Latest news with #watchOS
Tom's Guide
13 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Apple is building a secret new operating system — and it's not for your iPhone or Mac
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently wrote an article about Apple working to enter the smart home space with robots and other AI platforms. The news was heavily reported by nearly every publication at the time, including our piece that broke down Apple's smart robot plans. However, few people discussed a key piece of information from Gurman's reporting: Apple is reportedly working on an entirely new operating system for its smart home devices, which it has codenamed "Charismatic." Recent years have seen Apple stick with the same operating systems — iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and macOS. It's been a while since Apple has introduced anything new in the operating system space. The company rolling out a new OS for smart home devices is a big deal. Why? Because it shows that Apple is committed to making its smart home hub stand out — it's not just adapting its existing large-screen operating systems, it's allegedly designing something new. Google and Amazon have established strong footholds in the smart home market, and Apple's HomePod devices haven't gained as much traction. If a screen-based hub is introduced in the near future with a brand-new Apple OS, it could draw more attention and allow Apple to establish itself as a major player in the smart home world. It sounds like Apple's new smart home operating system is all about support for multiple users with seamless switching. "The devices are meant to be easily shared: They include a front-facing camera that can scan users' faces as they walk toward it and then automatically change the layout, features and content to the preferences of that person," said Gurman in his report. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. As far as using Apple's new OS goes, it sounds like Siri will be a significant part of it, much like Alexa and Google Assistant run smart homes alongside other major players in the space. Gurman also mentions a touchscreen component, which is to be expected if the device is meant to serve as a true hub for all connected devices. 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.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Apple reportedly developing new operating system for future smart devices
Apple is reportedly working on a completely new operating system codenamed 'Charismatic'. As reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new OS is said to power Apple's yet-to-launch smart home hub and a tabletop robot which the company is expected to unveil in 2026 and 2027 respectively. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This new operating system from Apple will mark a major expansion of the company's software ecosystem beyond iOS, macOS, and watchOS. Apple working on new operating system for smart living The new version of the operating system is said to be Apple's long-rumored homeOS , designed specifically for ambient smart devices. As reported by Gurman, the new 'Charismatic' operating system will be blend of elements of tvOS and watchOS. The upcoming OS is said to feature a hexagonal grid of apps which is similar to that of Apple Watch interface. It is also tipped with come with multi-user support with facial recognition which will help in personalising content and layout. The smart home hub is also said to come with Siri voice control as the primary input method with optional touch interaction. The pre-installed apps will include Calendar, Camera, Music, Reminders, and Notes, tailored for shared household use. Apple is expected to reveal more about Charismatic in the coming months, potentially aligning with hardware announcements for its smart home ecosystem. The move signals Apple's deeper push into AI-powered ambient computing , where devices adapt seamlessly to users' environments and routines.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
At 32% off, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is an even bigger bang for the buck
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is the perfect choice if you want to experience watchOS on a budget, and right now this sleek timepiece can be yours at an even more tempting price. Amazon is currently selling it at a generous 32% discount, dropping its 40mm GPS version just below the $170 mark. This means you can save $80 if you don't dilly-dally and take advantage of this deal. We suggest you act fast and save now, as the offer has been available for a while and there's no telling when it could expire. $80 off (32%) Amazon is offering a sweet $80 discount on the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen). The watch is loaded with features and is a solid choice if you want a capable Apple smartwatch that won't break the bank. So, act fast and save while the deal lasts! Buy at Amazon While it's not technically a premium timepiece, our friend here supports almost all the features Apple's more expensive smartwatches come with. Missing out on ECG, always-on display, temperature sensing, and blood oxygen tracking, it rocks all the essential stuff like heart rate and sleep tracking. Additionally, it comes with key Apple safety functionalities like Crash Detection, Fall Detection, and Emergency SOS. Since it runs on watchOS, it also gives you access to Apple's App Store, where you can find third-party apps to enhance your experience even further. But just like all the other non-Ultra watches, it sadly offers up to a day, day and a half of battery life. Sure, it's not bad by any means, as Samsung's regular Galaxy Watches and Google's Pixel wearables also deliver similar battery life. However, it's still far from ideal. Nevertheless, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) brings a lot to the table for its current price. So, if you're an Apple fan looking for a smartwatch with loads of features and a price tag that won't make your bank account cry, be sure to grab one while the deal lasts!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
iOS 18.6.1 Is Here! Should You Install the Update Right Away?
