watchOS 6: More interaction and greater attention to health

Apple has announced the latest version of its software platform for Apple Watch: watchOS 6. The new software does not present major changes but brings improvements, especially as regards interaction with the smartwatch.

First of all, new watchfaces have been revealed that combine the previously existing options, from the first watchOS, to new quadrants that highlight the Apple Watch design. Some watchfaces add more information than we had previously, while others are more minimal, mainly presenting the time.

Apple wanted to add more apps directly to watchOS, let’s talk about the calculator, voice recording and even an audio book application. This new app support is reinforced by a real App Store that will allow you to search, pay and download apps directly on the watch itself, avoiding the transition from iPhone to interacting with some of them. New API have been integrated that will allow audio playback directly from the clock, and these will also allow data to be read for longer periods than before.

The new watchOS 6 will try to ” protect your ears ” : Apple will use the built-in microphone to alert you if the ambient noise is too high, allowing you to take care of your hearing. All this means that the microphone will always be listening, but the company says it will only be a ” periodic ” sampling and will not record or save any audio.

This is just one of the new health features, another novelty is the menstrual cycle, and another one is the activity trend that will allow you to monitor your health following your fitness goals. Menstrual monitoring is actually not a new feature for the iPhone, which was integrated in 2015, but what is new is keeping track directly from the Apple Watch.

Apple is pushing for its devices to become the way in which personal health can be monitored, a tangible sign is that of the integrated electrocardiogram a few months ago. By 2020, watchOS could also integrate sleep monitoring.