?

equality72521 · August 23, 2017 7:32PM

Be nice to have a Music watch face that enabled the crown to adjust volume. Especially useful with AirPods.

ihatescreennames · August 23, 2017 7:47PM

equality72521 said:

Be nice to have a Music watch face that enabled the crown to adjust volume. Especially useful with AirPods.

I like both of those ideas. Frequently it takes me too long to adjust the volume on the Watch. First I have to wake the screen, either by raising or tapping, to see the watch face, then hit the side button, wait for the music interface to come to the front, hit the volume control button and then tap the + or the -. Having a music watch face with crown volume control could certainly cut back on that friction just to do something relatively simple.

randominternetperson · August 23, 2017 8:33PM

I was saying exactly this same thing yesterday in the thread about AirPods. Compare how easy it is to change the volume on a new MacBook Pro with touch bar compared to changing the volume of AirPods using an Apple Watch. Give me an intuitive no-look gesture and I'll be happy.

lito_lupena · August 23, 2017 9:05PM

actually, you don't have to force touch the screen to change watch faces. just swipe from the edge of the screen any side to switch to another watch face. works even now with watchos3.

doozydozen · August 23, 2017 10:24PM

lito_lupena said:

actually, you don't have to force touch the screen to change watch faces. just swipe from the edge of the screen any side to switch to another watch face. works even now with watchos3.

Yeah, and now am I constantly dealing with the watch face switcher pulling up by accident multiple times a day. Frustrating.

The_Martini_Cat · August 23, 2017 11:56PM

My favorite feature is the improvements in the photo remote control. No, wait, what about the ability to receive payments? Or wait, make a call. They're all my favorite!!!

StrangeDays · August 24, 2017 12:12AM

repressthis said:

lito_lupena said:

actually, you don't have to force touch the screen to change watch faces. just swipe from the edge of the screen any side to switch to another watch face. works even now with watchos3.

Yeah, and now am I constantly dealing with the watch face switcher pulling up by accident multiple times a day. Frustrating.

I have not experienced this ever.

ihatescreennames · August 24, 2017 1:15AM

StrangeDays said:

repressthis said:

lito_lupena said:

actually, you don't have to force touch the screen to change watch faces. just swipe from the edge of the screen any side to switch to another watch face. works even now with watchos3.

Yeah, and now am I constantly dealing with the watch face switcher pulling up by accident multiple times a day. Frustrating.

I have not experienced this ever.

The only time it happens to me is when I'm carrying my toddler and she starts playing with my Watch while it's on my wrist. It happens maybe a couple of times a week. She just sort of paws at the screen. Sometimes she changes faces, others she may put it in silent or ping my iPhone. Either way, it's trivial to undo what she's done.

toysandme · August 24, 2017 1:49AM

Background voice recording sounds interesting

bluefire1 · August 24, 2017 5:39AM

Improved battery life and better volume during phone conversations would be welcome additions.

GeorgeBMac · August 24, 2017 10:47AM

lito_lupena said:

actually, you don't have to force touch the screen to change watch faces. just swipe from the edge of the screen any side to switch to another watch face. works even now with watchos3.

Thanks! That explains why different watch faces mysteriously keep showing up on my watch without my intentionally changing to them.

GeorgeBMac · August 24, 2017 11:09AM

Actually, my favorite improvement is not happening.

I've wanted improved ability to set the display on the Workout app.   Currently it only allows you to set how many parameters show up on the screen -- but all it does is eliminate those you don't want.   But, if you select less than 5 it just leaves empty screen real estate.

For active sports like running you need bigger fonts because you need to be able to pull in the information at a very quick glance.   One of my apps, for instance, shows pace and distance in text but then changes the background color to indicate which heart rate zone I am in. And, if I want additional parameters I can swipe the screen over to show them. Unfortunately, it does not yet run natively on the watch and instead relies on interfacing the watch and phone -- so it's slow and clunky.

Also, the Activity app looks like it will continue to be weak in reporting as all it does is show overall averages for things like pace, heart rate and elevation.   It does break down pace by segment, but adding things like heart rate and elevation would be very helpful. In addition, graphing things like heart rate, pace, elevation, etc. would be extremely helpful.

