Latest news with #WatchOS12
Geeky Gadgets
28-05-2025
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
watchOS 12: The AI Upgrade That Will Make Your Apple Watch WAY Smarter
Apple is set to elevate the smartwatch experience with the release of WatchOS 12. Announced at WWDC on June 9th, this update is designed to enhance usability, intelligence, and health-focused features, making the Apple Watch an even more indispensable tool. A public release is anticipated in September or October, with compatibility expected for the Apple Watch Series 7, SE (2nd Gen), and Ultra models. Here's an in-depth look at what this update brings to the table in a new video from 9to5Mac. Watch this video on YouTube. Refined User Interface for Enhanced Navigation WatchOS 12 introduces a thoughtfully redesigned user interface that prioritizes both aesthetics and functionality. The new design incorporates dynamic, layered visuals with translucent elements, creating a subtle 3D-like effect. Fonts are now bolder and more legible, making sure that information is easy to read at a glance, even during physical activity or while on the go. These updates are aimed at making navigation more intuitive and visually engaging, offering a seamless experience for users across all supported devices. Advanced AI and Smarter Siri Integration Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in WatchOS 12, with Siri receiving significant upgrades to improve its responsiveness and contextual awareness. The assistant is now capable of delivering faster, more conversational responses tailored to your daily needs. For example, Siri can proactively suggest actions based on your habits, such as starting a workout or setting reminders. While some advanced processing will rely on your iPhone due to hardware constraints in current Apple Watch models, this integration underscores Apple's commitment to building a cohesive, AI-driven ecosystem. These enhancements make Siri a more practical and reliable tool for managing tasks and staying organized. Health and Fitness Tracking Redefined Health and fitness remain at the core of the Apple Watch experience, and WatchOS 12 introduces several key upgrades to solidify its position as a leader in wearable health technology: Sleep Tracking: Enhanced algorithms provide more accurate insights into sleep stages and detect potential issues such as sleep apnea, helping users better understand and improve their sleep quality. Enhanced algorithms provide more accurate insights into sleep stages and detect potential issues such as sleep apnea, helping users better understand and improve their sleep quality. Blood Pressure Monitoring: Pending FDA approval, this feature could transform wearable health tracking by offering real-time blood pressure measurements directly from your wrist. Pending FDA approval, this feature could transform wearable health tracking by offering real-time blood pressure measurements directly from your wrist. Fitness Insights: Updates to the Training Load and Vitals apps deliver more detailed metrics, allowing users to optimize their workouts and monitor overall health with greater precision. These advancements aim to make the Apple Watch an essential companion for health-conscious individuals, offering tools that go beyond basic activity tracking to provide actionable insights. Accessibility Features for Broader Inclusivity Accessibility takes center stage in WatchOS 12 with the introduction of live captions. This feature allows users to view subtitles for conversations, media, and even real-time translations directly on their Apple Watch. By catering to users with hearing impairments and those navigating multilingual environments, Apple is expanding the device's appeal and usability. This focus on inclusivity ensures that the Apple Watch remains a versatile tool for a diverse range of users. Compatibility and Strategic Release The official debut of WatchOS 12 at WWDC on June 9th sets the stage for a public rollout in September or October. The update is expected to support Apple Watch Series 7 and newer models, aligning with Apple's tradition of pairing new software releases with updated hardware. This strategic timing ensures that users can take full advantage of the latest features on the most advanced devices, further solidifying Apple's position in the competitive wearable market. Positioning in a Competitive Landscape In a market where competitors like Whoop rely on subscription-based models, Apple's approach of offering robust features without additional fees sets it apart. This strategy appeals to users seeking a cost-effective yet feature-rich wearable, reinforcing the Apple Watch's reputation as a market leader. By focusing on delivering value through innovation and usability, Apple continues to attract a broad audience, from fitness enthusiasts to tech-savvy professionals. Shaping the Future of Wearable Technology WatchOS 12 represents a significant step forward in the evolution of the Apple Watch. With improvements in user interface design, smarter AI integration, and enhanced health and fitness tracking, this update caters to a wide range of user needs. The addition of accessibility tools like live captions and the potential introduction of new health features such as blood pressure monitoring highlight Apple's dedication to creating a more inclusive and versatile wearable experience. Whether you're focused on fitness, productivity, or accessibility, WatchOS 12 promises to deliver meaningful enhancements that make the Apple Watch an even more indispensable part of daily life. Check out more relevant guides from our extensive collection on WatchOS 12 that you might find useful. Source & Image Credit: 9to5Mac Filed Under: AI, Apple, Gadgets News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
