When the Apple Watch was launched in 2015, the market strategy for the device was not decided. But by the time the Series 3 hit the market, Apple knew what it was doing. To get there, it ditched many of the features the first iteration introduced – one of which was Glances.
The feature provided some useful information with cards you could swipe on, and it looks like watchOS 10 will do something similar. Here we look at what the next change is and how we think it should work.
On April 16, a report from Mark Gurman hinted that by 2023 instead of hardware changes, Apple plans to revamp the software on the Apple Watch. While there weren’t any hints of upcoming changes at the time, he’s now reported (via his Power On newsletter) that the widgets are making their way to the Apple Watch.
Mark Gurman writes, “The new system of widgets on the Apple Watch will be a combination of the old watchOS Glances and style widgets introduced in iOS 14 on the iPhone.” He also added that it can be accessed as an overlay on any active watch face.
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I’ve been using an Apple Watch since 2020, and the focus on providing information at a glance is helpful. But finding apps that can provide insightful data on the App Store and then having to dive into them on the Apple Watch isn’t as intuitive as you might think, whether that’s by pressing the Digital Crown or the side button. Also, I hate to digress, but the updated app layout is another improvement we’d like to see over watchOS 10.
But, going back to seeing the data on the Apple Watch, the Complications did a great job of keeping vital details in front of you, but there is room for improvement. I’ve seen users on Reddit create what they call Apple Watch Dashboards by combining several complexities of a single activity, giving them too much detail or control over their Apple Watch at once.
And gadgets on watchOS 10 should try to achieve something similar to this. For example, Apple could create a widget panel that gives you quick access to your four most recent workouts. This has two advantages, first, it will save complication on the actual watch face – which can sometimes be difficult to access – and second, it will avoid the need to go into Grid View and locate the Workout app.
As for accessing widgets, the Digital Crown currently doesn’t do anything if it’s moved when you’re looking at the watch face. Apple could simply add the widget here as an optional feature. Having it optional will make it more manageable for longtime users if they prefer how the Apple Watch actually works.
I feel like the Widgets app on the Apple Watch would be a welcome change. The device’s informative visuals will help it become more data-rich and accessible, and its usability is hard to deny.
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Apple Watch Series 8
$359 $429 Save $70
The Apple Watch Series 8 takes the crown from the Series 7, becoming the best wearable to buy that tracks your fitness levels and notifications. It promises all-day battery life and a new body temperature sensor for improved metric accuracy.
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Apple Watch SE2
$219 $249 Save $30
The affordable Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) looks just like its predecessor; It features enhanced fitness tracking and is powered by the latest and most powerful Apple S8 chip. It is available in three colors and supports the same bands as the last generation.
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Apple Watch Ultra
The latest entry in the Apple Watch lineup is the Apple Watch Ultra. It comes with body temperature sensors, LTE, GPS, a new large 49mm size, a more durable design, and the longest battery life in an Apple Watch to date.