Apple has released the iPhone update to iOS 18.6.1. Along with watchOS 11.6, it includes important changes for users in the U.S. TECHBOOK explains whether the installation is worthwhile in other countries as well. Blood Oxygen Monitoring Returns to Apple Watch In the U.S., Apple had to disable blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring in 2023 due to a patent dispute and even briefly pull the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 from sale. The health technology company Masimo filed the lawsuit, claiming its pulse oximetry patents were infringed. According to Apple, 'a recent decision by the U.S. Customs Authority' allows the SpO2 monitoring to return to the Apple Watch. The company now circumvents Masimo's technology by ensuring the processing of measurement data no longer occurs locally. The Apple Watch still measures the raw data, but the integration into the SpO2 percentage display happens only in the Health app on the iPhone. After the measurement, the Watch refers users to the iPhone to view the results. Countries outside the U.S. were and are not affected by this. Here, the processing of measurement data continues locally on the Apple Watch itself. Users can read the results directly from the smartwatch without needing to open the Health app. Is Installing iOS 18.6.1 Worth It? iOS 18.6.1 does not include any new features or bug fixes. Issues like the dimming of the home screen background after unlocking still occur for some users. This error is already fixed in the beta version of iOS 26. Although iOS 18.6.1 is listed on Apple's support page for security updates, there are no entries for any patches. Instead of a link to the content, it simply states, 'This update contains no published CVE entries.' It is quite possible that iOS 18.6.1 includes bug fixes and security changes. However, since Apple apparently does not deem it necessary to specify them, they are likely not of great significance. TECHBOOK therefore considers the update not necessarily essential—at least for users outside the U.S. The post iOS 18.6.1 Is Here! Should You Install the Update Right Away? appeared first on TECHBOOK.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How To Use The Blood Oxygen App On Apple Watch
After almost two years, Apple has finally redesigned and relaunched the Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States. This feature tracks the percentage of oxygen your red blood cells carry from your lungs to the rest of your body, and it can be incredibly useful to help you understand your overall wellness. With apps like Gentler Streak, having the blood oxygen measurement helps you understand your readiness to tackle a new day of workouts or to give you a heads up if you're about to get sick. While this feature isn't FDA approved like the ECG app on the Apple Watch, it's still a worthwhile wellbeing tool, and we're going to tell you how to get the most use out of it. Whether you ignored the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch before it was removed or you were thrilled to see in return in iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, we are going to teach you how to use the feature on your Apple Watch and how to find the relevant metrics on your iPhone. Read more: 7 Under-The-Radar Apple Watch Features You Should Be Using How To Check Your Blood Oxygen Levels As long as your iPhone and Apple Watch are updated to the latest versions of iOS and watchOS, it's easy to take a blood oxygen measurement. That said, remember that you'll need to own an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer in order to use the app. Once you Follow the steps below: On your Apple Watch, open the Blood Oxygen app. Make sure the watch isn't too low on your wrist -- the band should be snug, but comfortable. Keep your watch facing up and try not to move (it's often easiest to rest your wrist on a table). Tap Start and wait 15 seconds. Your blood oxygen levels should appear on the screen. The data will automatically be saved in the Health app on your connected iPhone. To check that information on your iPhone, you'll need to open the Health app, tap the Browse tab, and then tap Respiratory > Blood Oxygen. You'll see all the relevant health details, including a few additional insights, such as your blood oxygen range over the course of several days. In the Apple Watch Series 11, which is expected to debut next month alongside the iPhone 17, Apple is rumored to be adding Blood Pressure monitoring as well. Read the original article on BGR.
