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watchOS 8: New features, compatibility, review, more
watchOS 8Â OVERVIEW - UPDATED DECEMBERÂ 11, 2021
watchOS 8: Welcome
The first look of watchOS 8 was given during the WWDC21 keynote, and it was released three months later on September 20. The Apple Watch upgrade includes a new Mindfulness app, an Always-On Display API for developers, and Find My integration, all of which are aimed at improving health and well-being. Here's all you need to know about Apple's new watchOS update.
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New features in watchOS 8
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Apple offered a number of new features with the release of watchOS 7 in 2020, including a new sleep tracking app, more workouts, and handwashing detection.
They gave the possibility for developers to offer more than one complication per app on Watch Face was one of the enhancements appreciated in this version. Glow Baby, for example, may show a variety of problems to assist parents keep track of bottle-feeding, nursing, pumping data, and nap times, while Dawn Patrol can show tide, wind speed, and water temperature from a popular surf area.
Apple's internal development process for watchOS upgrades has changed over time, making it easier for the corporation to add and delete new features. Because the corporation may eliminate things that aren't ready for primetime, each yearly release becomes more stable. Now it's time to meet all of watchOS 8's new features.
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New Watch Faces, Photos focus, and new workouts
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watchOS 8 introduces two new Watch Faces: Portraits, in which users can select a Portrait photo took ok their iPhones and add it as a main Watch Face, and World Timer that features time zones from places all over the globe.
Apple’s also putting a lot of effort into the Photos app with new memories served daily, a new mosaic grid view, and the ability to share photos via Messages and Mail with just a few taps.
With watchOS 8, Apple is also introducing a new Pilates workout as well as Tai Chi practice. A new guest trainer and Artist Spotlight are coming in this update. Trainer Jeanette Jenkins is coming to Apple Fitness+ and Artist Spotlight features workout playlists with music from a single artist, including Lady Gaga, Keith Urban, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Lopez.
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Home and Wallet features with watchOS 8
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The Apple Watch improves your home's connectivity. If someone rings your connected doorbell with watchOS 8, you may see choices such as unlocking the door or turning on the entry lights. There's also a new Camera room, and depending on the time of day, watchOS 8 understands which scenarios you're most likely to use.
The Wallet app is likewise growing in size and functionality. The app will also save your home key and ID cards in addition to your auto keys. This feature is also compatible with hotel keys and professional credentials.
Both of these capabilities will be included in a future upgrade to watchOS 8.
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Focus, Mindfulness, and Sleep
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Focus is one of the most critical aspects of these update cycles. You can use this feature to block off distractions. For example, in the Watch app, you may enable "Fitness Focus" to be on every time you start a workout, so you don't get any notifications you don't want.
Mindfulness is the new name for the Breath app, which was formerly known as Breath. By focusing on a short, thought-provoking theme, the new Reflect feature helps you create a meditation habit.
With watchOS 8, the Sleep app can now detect your sleeping respiratory rate as well as track your trends for even more health indicators, allowing you to observe how your health has changed over time.
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Additional features in watchOS 8
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There’s so much more coming to the Apple Watch with watchOS 8:
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Lost and Found: Locate misplaced Apple devices with Find Devices, including Items, Devices, and People.
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AssistiveTouch: Built-in motion sensors help answer calls, control an onscreen pointer, and even launch a menu of actions.
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Enhanced Family Setup features: Transit cards for certain regions are now supported, so family members can easily use public transportation. Google Calendar and Mail accounts are also supported. And hiking workout metrics are now validated for kids.
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Always-On Display: The Always‑On display allows you to see your watch face without raising your wrist or waking your watch. And now it works with lots of additional apps, including Alarms, Maps, Stopwatch, and your favorite third‑party apps.
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New Contacts and Weather apps: On Contacts, it’s possible to quickly browse, add, or edit contacts. The Weather app now has a new icon and supports severe weather notifications. Get next-hour precipitation alerts and see rain intensity too.
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Audio controls: See real‑time headphone audio levels in Control Center when you’re listening to media — just like on iPhone and iPad.
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Set multiple timers at once: One for the rice. Another for the veggies. And, of course, don’t forget about what’s on the grill. Start several timers simultaneously and use Siri to give each one a label.
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Siri integration with workouts: There’s a new Voice Feedback option in watchOS 8. When working out, users can simply hear occasional checkpoints through their headphones.
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watchOS 8.1
Apple released watchOS 8.1 on October 25. Here’s what’s new with the system:
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Improved algorithms for detecting falls during exercises, as well as the option to only detect falls during workouts (Apple Watch Series 4 and later)
Support for COVID-19 vaccination cards in Apple Wallet allows you to present verifiable vaccination information.
Fitness+ users may use SharePlay to invite up to 32 people to workout together over FaceTime on their iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
When a user's wrist is down, Always On may not accurately display the time (Apple Watch Series 5 and later)
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Apple is currently testing watchOS 8.3.
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watchOS 8 device compatibility
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All Apple Watches compatible with watchOS 7 will be able to upgrade to watchOS 8. Here’s the full list:
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Apple Watch Series 3 (2017)
Apple Watch Series 4 (2018)
Apple Watch Series 5 (2019)
Apple Watch SE (2020)
Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
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Different from iPadOS, iOS, and macOS updates, Apple doesn’t make clear what functions will be available for each Watch. For instance, the Apple Watch Series 3 did not receive support for multiple complications last year.
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Release date: When will watchOS 8 come out?
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watchOS 8 was introduced at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
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The watchOS 8 developer beta program started on the same day as the keynote, June 7. The release of the upcoming watchOS version to the general public is expected in the fall, probably around September.
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Apple launched watchOS 8 on September 20.
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watchOS 8 public beta: release date and how to install
On June 30, Apple released watchOS 8 public beta version. With that, all users running iOS 15 are able to install the upcoming watchOS software. Even with the operating system now available, enrolling in the Beta Software Program here lets you try upcoming software updates before anyone else.
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