CNET
19-05-2025
- CNET
Dear Apple, Please Make Our WatchOS 12 Wish List Come True
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is still a few weeks away but that doesn't mean we can't start daydreaming about the features we want for WatchOS 12, the next version of Apple Watch software. With Apple Watch sales down 19% in 2024 and new competitors like the Oura ring gaining market share, WatchOS 12 could be a chance for Apple to show that it hasn't been asleep at the wrist. I teamed up with a few longtime Apple Watch users and fellow CNET editors to put together a wish list of the most requested (and most realistic) features we hope to see in 2025. We'll save the holographic FaceTime calls for another list. Improved battery life A long battery life may not sound as exciting as some of the flashier features on this list but it easily wins the popularity contest among our editors (myself included). We didn't have a wish list when the Apple Watch launched a decade ago but if we had, I'd bet battery life would've been at the top -- because that's how long we've been asking for it. CNET editor-at-large Scott Stein wants a longer battery life and faster charging, especially if Apple wants people to really take advantage of sleep tracking. The Series 10 charges faster than earlier Apple Watches but the battery lasts the same length of time. Celso Bulgatti/CNET A dream scenario would be for the regular Apple Watch and SE version to have the same three-day battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But software alone can't work miracles; it still has to operate within the limits of the physical battery. So we'd settle for incremental improvements and optimizations to WatchOS 12 that minimize how much power gets used. That could come in the form of smarter battery-saving modes that automatically kick in when power-hungry features aren't needed or a more efficient bedtime mode that doesn't leave the battery drained by morning. At a prequel to its developer's conference, Google announced that its own Wear OS 6 will boost battery life by up to 10 percent. It's not a huge leap, but it's a welcome one -- and a good reminder that meaningful improvements are possible through software alone. UI tweaks and customization Apple's come a long way with letting us customize the Apple Watch's UI but there's still room for improvements. The app list, for example, is in desperate need of a refresh. You're still limited to viewing it as either a grid or list and there's no way to organize apps by how you actually use them. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland suggests adding options to sort by favorites or most used to cut down on the endless scrolling it takes to find what you need. Grid view and list view are still the only two options to sort apps on the watch. hocus-focus/Getty Images Watch faces are another area that still feels locked down compared to other platforms like Wear OS. It's a long-standing request from Stein, who's been asking for a watch face store since reviewing the original Apple Watch in 2015. We've gotten a lot more watch face options since then with customizable widgets and design features but you're still limited by the templates Apple provides. CNET health editor Anna Gragert also suggested more watch face collections by artists from underrepresented communities, similar to what the company did with the Black Unity watch at the beginning of the year. Gestures that go further Apple first introduced gesture control with WatchOS 10 and the Series 9 and Ultra 2, and it's been gradually expanding the feature ever since. Now that we've had a taste of what one-handed control feels like, we're ready for more. CNET senior writer Jeff Carlson admitted he was skeptical of gesture controls at first: "Before I got a Series 10, I thought it was a dubious addition," he said. "But I use it a lot (especially turning off timers) and want more control than just 'highlight the main control' or 'scroll down the Smart Stack.'" I'm right there with him. I'd like more gestures beyond the double pinch and the ability to program a gesture to ping my iPhone, because nine times out of 10, I'm rushing out the door with my hands full and don't have a spare hand to tap the screen. Apple Intelligence features The Apple Watch is still notably AI-free -- and that might not be a bad thing. The reality is, while the Watch is powerful, it doesn't yet have the processing muscle to handle Apple Intelligence tasks on its own. But that doesn't mean it can't lean on the iPhone for a few features we'd love to see make their way over. One of the top ones on my list? Genmoji. The ability to create your own emoji on the fly feels like it belongs on your wrist. Apple already brought Memojis and Animojis to the Watch, so this would be a natural next step that would bring more personality to text messages or replace the need for text altogether. Genmoji uses Apple Intelligence to create custom emojis from prompts. