Apple watchOS 5 ships on September 17

Apple today formally introduced the next generation of Apple Watch devices, the Series 4. Alongside the new devices, the company announced the updated watchOS 5 mobile operating system will ship on September 17. The new version of watchOS was first shown off at this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote, where flagship features like the Walkie-Talkie […]

Apple today formally introduced the next generation of Apple Watch devices, the Series 4. Alongside the new devices, the company announced the updated watchOS 5 mobile operating system will ship on September 17.

The new version of watchOS was first shown off at this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote, where flagship features like the Walkie-Talkie mode, smart Siri watch face, updated Podcast app, support for Siri shortcuts, and a “Raise to Speak to Siri” feature were highlighted.

The company didn’t really spend time reviewing these features today, as the new devices themselves were the focus.

Series 4 Apple Watch devices will offer 30% more screen space thanks to an edge-to-edge display, as was previously leaked and today confirmed. To take better advantage of that extra room, watchOS 5 will debut a new watch face that lets you pack in a lot more complications.

Now, you can add all kinds of extra complications to your Series 4 watch face – up to 8 on the new device. Among these, you can add photos of loved ones to the screen which you can tap to connect with, or if you’re traveling, you can customize a watch face that tracks different time zones. You could also use the extra space to create the ultimate health and fitness watch face, Apple says.

One of the complication setups makes it easier to connect directly to people from the face, one is a multiple time zone array and one setup is focused on health and fitness.

https://t.co/bsraCoBLLW #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/Asmb0AB2pl

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 12, 2018

The modular face will get an update, too, with more graphical information from apps like stocks, heart rate and activity, and even those from third party developers. Debut developers include MLB At Bat, Qantas, and Life Zone nutrition app.

The Apple Watch Series 4 screens are over 30% larger on each watch, but the case is actually thinner than the last model. There are also redesigns of all of the Watch apps. The face can contain up to 8 complications at a time.

https://t.co/bsraCoBLLW #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/AazOvS7X2J

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 12, 2018

 

WatchOS 5 offers a ton of features, many of which Apple didn’t highlight today due to time constraints. But lists of new features found in beta builds are readily available, as are videos. They’re also available on Apple’s official watchOS 5 website here.

more iPhone Event 2018 coverage

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.