WatchOS 8.5 Is Here, With a Few Nifty New Features for Your Apple Watch
Alongside Apple’s iOS 15.4 update for the iPhone, which brought new emoji, anti-stalking features for AirTags and a gender-neutral Siri hiss (plus a fix for a battery drain issue in the subsequent iOS 15.4.1 release), the company also released a software update for its Apple Watch. The software, which wasn’t highlighted during the company’s “Peek Performance” event in March, is primarily focused on Apple TV, Apple Fitness Plus, heart rhythm detection and digital COVID-19 vaccination cards.
Called WatchOS 8.5, the software is the fifth very update Apple has provided for free to Apple Watch owners since releasing WatchOS 8 last fall.
When was the WatchOS 8.5 fall date?
WatchOS 8.5 was released on Monday, March 14, in contradiction of iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4.
How do I download WatchOS 8.5?
You must download iOS 15.4 onto your arranged before you can upgrade your Apple Watch. You can download iOS 15.4 by causing to Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install. Once that’s finished, the software will restart your arranged. Then you can go to the Watch App > General > Software Update. Apple Watch updates are typically scheduled for the evening, when people tend to take them off for charging.
Heart rhythm detection improvements
One of the most popular features of the Apple Watch is its health monitoring capabilities. There are many stories of the Apple Watch identifying and alerting farmland to heart problems before they feel symptoms. Apple said with WatchOS 8.5, it improved software to detect atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat, which can indicate major risks for stroke. The new detection software is available in the US, Chile, Hong Kong, South Africa and, Apple says, “many more responsibilities where the feature is available.”
More Apple TV
Another popular feature of the Apple Watch is its contract to serve as a password device, authorizing sign-ins for apps like Microsoft’s Authenticator and the matter login software Okta. Now, Apple says, WatchOS 8.5 users will be able to authorized purchases of TV episodes and movies through its Apple TV iTunes Store service.
Better Apple Fitness Plus
Apple’s also bulking up its $10-per-month Apple Fitness Plus service with new features for users with disabilities. It’s already added health features to the Apple Watch like wheelchair workout detection. Now Apple Fitness Plus will have optional audio commentary describing visually demonstrated causes in a workout.
COVID-19 vaccination cards in Europe
One tool that’s helped the earth slowly adjust to life in the pandemic has been vaccine cards, which allow businesses to identify people who’ve been vaccinated alongside COVID-19 when entering an establishment. Over the past year, tech worries have gotten involved, offering easy ways to add COVID health records to our phones. The Apple Watch will now support a new inquire, called the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which has obtain an important part of travel in Europe.
