The countdown to WWDC 2023 has started. Next Monday, June 5, the new Apple event will begin and, among the many announcements that are expected, those linked to watchOS 10. The new version of the Apple Watch operating system will come with significant improvements in its graphical interface and in native apps; changes that would be appreciated in a special way in the Apple Watch Ultra.
As reported BloombergApple will update the native apps of watchOS 10 with new designs so that take better advantage of the larger screen of Apple Watch Ultra. This is, without a doubt, a fact that is not minor. After all, one of the main criticisms of the smartwatch has been the lack of optimization in the software to take advantage of its larger size; both in apps and watch faces.
Of course Apple has released watchfaces and features specially designed for the Watch Ultra. However, the lack of improvements to take advantage of its entire screen outside of the extreme environments for which it was prepared, has been a frequent complaint among its users. Especially since it is a much more expensive device than the Apple Watch Series 8.
For this reason, those of the block are betting on fix it in watchOS 10. However, the intention of the developers of the operating system would go beyond a simple optimization for the Apple Watch Ultra. The overall experience with the software would be drastically affected on all supported watches.
Apple’s strategy with watchOS 10 would not be limited to improving its “core apps” to take better advantage of the Apple Watch Ultra screen. According to Mark Gurman, those on the block think re-give importance to the use of widget on their smart watches.
The journalist from Bloomberg maintains that the widget of watchOS 10 will look very similar to those on the main screen of iOS or iPadOS. What even would lead to a change in the operation of the buttons and the digital crown of the Apple Watch so that the integration with its daily use is deeper.
Of course the widget they have always had a love-hate relationship with the public. And not just talking about the Apple Watch or the Ultra version, but also its implementation on other platforms or operating systems. Each user may find it more or less useful, but it is a reality that they do not drastically change the user experience of a mass consumption device, be it a watch, a mobile phone or a tablet.
In any case, Apple seems willing to give a new opportunity to the widget on Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra with watchOS 10. Although it has tried to give them a place in the past, ended up losing relevance. We’ll see what happens this time.
WWDC 2023 will take place June 5-9 at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The keynote inaugural session next Monday will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time —7:00 p.m. in Spain, 11:00 a.m. in Mexico and 2:00 p.m. in Argentina—, and hypertextual will be one of the accredited media in the place.