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET And while we're on the subject of Apple Intelligence, the Watch could benefit from a smarter approach to notifications. Notification summaries on the iPhone are still hit-or-miss, but on a tiny screen they could actually be more helpful if done right. The current notification layout on the Watch feels crowded, and it's hard to separate the important alerts from the rest of the noise. Spam handling on the watch is another area that could use attention. "I'd like to be able to delete and report spam texts and calls the way you can in Messages or Phone on the iPhone -- preferably right from the notification," says Carlson. Right now, blocking a sender on the Watch requires several steps which defeats the purpose of having quick interactions on the wrist. Smarter Siri Offline Siri has been a welcome improvement (Series 9 and later). But even offline, Siri is not the brightest bulb. And Apple's voice assistant is long overdue for an upgrade. At the very least, it would be great if Siri could understand requests on the first try. But as this is a wish list, why not ask for more? Smarter, more context-aware responses would make Siri far more useful, especially if the assistant can tap into its new Apple Intelligence tools. And please: fewer website links as answers. I'm not about to open a full webpage on my wrist. Customizable workouts I also wish the Apple Watch had a way for me to flag external factors like weight or resistance that could impact workout metrics. This could be running or walking with a weighted vest, which in my case is a human child on a harness, or pushing a stroller while on a run. Heart rate zone view lets you see the intensity of your workout as it's happening but it's up to you to interpret. Vanessa Hand Orellana Right now, there's no way to flag added weight or resistance to your workout beyond changing your weight in the settings. So instead the Watch just assumes I'm out of shape when my heart rate spikes higher than average as I'm hiking uphill with an additional 35lbs on my back. I'd like to get the extra calorie credits on my move ring, thank you very much. Smarter coaching for fitness and sleep The Apple Watch gives us plenty of training tools for heart rate zones, activity rings, VO2 max, and more. But turning all that data into a personalized training plan still feels daunting. I'd love to see a smarter, more proactive coaching system: something that could tell me, in real time, how many minutes I should aim to stay in each heart rate zone to hit my goal. Even better would be a dynamic workout plan that adjusts based on my calendar and energy levels that day. The same goes for sleep. It's nice to see my sleep stages but what am I supposed to do with that information? What's the ideal balance of REM versus deep sleep and how do I improve it? The Apple Watch added sleep tracking to its list of metrics and can now track sleep stages. CNET Gragert would also like to see the Apple Watch take a cue from other wearables and offer energy and sleep scores based on the data it collects. The sleep coach would then help interpret the data and give tangible recommendations on how to improve toward better recovery and energy. And no, the current bedtime reminder doesn't count. That's just a glorified alarm and a pretty annoying one at that. Smarter vitals and health coaching We're already seeing Apple bring more health data together on the Watch, thanks to the Vitals app, which combines metrics like heart rate, sleep, respiratory rate and skin temperature. But for now, it's still up to us to figure out what that data actually means and what to do with it. The Vitals app is the same on the Series 10 and the Ultra 2. Carly Marsh/CNET What's next? Apple could take a similar approach to what it already does with heart rate notifications. The Watch alerts you when your heart rate is too high or too low -- now imagine that same kind of proactive insight but for your overall vitals. Other wearables are already heading in that direction. The Oura Ring, for example, uses a Symptom Radar that can flag when your body shows signs of strain, like when you might be getting kind of heads up landing on your wrist first thing in the morning could help you plan your day better and maybe call in sick to the office before you drag your coworkers down with you. Rumor has it some of this smart coaching is already well underway. According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a top secret project code named "Project Mulberry" which seeks to revamp the Health app with smart coaching and personalized recommendations. Just don't make me pay for another subscription please. We'll find out what Apple actually has in store for us on June 10 during WWDC. Until then, there's nothing stopping us from dreaming big.
