New WatchOS8 Out Now! | A Rundown On New Features.

Key features include Health, Mindfulness, Wallet, and Home updates.

Apple just launched its watchOS 8 yesterday which features a variety of new features- mainly health focused. Apple says these new features would help Apple Watch users “stay connected, be more active, and better understand their overall health and wellness.” So what exactly are these features?

Updates on Health.

The new OS would welcome two new exercises into the workout app which are Tai Chi and Pilates. Apple states that new heart-rate and motion detection algorithms will help monitor calorie data more accurately. If you love bicycling, the new update would bring the outdoor cycling feature a little closer to what you would get on Strava (minus social sharing). It introduces GPS tracking and an “auto-pause” function for when one stops cycling, along with other advanced algorithms to track the user’s riding behavior. The new function also works with e-bikes!

Apple had long introduced a “fall detection” feature, which convinced me Apple has the best smart watch out there (although I’m still waiting for a golf feature like the one Tag Heuer has). It’s safe to say this feature saves lives, especially with its updated feature to detect falls from a bike ride along with other workouts. Who knows when an accident will occur when one is alone and might need an extra hand.

Remember the sudden vibrations you get in the middle of the day where it made you think it was going to be an interesting notification which turned out to be a breathing reminder? It is safe to say this has to be one of the most ignored features. However, the mindfulness app, formerly known as the Breathe, includes mindful meditations uploaded every week for Fitness + subscribers beginning September 27.

Just when you thought they wanted you to be more mindful (maybe spiritually?), they’ve added a new feature to the sleep tracking function aside from tracking your sleep time, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate. This new feature would even track your sleeping respiration! I’m not sure how they do that, but someone from Apple or my tech-savvy buddy, Daryl, could explain.

Other Features:

Aside from your credit cards and boarding passes (as well as your Starbucks card), new features to Wallet allows users to add digital car keys, features to accommodate smart car accessibility, office access cards (corporate badges), as well as (smart) house and hotel keys. Also, certain US state driver’s licenses can be added to the wallet, which you can present to TSA officers (And probably bouncers).

Additional features include:

- a redesigned home app that allows users to view “smart doorbell” camera feed directly on the app.

- new Apple Watch faces that feature a “self-portrait” face.

- a “Focus“ feature that allows users to filter notifications while focusing on an activity.

- a redesigned Photos app that eases navigation throughout the gallery

- multiple timers

- an updated Contacts app

- more apps to support the “Always-on” function

- new Assistive Touch function that recognizes simple hand gestures without touching the screen.

- new Find Items features that tracks user’s devices and air tags as well as 3rd party compatible tracking devices.

- redesigned Music app

- new Weather function that includes ”Severe Weather“ notification issued by local governments.

- ”Family Setup” now includes the ability to add transit cards from Hong Kong, Japan, and selected China mainland and US cities, and Calendar and Mail offer the option to add a Google account. (Pretty advanced aye?)

*news and image sources from Apple.com*