watchOS 5 post-release update
A few days ago, iPhone and iPad received their annual iOS update, version 12 this time.See the new products it offers here. But the Apple Watch is not left out, since it also benefits from the new version 5 of watchOS. Concerning this major update, Apple already presented many new features during the WWDC keynote in Junesummary there. But on the occasion of hisreleased in final version, here is the opportunity to return to thechanges made. On the program, improvements forsportsmenand for thepodcast lovers, but also some concerninggeneral ergonomics, among others:
First of all, you should know that, unlike iOS 12, which can be installed on all iPhone and iPad models supporting iOS 11, for the Apple Watch, the situation is different.As seen here, watchOS 5 cannot be installed on the first version of the Apple Watch, the one released in 2015. You must also have an iPhone 5s or newer model, running iOS 12 or a later version.
So here is thelist of Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 5:
- Apple Watch Series 1
- Apple Watch Series 2
- Apple Watch Series 3
- Apple Watch Series 4
And here are the new features that owners of these Apple watch models can now benefit from:
Sports and activities
- Challenges between friends
WatchOS 5 allows you to challenge friends in 7-day competitions. Each day, each participant collects more or fewer points depending on the activity carried out during the day and the filling rate of their circles.
When a challenge is launched, the watch also provides reports to the wearer, to regularly inform them of their position, in first place or lagging behind their opponent.
Scores are also displayed inreal time on a dedicated page, while victory in each challenge allows you to collect a special “Activity Challenge” badge, which can be found on the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.
- Automatic start and stop of an activity
With watchOS 5, you no longer need to launch an activity. The watch will automatically detect the user's activity and launch the corresponding exercise. Proactively, the activity carried out before the launch of the exercise is even taken into account by watchOS.
Finally, stopping an activity can also be done automatically, when the watch detects that the user has stopped their exercise.
- New activity: hiking
This new activity allows you to have precise and accurate monitoring of calories burned and changes in altitude.
- New activity: yoga
Similar to hiking, the watch can now more accurately track calories burned during a yoga session.
- New features for runners
With a simple press on the watch, in the case where the runner has defined an average speed objective for example, the watch indicates whether he is above or below this average.
The watch also calculates the average times achieved over previous kilometers to display them clearly on the screen.
Finally, watchOS 5 offers new running data, thesteps per minute, useful information especially for practicing shortening or lengthening your stride.
New Apps on Apple Watch
- Talkie-Walkie
This new feature allows you to chat with friends or family between two watches. The connection is made via mobile internet or Wi-Fi, and this only between two Apple Watches.
To speak, you have to press a large button, just like a Walkie-Talkie.
- Podcasts
Apple's podcast app is finally available on watchOS and benefits from automatic synchronization with content from the iOS Podcasts app. It allows streaming of podcasts via the internet, or downloading locally to internal memory. Siri can also search for and launch episodes following a simple voice request.
New interactions
- Interactive notifications
Notifications that were previously purely informative are on the one hand enriched and on the other hand interactive. It becomes possible to do much more from the notification directly: modify a parameter or validate a request, operations which previously required resuming the iPhone. All this always offers a little more autonomy to the watch!
- Bulk notifications
Like what is proposedfrom iOS 12, several notifications from the same app are grouped together in order to lighten the display panel and make it easier to navigate.
- Simplified access to control and notification centers
As was the case from the main screen until watchOS 4, it is now possible to access the control center from any screen or application. Just hold your finger at the bottom of the screen and swipe up to the top of the screen. For the notification center, the opposite movement is necessary, from top to bottom.
Please note, these operations do not work from the open apps dock or the installed apps cloud.
New settings
- More options for connecting to Wi-Fi
The watch can now connect independently to a Wi-Fi network without it necessarily being the same as that of the iPhone. These Wi-Fi settings can be found in a new Wi-Fi option, displayed in the “Settings” app of the watch.
- Scheduling Do Not Disturb Mode
Several setting options for “Do Not Disturb” mode appear with this version. The possibilities are: always active, active for the next hour, active until tonight, active until I leave the current location.
