watchOS 8: House keys for the wallet, home app, Tai Chi and Pilates

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For smartwatches from Apple Watch Series 3, Apple plans to release watchOS 8 in autumn. The new operating system supports ultra-broadband for car keys, gets a new home app, offers new workouts and extends sleep tracking. There are also new watch faces and functions for messages and contacts.

The Apple Watch Series 6 (test) is Apple's first smartwatch from Apple with its own U1 chip for ultra-broadband connectivity. In watchOS 8, the chip is activated for digital car keys for the first time, as BMW has already announced for the iX, for example, while the previous implementation (test) still uses NFC and Bluetooth. The Apple Wallet under watchOS 8 will also be expanded to include the capabilities under iOS 15, so that from now on house keys, room keys for hotels and later in the year in the USA ID cards and driver's licenses can also be stored on the watch.

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Ultra-broadband car key
Driver's license
House key
Hotel room key

New home app and intercom function

The home app has also been redesigned, which is supposed to give faster access to accessories and adapted scenarios for certain moments in the smart home. Individual rooms can be controlled directly in watchOS 8. A new feature is a live view on the wrist of smart doorbells with cameras. Users can also use the watch as an intercom to send voice messages to the HomePod (mini) and other devices with HomeKit support in defined rooms.

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Home App
Home App

Home App

Pilates and Tai Chi as new workouts

There are two new workouts when training with the Apple Watch: Tai Chi and Pilates. There is adapted tracking of heart rate and movements for both workouts.

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Pilates
Tai Chi
Tai Chi and Pilates

Mindfulness app for short meditation

Apple is renaming the breathing apps with watchOS 8 in Mindfulness (mindfulness), which includes new breathing exercises and recently “Reflect”, which can be compared a little with meditation. With hypnotic animations on the watch, the user is encouraged to remember and reflect on beautiful, calming or happy moments.

< h2 class = "text-width text-h2" id = "section_atemfrequenz_beim_schlafen_aufzeichen"> record breathing rate while sleeping

With watchOS 8, sleep tracking is expanded to include the recording of the breathing rate, i.e. the number of breathing processes per minute, after sleep time, heart rate and the oxygen content in the blood were previously recorded. Apple uses the smartwatch's accelerometer for advanced tracking.

Sleep tracking (picture: Apple)

Portrait photos as a dial

According to Apple, the Photos watch face is the most popular watch face on the Apple Watch. With watchOS 8 there is also a portrait watch face with a blurred background. The corresponding photos are automatically cropped by the iPhone so that the person being photographed is the focus and takes up a large part of the clock face. Apple has revised the photos app itself on the watch so that collections, reminders and favorite photos are now synchronized with the watch. Images can also be shared via messages and mail in a new share menu.

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Portrait dial
Fotos .2bca88224.jpg App
Photos App
Photos app

Messages with multiple input methods

Speaking of messages: the scribble function, i.e. drawing with your finger, dictating by voice and emoji, can now be used in one and the same message. In the case of dictated messages, the text can now also be adjusted manually afterwards. In addition, you can now search for GIFs to send on the watch. And for the first time, the Contacts app is also available on the Apple Watch.

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Combined messages
GIFs

Focus profiles as under iOS 15

Like iOS 15, watchOS 8 masters the new focus profiles in order to minimize notifications adapted to the respective situation. The Apple Watch automatically adopts the profile that is active on the paired iPhone. If a workout is started, the watch recommends switching to the corresponding fitness profile.

Focus profiles (Image: Apple)

Several timers on the clock

watchOS 8 also brings many minor changes, such as several active timers, more apps for the always-on display, AssistiveTouch for disabled people, a new search for objects (AirTag), a new music app with a share function for messages and Mail, a new weather app with storm warning, support for public transport cards in the family setup and extended features for subscribing to Apple Fitness +.

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Multiple timers
Finy My App
Weather App

Support from Apple Watch Series 3

For WWDC, watchOS 8 will be available for download as a beta for developers, a public beta will follow next month. The final release from Apple Watch Series 3 connected to an iPhone 6s and newer with iOS 15 is planned for autumn.