Apple Watch gets smarter and healthier with WatchOS 11

Image: Apple

Apple unveiled its latest Apple Watch software update, WatchOS 11, at its annual WWDC event. The update focuses on fitness, health, and improved usability.

WatchOS 11 introduces "training load," a metric that measures the intensity of your workouts and their impact on recovery. It uses heart rate, pace, elevation, weight, and height to provide a score (1-10) reflecting your training effort. You can adjust the score if it doesn't match your perception.

Click to read more ...

Celebrate Pride with the vibrant new Apple Watch Band

Photo: Apple

Apple unveils its annual tribute to Pride Month with the stunning Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop for Apple Watch. This eye-catching band features a unique woven design in the colours of the Pride flag, with a subtle "PRIDE 2024" inscription etched on the lugs.

Available starting May 22 in Canada and the US (May 23 internationally), the Solo Loop offers a comfortable and secure fit for Apple Watch SE and Series 4 or later in 41mm and 45mm sizes. It's priced at $99.

Click to read more ...

The original Apple Watch series is now obsolete

Apple

Apple’s 2015 Watch models, including the Hermes and US$17,000 gold versions, are now obsolete. This means they can’t get hardware service or parts from Apple anymore. This raises the issue of “planned obsolescence.” Apple only has to provide parts for five years after it stops selling a product (seven years in France for iPhones and Mac laptops). This policy has faced criticism and legal challenges before, forcing Apple to improve its device reparability and adopt USB-C ports instead of Lightning.

The Watch Edition is a curious case. Unlike regular watches that can last for decades and increase in value, the Watch Edition was always doomed to become outdated. And here's the reminder that it has.

Source

Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch will be discontinued in Jan. 2023

Microsoft's two-step verification app, Microsoft Authenticator, will be one of the latest apps to leave the watchOS App Store. The company will release an update next month to remove the companion app for watchOS. According to Microsoft, the Apple Watch operating system is "incompatible with Authenticator security features." If you already have the app on your Apple Watch, you'll still need to delete it since it won't work after January. The iPhone and iPad versions of the app will still be available for iOS users.

Source