- Customizing the Control Center
The user can now modify the control center by changing the order in which the shortcuts are displayed, as on iOS since iOS 11. This is done by pressing “Edit” at the very bottom of the screen, then dragging the icons from his choice, with his finger, towards the new desired position.
Siri
- Shortcuts
Shortcuts from the new Shortcuts app created on iPhone can be launched from the watch. This makes it possible to create personalized Siri voice commands with results totally adapted to certain situations and of course to each user. These shortcuts also allow Siri to interact with many third-party apps.
- Siri always listening
No longer need to say “Hey Siri” to launch Siri, as was the case on watchOS 4. Now, just raise your arm and start talking.
- Improved Siri Watch face
This proactive watch face displays information based on user habits. His suggestions are now better suited. The Siri Watch face now also displays shortcuts from the Shortcuts app. New applications are finally also compatible with Siri in this dial dedicated to Apple's intelligent assistant.
Other new features
- Displaying Internet “pages”
The watch becomes compatible with an adapted version of “WebKit”, the Internet page display engine. Thus, web links, received in a message for example, can be opened on the watch with an adaptation of the page to the latter's screen.
- Background player
Ability for third-party music and podcast apps to play content in the background, for example using another app on the screen.
That's it for the new features spotted on watchOS 5.
Also readall our iOS 12 articles here, including the following:
iOS 12, the most important
- iOS 12 is available: how to update iPhone and iPad, main new features + watchOS 5 and tvOS 12
- The new iOS 12 features to test upon installation on iPhone or iPad!
- New features detected in iOS 12: the complete list!
- Which iPhones and iPads are compatible with iOS 12, which Apple Watches are compatible with WatchOS 5
- Apple announced improved performance with iOS 12: encouraging first feedback and tests!
- What is the difference in speed between iOS 11 and iOS 12 on an iPhone X? Video
- Videos: iOS 12 launch conference summarized in 14 minutes, Apple clips and Memojis by iJustine
New iOS 12 apps
- The iOS 12 Shortcuts app is available on the App Store: it imports workflows
- “Favicons” are coming to Safari Mac, but also to iOS 12: discovery in pictures!
- Demo and video test of the iOS 12 “Measure” app: to measure everything in Augmented Reality
- The iOS 12 App Store will (finally) suggest more relevant apps
- With iOS 12, Siri opens up to third-party players like Spotify
- iOS 12: in iMessage, photos are enriched with effects, retouching and adding text
- Discover the new iOS 12 stock market application in video!
- With iOS 12, the Dictaphone app becomes Voice Memos and extends to the iPad and Mac: video
- iOS 12: the new “Books” app is revealed in images
iPhone X
New settings
- iOS updates can be activated automatically starting with iOS 12
- New graphs to monitor battery consumption added to iOS 12
- Password manager integration made more effective by iOS 12?
iPad
- The iPad X is approaching: in iOS 12, obvious traces of the arrival of an iPad with iPhone X design
- Two new (old) apps for the iPad with iOS 12
Tips and tricks
- iOS 12 tip: how to quickly program one of your usual alarm clocks with the “Spotlight” search
- With iOS 12, the iPhone displays the day's weather when you wake up: here's how to activate it
- It's new in iOS 12 and practical: sharing photos via iCloud, directly from the camera roll
But still
- New colorful wallpaper delivered with iOS 12: download here for iPhone and iPad while waiting for the release
- 3D Touch not completely forgotten in iOS 12: 2 shortcuts added
- With iOS 12, AirPods will be able to serve as a hearing aid: details in pictures
- Apple toughens protection against unlocking boxes to plug into iPhone: 1 hour maximum under iOS 12
- With iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, the iPhone offers new functions to the Mac: scanning and camera closely linked
- With iOS 12, AirPods will serve as a hearing aid: details in video!
i-nfo.fr - Official iPhon.fr app
By : Keleops AG
Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.
