Apple Watch to get on-device App Store with watchOS 6, claims report
WWDC is Apple’s annual developer get-together, but it’s also where the company reveals the next major iterations of its software. This year, according to a new report, the Apple Watch is in store for some major upgrades.
Bloomberg reports that the June event will see Apple announce some significant new features in the Apple Watch’s next update – expected to be called watchOS 6 – including an on-device App Store.
Wareable wish list: What we want from watchOS 6This was a top request on Wareable’s watchOS 6 wish list, as it will give the smartwatch more independence from the iPhone. It also means you won’t have to install apps on the phone before using them on the watch – thus saving you precious memory for more memes in your photo roll.
The addition of an on-wrist App Store could be especially useful for users of the LTE Apple Watch, as they’ll presumably be able to download apps over their data connection. All of this is yet to be confirmed, however, so don’t take this as gospel.
Apple’s also reportedly bringing some new health features to the Watch: one will track menstrual cycles, another will give users pill reminders. These are features we’ve seen in other wearables – Fitbit has had a menstrual cycle tracker for a while – and third-party apps.
Apple’s also bringing over a bunch of apps from the iPhone and iPad to the Watch: Voice Memos, Apple Books (so you can listen to audiobooks on the go) and Calculator.
There will be new Complications too: one will show the progress of whichever audio book you have on the go, but the others will focus on health, reflecting some changes being made on the iPhone. According to Bloomberg Apple is better integrating hearing aid support in the iPhone, and a new Watch Complication will show you how much battery life your hearing aids have left. Other Complications will measure external noise and rain data, the report claims.
Finally, expect new watch faces. There’s a new ‘Gradient’ face on the way, which will give you a gradient of any color you choose; a ‘California’ dial mixing Roman and Arabic numerals; a redesigned ‘Solar Analog’ that apparently looks like a sundial; an ‘Inforgraph Subdial’ with larger complications; and two new ‘X-Large’ faces for those who just like to really see the time.
We expect this won’t be the extent of the new features, which we’ll see in full on 3 June.
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