The new Apple Watches have just arrived on the market (for the prestigious Ultra model deliveries started today!), but it is good to remember that some of the software features shown at the announcement stage will be made available only at a later time. Some, but not all, will be part of watchOS 9, and so it is reasonable to expect that they will also arrive on older models, while others will be exclusive to newcomers. In order to avoid misunderstandings and disappointments at the arrival of the devices, it is worth making a brief summary:
CIRCUIT DETECTION
It will use a combination of data from the GPS receiver and Apple Maps to detect if the user is playing a sports activity in a closed circuit. It will process a more accurate GPS track, allow you to choose the lane and more. The feature will arrive later this year, initially in the US, via software update for all Apple Watches from Series 4 onwards.
RACE ROUTE
Designed specifically for runners, the smartwatch will automatically detect if you are going through a usual training circuit and show the best time obtained on it. The user will thus be spurred to beat it. During the session the smartwatch will offer suggestions and advice on the rhythm to maintain. It will arrive by the end of the year on all Apple Watches from series 4 onwards (there is no talk of an initial US exclusive).
INTERNATIONAL ROAMING
Apple Watches with cellular connectivity will also work abroad: there are about thirty partner operators of the initiative, including Three and O2 in the UK, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in the USA, international groups such as Vodafone, China Telecom, Movistar and Softbank. It will arrive later this year on all Apple Watches with cellular modems from series 5 onwards.
HOME APP SUPPORT
Parents will be able to allow their children to control smart speakers such as HomePod and other smart home gadgets. The expansion of the functionality known as Family Setup (which allows parents to configure and enable an Apple Watch for their children or any other family member without them needing an iPhone) will also allow them to use the smartwatch as a digital key at home and in compatible hotels. The feature will arrive later this year via software update.
APP OCEANIC+
It is an exclusive app for Apple Watch Ultra, developed in partnership with Huish Outdoors, which in fact contains all the features of a so-called underwater computer, which we could define as a wrist device similar to a watch that monitors all the fundamental parameters to perform a dive safely.
Oceanic+ will allow you to track the depth of diving (complete with alarms), snorkeling function, GPS tracking, event log (max 12 dives) and much more. It will be available for free, but some more advanced features will require a subscription, which will cost $4.99 per day, $9.99 per month, or $79.99 per year (we don’t have details on our market yet). The app will be available later this fall.
POWER SAVING MODE
Another Exclusive to Apple Watch Ultra. It will allow the smartwatch to guarantee an autonomy of 60 hours, compared to the declared standard one of 36 hours. According to Apple, this result will be achievable with a use that can still be defined as quite intense:
