19, 2022 - and in the wonderful words of the incredibly talented Lizzo, 'it's about damn time.' The latest version of the Watch operating system added sleep stage tracking (at last!) workout enhancements including Heart Rate Zones and customizable workouts, crash detection, medication logging and reminders, a more complete Compass . Watch OS 9 was announced at WWDC 2022 and ultimately released Sept. Watch OS 9.3 was released on January 24, 2023, adding support for a new Unity wallpaper in celebration of Black History Month. Watch OS 9.1 - released last October - was a bigger improvement to the core OS, adding a number of battery life improvements for select workouts, support for Matter, and more. There aren't any new features and Apple's release notes for the new update simply say that the new software version includes 'bug fixes and important security updates for your Apple Watch.' Unfortunately, there isn't much to talk about with watchOS 9.3.1. 13, along with new versions of Apple's software for iPhones, Apple TVs, and iPads. As of this writing, the latest version of Apple's watchOS supported by the Apple Watch Series 8 is 9.3.1, released Feb. Apple WatchOS 9Īpple's Watches are powered by watchOS, a version of Apple's iOS software that's specifically built for the wearable devices, and contains functions and features tuned for it. When it detects a severe crash, the Series 8 automatically calls 911, provides your location, and notifies your emergency contacts if you don't respond to the on-screen notification in 10 seconds.īesides these new features, Apple Watch Series 8 retains many of the great features of previous models including ECG, fall detection, the Always-On Retina display, and more.

This should prevent the Apple Watch from accidentally misdiagnosing a mere drop from your wrist. Thanks to two new and improved sensors - a three-axis gyroscope and a G-Force accelerometer - the Apple Watch Series 8 can tell when you are in a crash.Ĭrash Detection uses many sensors and features to determine if you've been in a severe crash, including the barometer, GPS, and microphone on your iPhone.

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