Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is set to unveil watchOS 10 on June 5th, and leaked information suggests that the new update will have a significant overhaul. According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the new update will focus on “widgets,” which are designed to provide users with quick access to information without having to launch any actual apps.
Widgets are not a new concept for Apple. They were once called “Glances” on the original Apple Watch but were phased out over time. However, it looks like they are making a comeback, and they are expected to be in place by the time the Apple Watch 9 arrives later this year.
Gurman suggests that the new widgets will combine elements of the old Glances with elements of the widgets introduced to the iPhone with iOS 14. The new interface will allow users to quickly see information such as weather forecasts, activity tracking, stock tickers, and calendar appointments. The style of these widgets will be similar to the Siri watch face currently available in watchOS 9.
The Digital Crown on the Apple Watch may be used to launch widgets instead of the home screen in the future, Gurman says. He also believes that the new widget-heavy interface will be optional.
According to Gurman, apps haven’t taken off on the Apple Watch, and users tend not to open them. Recent statistics show that the iPhone App Store has 101 million monthly users in Europe, whereas the Apple Watch App Store has less than 1 million. With widgets, Apple is acknowledging that people tend to use smartwatches differently from smartphones and is offering a way for developers to put useful data and updates in front of people.
In conclusion, the leaked information about watchOS 10 suggests that Apple is set to introduce a significant overhaul that will focus on widgets. The new interface will allow users to quickly see information without launching any actual apps. This move is a clear acknowledgment that people use smartwatches differently from smartphones and that apps haven’t taken off on the Apple Watch. With widgets, Apple is providing a way for developers to offer useful data and updates in front of people. We can expect to hear more about watchOS 10 at the upcoming WWDC 2023.
