Latest news with #SmartStack
Tom's Guide
21 hours ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Apple Watch needs this sleep feature to compete with Garmin, Oura, and Whoop — but it might be coming soon
Since my son was born, I'm more obsessed than ever with tracking my sleep. Did I get the recommended 1.5-two hours of deep sleep needed, and how many times did I actually wake up? Most nights, I'll go to sleep wearing my Apple Watch 10 and my Oura Ring 4, because despite being one of the best fitness trackers on the market, the Apple Watch falls short of one sleep feature nearly every other tracker on the market has had for years — a sleep score. Apple has been able to expertly track your different sleep stages for years, as well as your total time in bed and total time asleep. That said, you do need to remember to put your watch into sleep mode before falling asleep, and ensure it's got enough charge to record your sleep all night. If you have the vitals app pinned to your Smart Stack, you can see a breakdown of your sleep each morning, but unlike Garmin, Oura, and Whoop, Apple doesn't give you an overall sleep score. However, according to rumors, we might not have long to wait. Writer Steve Moser uncovered a graphic named 'Watch Focus Score' from deep within the code of Apple's Health app (reported by MacRumors). This score shows an Apple Watch with the number 84 in it, surrounded by three bars that curve to form a circle. The colors of the bars are red, light blue, and purple, which correspond to the sleep stages shown in the Health app — red reflecting time awake, light blue showing REM sleep, and purple reflecting time spent in deep sleep. Few more notes:1) Some other versions of this graphic have a thermometer icon which says to me that this feature will be available on old and new Apple Watches.2) Maybe this is why the sleep icon is changing from light blue to purple.3) I imagine the watch face complication… 23, 2025 It's not clear whether this feature would be part of the watchOS 26 update coming this fall (although it's not available on the public beta), or a feature launched with the rumored Apple Watch 11. Why does every other brand use a sleep score? In simple terms, it helps you see quickly what those different stages mean. For example, last night, my Apple Watch 10 recorded my 7 hours and 34 minutes of sleep (my kid slept through the night for the first time ever, a fact worth celebrating), but my Oura ring 4 gave me a sleep score of 89, and told me that yes, this was outstanding compared to my typical range. Of course, I know I slept better than I have in the past 18 months since my son was born, but I appreciate seeing the quality of sleep in the form of a sleep efficiency number. With Oura, I can also see how my sleep score changes over time, and why my sleep score might be lower from one day to the next. It allows me to make healthier decisions, such as not doom-scrolling Instagram before trying to sleep, or drinking a glass of wine too close to bedtime. Garmin and Whoop also have similar sleep features. The best Garmin watches give you a score out of 100, which is then incorporated into the watch's daily readiness number, reflecting how ready you are for a hard workout. Whoop, on the other hand, gives you an overall sleep performance score, as well as a breakdown of different metrics, all of which have their score out of 100. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It's a metric Apple Watch users have been dreaming about for years, and hopefully one that'll roll out onto watches sooner rather than later. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Phone Arena
30-06-2025
- Phone Arena
Google quietly releases minimalist Calendar app for Apple Watch
Complications and Smart Stack integration Receive the latest Apps news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy A rare commitment to Apple Watch Tapping on an entry reveals more details, but any interaction beyond that such as editing or creating new events requires opening the full Calendar app on a paired experience mirrors what Google offers on Wear OS devices. It's more of a glanceable utility than a full-featured productivity tool, and there are no signs that Google plans to expand its functionality beyond the its limitations, Google has added two useful complications to make the app feel more native on Apple Watch. The first, labeled 'What's next,' is available in both circular and rectangular formats and displays your upcoming appointment. It's also integrated into the watchOS 10 Smart Stack. Tapping this complication launches the app directly to event second complication is a simple circular widget that shows today's date. It also acts as a shortcut to launch the app. Google has long been cautious when it comes to supporting Apple Watch. Beyond Maps and YouTube Music, its existing apps haven't seen frequent updates, and Google Keep, for example, still lacks many modern watchOS features. That makes the addition of Google Calendar all the more while it's good to see another Google service make its way to the Apple Watch, the app's barebones approach means it might not replace the iPhone app anytime soon for this signals a renewed interest in Apple Watch support or is just a one-off convenience update remains to be seen.
Deccan Herald
11-06-2025
- Deccan Herald
watchOS 26: Key features you should know about Apple's new smart wearable OS
watchOS 26 brings Liquid Glass UI. Credit: Apple The new watchOS 26 brings Smart Stack hints and wrist flick gesture support. Credit: Apple The new watchOS 26 brings Call screening feature to Apple Watch. Credit: Apple
India.com
10-06-2025
- India.com
Apple Unveils watchOS 26 with Smarter Fitness Tools and Refreshed Design
California – Apple has previewed watchOS 26, its next major software update for the Apple Watch, delivering a blend of cutting-edge intelligence and design aimed at offering users a more personalised, active, and connected experience. 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.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
WatchOS 26 compatible with these Apple Watch models
Apple showcased the latest version of watchOS at its annual developer conference WWDC 2025. The watchOS 26 will be coming later this year to all Apple Watch smartwatches that are running on watchOS 10. However, all the Apple Watch models are not compatible with the upcoming watchOS 26 version. The company has confirmed that the update is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later. A major update coming with watchOS 26 is the new interface using Liquid Glass , which changes the look of Smart Stack, Control Center, notifications, and in-app navigation. The Photos watch face now includes numbers made of Liquid Glass, giving more visibility to images. Apple Watch models compatible with WatchOS 26 Apple has also shared a complete list of Apple Watch models that are compatible with WatchOS 26 Apple Watch Series 6 Apple Watch Series 7 Apple Watch Series 8 Apple Watch Series 9 Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) Apple Watch Ultra Apple Watch Ultra 2 To install watchOS 26, the compatible Apple Watch models must be paired with an iPhone 11 or later, running iOS 26. This means that older iPhone models (iPhone X and earlier) will not be able to update to watchOS 26, even if their Apple Watch hardware is technically capable. The first developer beta of watchOS 26 is available now, with a public beta launching next month. The final release is expected later this year. Apple watchOS 26: Key features Key Features in watchOS 26 include Liquid Glass UI – A translucent, dynamic interface that enhances Smart Stack, Control Center, and app navigation. Workout Buddy – AI-driven real-time coaching, offering personalized motivation based on fitness history. Smart Stack Hints – Context-aware prompts that suggest actions based on routine and sensor data. Live Translation in Messages – Real-time language translation for text conversations on Apple Watch. Wrist Flick Gesture – A one-handed motion to dismiss notifications, silence alarms, and manage calls. Music & Podcast Auto-Start – Automatically plays recommended playlists when workouts begin. Notes App on Apple Watch – Users can now pin, unlock, and create notes directly from their wrist.
