It seems as though Apple’s keen on making the Apple watch more of an independent and more capable device. It now features new apps and watch faces, to deliver more information to you quickly. Also, you’ll be able to find apps on the new watchOS app store that enable it to work without an iPhone. Apple also added period tracking, now available across iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS through the health app, and with a specific app on the Apple Watch. Siri’s better, there are new apps, and existing apps are better than ever. With watchOS 6, you may want to leave your iPhone at home, at least when just making a quick trip to the shop or going for a run.
In This Article:
Cycle Tracking
I’m putting this at the top because it’s such a game changing feature. For so long, health apps have focused only on activity levels, nutrition, or weight loss. Even when you could find a period tracking app, it was often focused on fertility. Others were simply untrustworthy, and potentially selling your personal information. This is a problem from the fact that women and other people with periods represent half the population, but only a fraction of the people making software or in charge of product decisions. Apple added a few period tracking features, but most were just to store information from third party apps in the Apple Health app. Finally, Apple is dedicating itself to providing tracking that many women want.
Cycle tracking on the watch makes it easy to keep track of your period. You can log flow level and other symptoms with a few taps. The app on your watch and the health app on your phone will help you figure out when your period is coming up, and what you can expect from it on any particular day. This can be valuable information not only for everyday planning, but for discussing irregular or painful periods with your doctor, which could be a sign of more serious health concerns.
App Store
Some app developers have abandoned the Apple Watch. It has become too difficult to support alongside an iOS app, especially if it’s only fit to serve as a small control for the app. Music apps and fitness apps see features like Apple’s built in music controls and workouts as making their products unnecessary. However, some apps would be perfect for the Apple Watch, but less so for the iPhone. There are apps, like music apps, that would work great if they didn’t need the iPhone at all. With that in mind, Apple’s introducing the App Store, directly on the Apple Watch, in watchOS 6.
Hearing Health
I frequently go to concerts and small shows. I live in a city that has a good music scene and I take advantage of it. Also, on rare occasions, I like going to the club. These events are loud. I’ve stood 5 feet from a stadium speaker before, and I can tell you, it rattles your insides. That’s not good for your hearing. That’s why I always wear hearing protection. I use the Dubs Acoustic Filters, but they’re not on the market anymore. Still, there are many such filters that allow you to experience every sound the band is making, without losing your hearing. You should definitely buy them, even if you don’t frequently go to loud events. I keep a pair in my bag at all times.
Your Apple Watch will now be able to alert you to when you’re damaging your hearing. You can become accustomed to loud noises, and if that happens, you won’t notice the volume. Spending extended periods of time immersed in sound of that volume can cause permanent hearing damage. watchOS 6 will keep an ear on your surroundings, and alert you if you’re damaging your hearing. Your watch can send this information to your phone, and you can easily see and track your hearing health from your Apple Watch or iPhone.
Siri
Siri can now function more like it can on your iPhone. You can ask Siri what song is playing and ask questions and get answers right on the watch. Siri will show you answers from webpages right on your watch, rather than asking you to go to your iPhone.
New Watch Faces
Apple has added new watch faces. It took me a few moments to realize what the one at the top of the page was doing. But, besides the standard analog clock showing the time, there’s also the position of the sun behind it. Great if you want to be sure to get every ounce out of your day (or night, if you’re a vampire). There are other watch faces, new complications, creative, fresh designs, and more. The ones in the gif above are but a small sampling.
Every generation of the Apple watch has introduced new faces. Still, the only one I use is the Modular face with Apple’s enhanced complications from watchOS 5 for the Apple Watch Series 4. They still haven’t come close to revealing that kind of information on any other watch face. Still, the designs are fun, and if you just want a time piece of a few pieces of information, they’re perfect.
Unlike iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, this wasn’t a major overhaul. And that’s okay. The Apple Watch is already incredible. In fact, I’ve had far more complaints about every other Apple product I own. The Apple Watch might be Apple’s best device. Sure, not the most usable, but certainly the best a smartwatch could be today. There’s always room for improvement, but Apple’s doing such a fantastic job with the Apple Watch that a small upgrade is enough.
Look forward to downloading watchOS 6 this fall.