Apple Unveils watchOS 26 with Smarter Fitness Tools and Refreshed Design
Among the standout features is a striking new Liquid Glass design, which refreshes the look and feel of the interface across Smart Stack widgets, Control Center, in-app navigation, and the popular Photos watch face. Apple says this new design enhances visual richness without sacrificing the familiar functionality Apple Watch users expect.
Leading the update is Workout Buddy, a groundbreaking AI-powered fitness feature. Powered by Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy offers real-time, spoken motivational cues tailored to each user's fitness data and history. Whether it's tracking mile splits, celebrating personal records, or offering a pep talk mid-run, Workout Buddy brings an almost human-like coaching experience to workouts. It supports a variety of workouts including running, walking, cycling, and strength training, and will be initially available in English for users with Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhones.
The Workout app itself has received its most significant redesign yet, with new corner controls for easier access to customisation tools like Pacer, Race Route, and Workout Views. Additionally, Apple Music integration now recommends playlists based on a user's preferences and workout types, enhancing the motivational experience.
Apple has also enhanced the Smart Stack with new 'hints' — context-based prompts powered by AI and sensor data. These proactively suggest actions, such as launching Backtrack when off-grid or starting a Pilates session when arriving at a known studio.
Messaging gets a boost with Live Translation, which can auto-translate incoming and outgoing texts in real-time. The feature also suggests smart actions based on conversation context and supports custom backgrounds and improved smart replies.
In terms of interaction, Apple introduces a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications or silence alerts with one hand — useful when multitasking. Speaker volume now auto-adjusts based on ambient sound levels to avoid disturbances.
Other new additions include: Notes app on Apple Watch with Siri integration.
Hold Assist and Call Screening when paired with iPhone.
Live Listen enhancements for hearing-impaired users.
A redesigned watch face gallery with curated collections.
Developers can also tap into new APIs to customise widgets, integrate apps into Control Center, and enhance Smart Stack interactivity using user context like location.
watchOS 26 is set to roll out later this year, bringing a more intelligent, responsive, and elegant Apple Watch experience to users worldwide.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
12 minutes ago
- Mint
Apple introduces iOS 26 beta with ringtone additions, interface changes and glimpses of Liquid Glass
Apple has rolled out the sixth developer beta of iOS 26, alongside test versions for iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, macOS and other platforms, as the company edges closer to the software's expected public launch in September, reported Techcrunch. While the latest update delivers relatively minor changes compared to earlier betas, it reportedly introduces several notable adjustments. One of the most visible additions is a set of six new ringtones, all variations of the existing 'Reflection' tone, highlighted the publication. Among these, a sound titled 'Dreamer' has attracted attention from early testers on social media. The release also addresses ongoing debate over changes to the Camera app's mode switcher. Earlier betas reversed the swipe direction used to move between camera modes, a shift that prompted criticism from users who said it disrupted established habits. In beta 5, Apple offered a Settings option allowing a return to the previous behaviour, labelled 'Classic Mode.' However, in this latest release the toggle has been removed and the swipe action has reverted to its original direction, the report stated. Other refinements include faster interface transitions and newly introduced animations when opening and closing apps. The 'Liquid Glass' design system, a translucent, colour-shifting interface element applied across various parts of iOS, has received further updates, with enhanced dispersion effects when navigating app tabs and additional visual changes to the Lock Screen and toggles. Moreover, the report notes that upon installation, users will encounter a refreshed onboarding sequence that highlights key iOS 26 features, including redesigned icons, interface changes in multiple apps, and the Liquid Glass effects. As is typical with pre-release software, the update contains bug fixes alongside the risk of new issues. Testers have reported that this build appears more stable and responsive than previous versions. The public beta of iOS 26 is expected to receive the same changes in an upcoming update.
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
‘GTP5 10X Better Than Grok': Sam Altman Accuses Elon Musk Of Using X To Target Rivals
Curated By : Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 18:12 IST Sam Altman and Elon Musk's feud is buzzing on X. (Photo Source: Instagram) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has taken a direct shot at Elon Musk, claiming that the billionaire uses his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to hurt people he 'doesn't like." The remark came after Musk accused Apple of unfairly boosting OpenAI's ranking in the App Store. The spat began when Musk posted on X, alleging that Apple manipulates its store rankings to ensure OpenAI always holds the top spot. 'Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation," Musk wrote. He then added a legal threat: 'xAI will take immediate legal action." Altman responded by retweeting Musk's post and firing back: 'This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like." His reply, shared on August 12, has since been viewed over 3.4 million times. This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like. Sam Altman (@sama) August 12, 2025 Social Media Reactions The public exchange between the two tech leaders quickly ignited debate online. Some users defended their preferred side, while others took the opportunity to discuss AI more broadly. A person commented, 'Who's going to tell Elon that GTP5 is 10X better than Grok?" Another said, 'This wouldn't surprise me at all. Rock' n roll, Elon!" Others highlighted the ongoing platform bias debates, with one remarking, 'Is it me? I feel like Grok always treats Android as 2nd class compared to Apple." A user on X summed up the drama with frustration: 'Lol, how is this where we've arrived… all the people controlling our data suing each other over who gets more access to our data… for free." An Ongoing Feud This latest war of words is just the newest chapter in a long-running clash between Musk and Altman. Musk co-founded OpenAI but later left the company. Since then, he has repeatedly criticised it and launched his own rival AI firm, xAI. The relationship between the two has been tense for years, with public digs and competitive business moves shaping their interactions. This week's exchange simply adds to the list of high-profile disputes between the tech titans. Feud sparks surge in Google searches. According to Google Trends, searches for 'Sam Altman" spiked after his public jab at Musk. Interest climbed on Monday evening (August 11) and reached its highest point on Tuesday (August 12). Swipe Left For Next Video View all The states showing the most searches included Bihar, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Delhi. Related trending topics ranged from unrelated entertainment searches like 'Ranya Rao" and 'Sahasam movie" to 'stray dogs," 'Taylor Swift," and 'Nikhil Kamath." The feud isn't over, as both continue to figh over AI and how their platforms work. Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments News viral 'GTP5 10X Better Than Grok': Sam Altman Accuses Elon Musk Of Using X To Target Rivals Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Read More
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk says xAI to take legal action against Apple over App Store rankings
Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday his artificial intelligence startup xAI would take legal action against Apple , accusing the iPhone maker of breaching antitrust regulations in managing the App Store rankings . "Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action," Musk said in a post on his social media platform X. Musk did not provide evidence to support his claim. Apple, OpenAI, and xAI did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. ChatGPT currently holds the top spot in the App Store's "Top Free Apps" section for iPhones in the U.S., while xAI's Grok ranks fifth and Google's Gemini chatbot sits at 57th. ChatGPT also leads the rankings on the Google Play Store, according to Sensor Tower data. Apple has a partnership with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads and Macs. "Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your 'Must Have' section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics?," Musk said in an earlier post Monday. Musk's comments come as regulators and rivals intensify scrutiny of Apple's control over its App Store. In April, a U.S. judge ruled that Apple violated a court order requiring it to allow greater competition in its App Store and referred the company to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation, in a case brought by 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games. Apple was handed a 500 million euro ($587 million) fine by the EU antitrust enforcer in April, saying its technical and commercial restrictions prevented app developers from steering users to cheaper deals outside the App Store in breach of the Digital Markets Act.
