Useful features of watchOS 9 – Underground News

According to one of the authors of Bloch.

Greetings to all! A few months after I reviewed iOS 16, I was able to test the watchOS 9 beta on Apple’s Series 4 smartwatch.

As a rule, new features come along with updates, and the capabilities of previous ones are expanded. As a result of the test, I found 5 main features that, in my opinion, will be quite useful to many users. So, about everything in more detail.

No. 1. Improved default sleep app

I am one of those who monitor my sleep along with smart watches since the days when I bought fitness trackers from other manufacturers. They had everything.

Apple is doing everything to improve its own applications, and finally the watch automatically determines the phases of sleep: deep sleep, wakefulness, basic sleep, etc. Previously, you had to download applications like AutoSleepto get all features. The standard application only offered to set a sleep schedule, on the basis of which the data was calculated, and it could not determine whether the owner of the watch was in bed.

With watchOS 9, everything has changed. It is not necessary to install a third party application.

No. 2. New watch faces

The chip will be useful for those who love design and customization of their gadgets. The dials have become more interactive, animation has appeared. Personally, I like the Astronomy series: you can rotate the Moon or the Earth.

Here’s what the watch face looks like in real life:

Number 3. More information about heart rate in the workout app

In a regular training application, you can now track not only your actual heart rate, but also its zones. Each has a specific value. The indicator allows you to determine the level of training intensity. The higher the heart rate, the more intense the workout.

The application itself on the watch is still just as convenient:

No. 4. Application “Medicines”

With the new version of WatchOS, you can now track your medications and dietary supplements. Previously, everything was recorded in the calendar, or in reminders. You could, of course, download the application. But not everyone wants to bother with apps and love what Apple has on board. For the second category of users, this is an important innovation. Yes, and you must admit, in our time, when it is customary to monitor health, such applications will help not to get confused when to take vitamins and other medicines.

Accordingly, on the watch itself:

No. 5. Determination of the risks of atrial fibrillation in the ECG application

Another point to confirm health care. As a former arrhythmic, I follow the heart. And for those who have a history of arrhythmia in the family, including atrial fibrillation, it is important to get more accurate indicators of heart health.

Unfortunately, while in Russia, an ECG made on an Apple Watch is not accepted as a reliable source, and you will have to undergo this procedure in a clinic. Nevertheless, this is an occasion to listen to your health and reduce the extra burden on your body, both moral and physical.

Conclusion. WatchOS 9 is a worthy upgrade in my opinion. Apple has long been on the path of improving existing tools and carefully introducing new ones. Of course, all the features can be experienced after using older watches that do not support this update. But even if you did not need this or that application, it can always come in handy. Have you always been able to keep track of your medications? Perhaps, but with the application, it seems to me, it is easier and more interesting to do this. Not interested in designing watches? Well, you can fix everything and play with the dials. In each update, something will appeal to any user.

Should I upgrade from Apple Watch 3 or older? On the 3rd series, I miss the ECG app, and the Medications app should appear on iOS 16 anyway. And I started to get used to the AutoSleep app. The update is good, but for me personally it is not the most critical. I record walking and yoga, checking notifications, switching songs. The watch records steps and heart rate. These are the basic features that are important to me and that Watch OS 8 has.

And what did you personally like if you managed to test the beta version of Watch OS 9?