Improved and new apps in watchOS 8
Apple includes a large number of standard apps with the Apple Watch, with which you can use all the functions of the Apple Watch. Almost every year a new app is added, such as last year's Assignments app on the Apple Watch. This year, Apple has added no fewer than four new apps in watchOS 8. On top of that, there are many improved apps that you already knew.
- Find objects
- Find devices
- Contacts
- Tips
But Apple has also improved a number of existing apps:
- Photos
- Home
- Mindfulness
- Timers
- Music
< br> #1 Search objects
Apple has added support in watchOS 8 for finding objects that interact with the Find My network or have an AirTag attached to them. This is done via the separate Search Objects app. So Apple does not have an overarching Find My app on the Apple Watch, but has split everything into separate apps. You can recognize the icon of the Search Objects app by the green circle with the four white dots. In the app you have almost the same options as on the iPhone. You can start a route to the object or play a sound. It also works with Siri.
Unfortunately we don't know yet whether the U1 chip in the Apple Watch Series 6 can also be used for accurate search.
#2 Search devices
In addition to objects, watchOS 8 also lets you search for your other Apple devices on your Apple Watch using the Find Devices app. This actually works exactly the same as the Find Objects app, but only for locating your iPhone, iPad, Mac and AirPods. We find it a bit inconvenient that Apple has split this all into separate apps, because they are almost the same in terms of functionality.
Apple already had the Find Friends app on the Apple Watch, but in watchOS 8 you can also search for the other my options on the Apple Watch.
#3 Contacts
Did you know that the Apple Watch never had a Contacts app? You may have never thought about it, but in watchOS 8, Apple is adding this new app. It was already possible to look up the details of someone from your address book via the Phone app, but this is now also a little faster with the new Contacts app. From there you can also make a call, send an email or iMessage message or talk via the Walkietalkie.
#4 New Tips App
For many years now, the iPhone has had its own Tips app, where Apple occasionally shares some useful tips and tricks (which you've probably read on iCulture for a long time). But Apple also does something extra, because there is a step-by-step plan with which you can try some standard functions of your Apple Watch yourself, including guidance from Apple.
In addition to the above new apps, watchOS 8 also contains improved versions of existing apps. Sometimes the improvements are small, but in many cases it is a completely redesigned app.
#1 Photos app
In watchOS 8, you no longer choose one album to sync with your Apple Watch. The app is now more like the regular Photos app on your iPhone, but in a smaller size. You can sync retrospectives, featured photos and an album of your choice. You flip through it on your Apple Watch and there's a new mosaic view for viewing the photos. Also new is that you can share a photo directly from your Apple Watch via iMessage or email. Or you can create a watch face right away.
#2 Home app
The Home app will also receive a major update in watchOS 8. You can now browse for rooms and view the most important statuses of your accessory directly at the top of the app. The app now feels much more like a full-fledged app rather than a simplified version of the iPhone version. The app also suggests activating scenes when you use them most.
#3 Mindfulness App
The Breathing app has been transformed into the Mindfulness app. In addition to breathing exercises, the app now also includes reflection exercises, where you have to think about something while beautiful animations appear on the screen. The app will not be to everyone's taste, but if you want to relax, the app can help you with that.
#4 Timers app
The Timer app is now called Timers app and for good reason: you can run several timers at the same time. You can start as many timers as you want and the display has also changed slightly: you now see a round orange arc that gets smaller as the timer expires. With the new buttons at the bottom you can pause a timer or stop it early. The back button will take you back to the app's home screen and add a new timer.
#5 Music App
The Music app has received a minor update. New is that you can now also share music via iMessage and e-mail, where a link to the song is sent in Apple Music. Furthermore, the icons have been given a red color and the Music app has been given a function that was previously incorporated in a separate app.
Radio app has disappeared
The Radio app on the Apple Watch is gone. The function to stream radio stations via the Apple Watch (both Dutch radio stations and thematic stations from Apple Music) is still available, but then via the Radio heading in the Music app. You can now also see all recently played radio stations in a grid and you can browse by genre. The channels no longer rotate vertically as album covers as soon as you turn the Digital Crown.
In many other apps, Apple has made minor design changes. For example, many apps have been given a larger title at the top and buttons in the Mail app, for example, have been made blue.
More about watchOS 8
watchOS 8 is the major update for the Apple Watch from 2021. Do you want to know if your Apple Watch is suitable? That's easy to determine: if you have an Apple Watch Series 3, you can update this fall. No models will be dropped this year, so if you have watchOS 7 installed now, you can also update to watchOS 8 when the official version is available. We expect watchOS 8 in September/October 2021. Find out what else was announced during the keynote in our WWDC 2021 recap or read our overview of the best watchOS 8 features!