20 watchOS 9 features you might not know about. This fall, Apple released the next generations of iPhone and Watch, as well as new operating systems for devices in these series. Updated firmware brought many major improvements, as well as a whole bunch of minor improvements. For example, in iOS 16, the number of such “invisible” features was enough for a whole review – we recently studied in detail all the features of this operating system. Now let’s look at a few watchOS 9 features that not all owners are also aware of.
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Receiving emails from any mailboxes
Now Apple Watch can check not only “native” iCloud mail, but also send notifications about incoming letters in other mailboxes. For example, Gmail, Yahoo and others. Moreover, for this they do not need to connect to an iPhone – everything happens through Apple servers. This function must be activated manually in the settings.
Launch the Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then Mail, and confirm activation of notifications under When Not Connected to iPhone.
View Activity Rings During a Workout
Previously, if you were doing a workout using your Apple Watch and wanted to see how it affected your progress in the activity rings, you had to exit the Workout app and switch to the Activity app. Now all you have to do to view this information is turn the Digital Crown.
Subscription to podcasts
Now you can subscribe to podcasts right from your watch. Click “Listen Now”, then touch the line “You may like”, select a podcast and tap “Subscribe”.
Calendar events
Previously, Apple Watch could only view events recorded in the calendar on the iPhone. Now the watch can add events and reminders to the Calendar app directly. To do this, click the ellipsis and select “Add event”.
Here you can add everything the same as in a full-fledged application on an iPhone – the name of the event, place, start date and time, end date and time, and also indicate whether this event should be made recurring. You can also choose which calendar to include it in, make it public, choose a notification type, and leave a comment.
Change the “look” of the calendar
In addition to the function of creating events, the watch also received the ability to switch viewing modes. For example, viewing events during the day, week, or the entire list.
The function is configured in the lower right corner with three dots.
Dials with “astronomy”
iOS 16 introduces new backgrounds, including dynamic wallpapers from the Astronomy category. They show a realistic model of the planet and a point on the map, based on the geo-position of the device. Similar watch faces appeared in watchOS 9.
These watchfaces are updated versions of the original Astronomy watch face. In the new operating system, they have been redesigned to include a sky map and can also show location-based data. You can also rotate the wheel to view the phases of the moon or the position of the planets in any period.
Route memory function
You no longer need an Apple Watch Ultra to track your journey – Backtrack can also be used on Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 9. To do this, go to the Compass application and click on the steps icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
True, this feature does not work in automatic mode – to record steps, you must manually press “Start” before each trip to an unfamiliar area. To restore the path, you must pause and touch the “Restore steps” button.
Changing watch faces depending on the mode
Just like in iOS 16, you can set the lock screen to change on a schedule, so now this feature has appeared in watchOS 9.
The feature is configured using an iPhone in the “Focus” section. There you need to find the item “Customize screens” and click “Edit” under the dial.
Viewing Corrected Messages
In iOS 16, you can now edit messages sent via iMessage. On the clock, you can view these edits – for this, you need to hold your finger on the inscription “Changed” next to the message. Removed in the same way.
Editing Reminders
You can now edit reminders on your watch. Recall that previously it was only possible to create and view them. The functionality is similar to what appeared in the “Calendar”.
Sort running applications
The dock panel, accessed by pressing the side button, allows you to access recent applications. In watchOS 9, this functionality has been improved – now applications running in the background take precedence over other applications in the Dock, making it easier to return to them.
Cellular Data Restriction
With the advent of watchOS 9, watches have learned to separate cellular communication and mobile data transmission. Therefore, now you can turn off the Internet without losing the ability to make calls and receive messages.
Swimboard recognition
Somehow, magically, Apple Watch has learned to recognize if the user uses a special board “kickboard” while swimming.
The Workout app can also evaluate the effectiveness of a SWOLF workout. The score is calculated using a combination of the number of strokes and the time spent in the water. The fewer strokes and the less time the swimmer needs to reach the end point, the higher the efficiency score.
Font size
With the release of watchOS 9, you can now quickly change the font size through the Control Center menu. Previously, for this it was necessary to visit “Settings”.
Autopunctuation
Dictating messages on your watch has become much easier – watchOS 9 can automatically punctuate punctuation marks. Now you do not need to say the words “comma”, “question mark” and other commands during voice typing.
The feature should be enabled by default. But, if suddenly this is not the case, then it can be found in “Settings” – “General” – “Dictation” – “Autopunctuation”.
Remote control of Apple Watch
The list of new features included a completely new feature that allows you to control your watch from your iPhone. This is mainly intended for people with disabilities, however, it can be used to control watches in which, for example, the display has been broken.
To turn on Watch Display Mirroring, launch the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Accessibility, then under Manage Nearby, select Apple Watch Mirroring.
iPhone control
There was also a reverse function – the ability to control the iPhone using the watch. But, unlike the previous function, the list of features is limited – here you can perform certain actions. For example, go to the home screen, open the list of open applications, open the notification center, open the control center, or activate Siri. Clicking the “Advanced” button also gives you access to media playback controls.
Quick Actions
The list of functions that can be hung on a double swipe has been expanded. For example, you can answer a call, use a gesture like a camera shutter button, control media playback, control workouts, and more.
Find my car
Now you can find not only a lost iPhone, iPad, tracker or earphone, but even a car. For example, if you left it in the parking lot, but forgot in which row or on which floor. To do this, you need to set up a pairing between the device and the car using Car Play technology or simply via Bluetooth.
As soon as you park and the watch loses connection with the multimedia system, the device will automatically create a coordinate point in the compass, with which you can then find the car.
Commonly used timers
If you constantly use the same timer, then you can add it to your favorites. We go into the application “Timer”, swipe to the left, click on the star and create a timer.
