watchOS

watchOS

Homescreen for watchOS 2 as of June 2016
Developer Apple Inc.
Written in
OS family
Working state Current
Source model Closed (with open source components)
Initial release April 24, 2015 (2015-04-24)
Latest release 3.1 (October 24, 2016 (2016-10-24)) [±]
Latest preview 3.1.1 Beta 4 (14S879) (November 28, 2016 (2016-11-28)) [±]
Marketing target Smartwatch
Update method FOTA (via iPhone 5+ running iOS 8.2+)
Platforms
License Proprietary software except for open-source components
Official website www.apple.com/watchos
Support status
Supported

watchOS is the mobile operating system of the Apple Watch, developed by Apple Inc. It is based on the iOS operating system and has many similar features.[1] It was released on April 24, 2015, along with the Apple Watch, the only device that runs watchOS. Its API is called WatchKit.

The second version, watchOS 2, included support for native third-party apps and other improvements.[2] It was previewed publicly at WWDC 2015 in June 2015, and released on September 21, 2015,[3][4] delayed seven days[5] by a bug that took longer than expected to fix.[6]

The third version, watchOS 3, was released in beta to developers at WWDC 2016 in June 2016, and released on September 13, 2016. It emphasizes better performance and includes new watch faces and stock apps, including Reminders, Breathe, and Home.

UI overview

The home screen (rendered by and also known as "Carousel")[1] is composed of circular application icons, which can be zoomed in and out with the Digital Crown and dragged and launched by touching the display. Many of the apps are miniaturized, simplified versions of their iOS counterparts.

Prior to watchOS 3, Glances provided fast access to a summarized view of the most popular native or third party applications used on Apple Watch.[7] The Glances view was opened with a swipe up gesture from the watch face screen. With watchOS 3, Glances has been replaced by a redesigned Control Center - much like the one in iOS. The friends menu, invoked with the side button, now acts as a dedicated dock for apps.

Different actions and options appear depending on if the user taps or deep presses which an Apple Watch detects with its pressure-sensitive (Force Touch) Display.[8]

Version history: Apple Watch

Legend:   Obsolete   Discontinued   Current   Beta

watchOS 1.x

watchOS 2.x

watchOS 3.x

Table of versions: watchOS 3.x - Apple Watch
watchOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features

3.0

10.0 14S326 September 13, 2016
  • Initial Release on Apple Watch Series 1 (Dual-Core) and Apple Watch Series 2 (Dual-Core)
  • Performance and Navigation
    • Provides faster access to apps by creating a dock which can accommodate up to 10 apps which will keep running in the background for instant access.
    • The dock can be invoked using the side button next to the digital crown.
  • Control Center
    • Provides support for an all-new Control Center which can be invoked by sliding up from the bottom of the screen.
  • New Watch Faces.
    • Adds new watch faces and adds support for switching between them by swiping left/right from the edge of the watch screen.
  • Activity/Workouts
    • Adds support for sharing activity with friends using iMessage or other messaging platforms.
    • Adds support for tracking movement of people in wheelchairs, displaying a "Time to Roll" reminder rather than "Time to Walk" as watchOS 2 did.
    • It is now possible to see 5 different workout metrics all at once. These include distance, pace, active calories, heart rate, and elapsed time.
    • Adds support for pausing a workout when stopped at a stoplight.
    • Support for a new Breathe app which will guide users through a set of deep breaths to help them be more relaxed.
  • Messages
    • Adds support for the all-new messaging app which will also be present in iOS 10. This includes features such as setting off fireworks, sticking stickers, sharing a secret with invisible ink, or replying in your own handwriting or scribbling letters on the display and letting Apple Watch turn it into text.
  • HomeKit
    • Adds support for an all-new Home app which is a centralized place to control all HomeKit accessories.
  • SOS
    • Adds support for a feature called SOS which allows a person to place emergency calls by holding the side button for 5 seconds.
  • Mac Unlock
    • Alongside macOS Sierra, the Apple Watch running watchOS 3 can now allow users to bypass the unlock screen on their Mac by allowing the Mac to detect their Apple Watch and unlock the Mac.

3.1

10.1 14S471 October 24, 2016
  • New option to replay bubble and full screen effects in Messages
  • Messages effects can play with Reduce Motion enabled
  • Fixes an issue that could cause the notification for Timer complete to be delivered twice
  • Resolves an issue that could prevent Apple Watch Series 2 from fully charging
  • Resolves an issue where Activity rings may disappear from the watch face
  • Fixes an issue that prevented Force Touch options from appearing in some third-party apps.

3.1.1 Beta 4

10.2 14S879 November 28, 2016

See also

References

External links

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