In short, for active sports like running, it seems like both the Exercise app on the watch and the Activity app on the phone were designed by geeks who learned about running but do not actually do it or understand it. For me, that is un-Apple like.   I know they can do better.

StrangeDays · August 24, 2017 12:56PM

Minor nitpick -- the plural of code is "code", not "codes". Software code is a different use of the word than cryptology codes.

appletim · August 24, 2017 2:13PM

What about audiobooks and podcasts syncing to the watch? In your video, there's a brief shot showing what looks to be a Dave Ramsey podcast on the Apple Watch.

randominternetperson · August 24, 2017 2:58PM

I think Apple should repurpose the function of the twiddly knob (AKA crown?) like they did for the side button. I never, ever use the time travel feature so let me use it for something else based on the selected watch face. For example, I (as a user) would probably default it to controlling my AirPod volume most of the time, but perhaps there are times when I'd want quick access to changing time zones.

I just hope that everyone at Apple uses their Apple Watches every day and realize its current limitations and rough edges. I should be able to do more with fewer finicky taps.

StrangeDays · August 24, 2017 3:27PM

randominternetperson said:

I think Apple should repurpose the function of the twiddly knob (AKA crown?) like they did for the side button. I never, ever use the time travel feature so let me use it for something else based on the selected watch face. For example, I (as a user) would probably default it to controlling my AirPod volume most of the time, but perhaps there are times when I'd want quick access to changing time zones.
I just hope that everyone at Apple uses their Apple Watches every day and realize its current limitations and rough edges. I should be able to do more with fewer finicky taps.

FYI the time travel feature was removed in watchOS 3. But yes, the crown could be more useful. I agree that defaulting to controlling the volume of currently-playing AirPods would be super useful.

I have no doubt that the people at Apple use the Watch and continue to realize better ways to use it. After all, look at the improvements so far. We're getting a v4 that will run on my original hardware and has great new features. Can the same be said for the Samsung watches? Are they even still supported? In use?

ihatescreennames · August 24, 2017 4:23PM

StrangeDays said:

randominternetperson said:

I think Apple should repurpose the function of the twiddly knob (AKA crown?) like they did for the side button. I never, ever use the time travel feature so let me use it for something else based on the selected watch face. For example, I (as a user) would probably default it to controlling my AirPod volume most of the time, but perhaps there are times when I'd want quick access to changing time zones.
I just hope that everyone at Apple uses their Apple Watches every day and realize its current limitations and rough edges. I should be able to do more with fewer finicky taps.

FYI the time travel feature was removed in watchOS 3. But yes, the crown could be more useful. I agree that defaulting to controlling the volume of currently-playing AirPods would be super useful.

I have no doubt that the people at Apple use the Watch and continue to realize better ways to use it. After all, look at the improvements so far. We're getting a v4 that will run on my original hardware and has great new features. Can the same be said for the Samsung watches? Are they even still supported? In use?

Time Travel wasn't removed, just sort of hidden. It needs to be turned on in the Clock settings in the Watch app on your iPhone.

igreek · August 24, 2017 6:29PM

I would like a digital stopwatch with bigger characters. I am sure many senior citizens would like this feature.

We don't need tenths or hundredths of a second.

williamlondon · August 24, 2017 8:13PM

StrangeDays said:

randominternetperson said:

I think Apple should repurpose the function of the twiddly knob (AKA crown?) like they did for the side button. I never, ever use the time travel feature so let me use it for something else based on the selected watch face. For example, I (as a user) would probably default it to controlling my AirPod volume most of the time, but perhaps there are times when I'd want quick access to changing time zones.
I just hope that everyone at Apple uses their Apple Watches every day and realize its current limitations and rough edges. I should be able to do more with fewer finicky taps.

I have no doubt that the people at Apple use the Watch and continue to realize better ways to use it. After all, look at the improvements so far. We're getting a v4 that will run on my original hardware and has great new features.

That's such an important point. We're still in the infancy of these wearables, learning as we go. The tech progresses, we learn more about how they're used and what they can do that's useful to us. We're still I think quite far from where we will settle in utility and functionality (and form factor) of these devices. Who knows what other functionality might be offloaded (or created anew) to the smart watch? It's quite a fun ride I think, especially if you've decided to jump in and embrace it. Can't wait to see where it goes.

Video: Everything you need to know about watchOS 4 in under four minutes

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