WatchOS 6: Apple Watch software overhauled in latest update, with new health features and App Store

Andrew Griffin
Monday 03 June 2019 17:29 BST
Comments
Kevin Lynch, Vice President of Technology at Apple, speaks during the keynote address at the Apple World Wide Developers Conference at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California
Kevin Lynch, Vice President of Technology at Apple, speaks during the keynote address at the Apple World Wide Developers Conference at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California (EPAEPA/MONICA DAVEY)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Apple has released a wide-ranging new update for the Apple Watch, including new features to allow its wearers to be healthier.

The company has revealed new features intended to let people track their hearing health, their period cycles and their fitness more generally.

WatchOS 6 also comes with re-designed watch faces to update the look of the watch.

The Watch will now also include a "Noise" app. That will use the Watch's microphone to listen for when its wearer is somewhere loud enough that might damage their hearing health, warning people if they are subjecting themselves to prolonged sound.

That also comes in the form of a complication, which can show on the Apple Watch's home face. That means people can see how loud the environment is at any given time.

It also has a new "Cycle Tracking" which allows wearers to track their period and fertility. It lets people receive notifications when their period is about to begin as well as letting them enter data.

That same app will also come to the Health app in the iOS. Apple said it had done so to ensure that as many people as possible can use the tracking tools.

The update also comes with a re-design of the Health app, which is intended for people to track the data being generated from their Watch on their iPhone. It will show summaries of the data it has collected, and uses machine learning to try and understand what it is that users would want to see.

At the same time, Apple announced it would release new summer colours for the Apple Watch bands, as well as special Pride edition, which comes with a devoted face so the watch will match.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in