Video: Everything you need to know about watchOS 4 in under four minutes
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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Comments
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.
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. Can the same be said for the Samsung watches? Are they even still supported? In use?
We don't need tenths or hundredths of a second.