TechSmartwatchesWatchOS 10 made me relearn how to use my Apple Watch but it was worth itI’ve been using the Public Beta of Apple’s latest wearable operating system for a week, and there is no going back nowWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSmartwatchesWatchOS 10 made me relearn how to use my Apple Watch but it was worth itI’ve been using the Public Beta of Apple’s latest wearable operating system for a week, and there is no going back nowWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
I’ve been using the Public Beta of Apple’s latest wearable operating system for a week, and there is no going back now
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
WatchOS 10is here! Well, the stable Public Beta version has been available for a week now. As T3’s wearable specialist, I took it upon myself to try the new operating system as soon as possible. I downloaded it on myApple Watch Ultralast Thursday and have been using it since then, much to my delight. Both metaphorically and figuratively, there is no going back now.
WatchOS 10 was heralded as the most significant update toApple’s wearable operating system since the launch of the firstApple Watchin 2015. And while I think that might be a bit of an exaggeration, the new interactions and features of WatchOS 10 are pretty significant. In fact, I had to re-learn some of the more everyday interactions all over again since I updated my watch.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The Apple approach
Even thebest Apple Watchwouldn’t be worth a thing if the operating system running on the wearable were terrible. There are a lot of excitingsmartwatcheswith innovative sensors entering the market continuously, yet, they often fail to stick around because of the lacklustre operating system and app support. Apple always paid particular attention to their ecosystem, offering people the right features and customisation options.
As someone who has been tutoring user experience design for years, I have been following the evolution of Apple’s design principles with great interest. You don’t have to be an expert to appreciate it, though.Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines(external link) is an exciting read for everyone interested in design and interactions.
What Apple do well and why their products are so popular is because they take away the control from people, showing them only what they need to be shown. One person is clever – a group of people are often dumb. Millions of users are incredibly dumb as a whole and will break the system if they can.
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(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Re-learning to use my Apple Watch in a post-WatchOS 10 world
Knowing all this, it’s easy to see why it’s a big deal that WatchOS 10 is trying to change things up. A big update means people will need time to adjust to the new interactions and design, and that’s not what Apple usually aim for. Thankfully, WatchOS 10 isn’t a departure from what we’ve seen in the previous iterations of the operating system, only an overhaul.
One of the main changes is the remixing of button functions. Pressing the Digital Crown takes you to all your apps, which is how it always used to be. However, scrolling up now shows the new Smart Stack, a collection of widgets that helps you quickly access some of the most often looked-at information, such as news, weather, activity rings, etc. Not a game-changer feature, but it adds another layer to the already extensive feature list ofiOS.
Smart Stack moved into the space where the settings quick links used to live – these have been moved elsewhere. Now, you have to press the action button once to access them. If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. Previously, the action button was almost redundant. You only really used to access your Wallet (which is still a double press away, as always).
Now single pressing the action button has a function that people wouldactuallywant to use more often than once a year. Plus, the same recently used app stack is still available, just elsewhere – behind a double-click of the Digital Crown – where it makes more sense anyway.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
I also like that despite the changes, Apple didn’t disturb the fundamental interactions on the watch. Nothing happens when you swipe left or right from the watch face, as that’s very much a Wear OS/Androidfeature. The bubble menu icon is also still present, although switching to the list view is much easier – a nice addition.
Speaking of list view: you can now scroll back to the watch face from here without using any buttons, which is clever. This also works with the bubble icon menu, but it makes more sense when you activate the list view. Essentially, when scrolling back up to the top of the apps, if you keep scrolling up, you get to the bottom of the Smart Stack. Scroll to the top of that; you return to the watch face. This works either way.
I’m sure there are tons more interactions to discover, and I can’t wait to learn those, too. The new design almost makes it feel like you have a brand new watch, regardless if it’s theApple Watch Series 7you’ve been using for the last couple of years or the more affordableApple Watch SE 2. Best of all, it’s free! Even if you’re not overly interested in the new interactions, you will want to check out WatchOS 10 for the newSnoopy watch face for the Apple Watch. That’s the good stuff.
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$749.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch 5$384.98ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$749.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch 5$384.98ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$749.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch 5$384.98ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$749.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch 5$384.98ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple Watch Ultra
$19.45View
$19.45
$19.45
See all prices
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$749.99ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$749.99ViewSee all prices
$749.99View
$749.99
$749.99
See all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)
Apple Watch SE (2022)
$249$199View
$249$199
$199
See all prices
Apple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel
Apple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel
$10.99$8.99View
$10.99$8.99
$8.99
See all prices
Apple Watch 5$384.98ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch 5$384.98ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch 5
Apple Watch 5
$384.98View
$384.98
$384.98
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
TOPICSapple watchapple
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