Apple today previewed watchOS 11, the next major software update for the Apple Watch. This update introduces several new health and workout features.
One such feature is that Activity Rings can now be adjusted by the day of the week and paused for a rest day. This allows users to keep their award streak going. Moreover, users can set workouts to alert a friend that they have been safely completed, such as a late-night run.
WatchOS 11 includes a new “training load” feature, which helps users to track intensity over time. A newly developed algorithm uses heart rate, altitude, workout duration, and age and weight data to give a calculation of your estimated effort rating and training load.
The update includes a new Vitals app that provides an overview of daily health. It compares daily health statistics to historical data and highlights when health data is outside your typical range. If multiple metrics are out of range, you will receive a tailored message to see how they could be affecting you.
Cycle tracking has been improved and now shows estimates of gestational age, displaying pregnancy across charts to review metrics like high heart rate notification thresholds.
Widgets will now be automatically added to the Smart Stack. For example, the Translate app will show automatically when you go to a different country and the Weather app will show up when rain is imminent. Additionally, watchOS 11 brings Live Activities to the Apple Watch for the first time.
An improved Photos watch face gives users more control and uses machine learning to automatically crop photos. This update also brings the Translate app to the Apple Watch.
The first developer beta of watchOS 11 is available starting today, with a public beta following in July. The official release to the public is expected in the fall.
Original Author: Hartley Charlton | Source: MacRumors
