Yesterday afternoon at the presentation of WWDC 2021, we could see the news that will incorporate the new software that we will be able to update on our Apple devices this year. A few of these novelties will go to our Apple Watch, included in Watch 8.
And of all of them, there are four that in the end may be the most useful and the ones that we use most regularly. Let's face it: For most of us, it is much more important to be able to send a Animated gif from our Apple Watch, that we can open the car with it. More than anything, because the opening of the car entails buying a new one compatible with the system. So let's stick with the animated GIFs ...
In yesterday's keynote there was a section to present the news that we will see in watchOS 8. Perhaps for Apple, the most important are the application To meditate to help you focus and relax, an app Home redesigned to control your home much better from your wrist, updates to the application Wallet, etc. However, there are other "minor" functions for the company that will certainly be very useful to us.
Animated gifs
The Animated gifs are trendy. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And if that image above is animated, they become ten thousand. Whether in personal or work chats (if your boss allows it), animated GIFs have become our daily bread.
So with watchOS 8 we can send GIFs directly from your wrist through the application of Messages like you can do it on the iPhone. This means that you can search for the best animated GIF you can think of and send it in a message from your Apple Watch.
A function that I am sure to use, especially when I am with my Apple Watch LTE and I do not have the iPhone at hand.
In addition to GIFs, you can also use Doodles, Dictation, and emojis, all in the same message on Apple Watch. So you can quickly type, speak or use emojis as you want to compose your message without leaving the same screen.
Various timers
It sounds like bullshit, but it isn't. With the new update we will be able to have several timers simultaneous, and keep countdown of several things at once. Very useful if you are cooking several dishes at the same time, and you want to control the time of each thing, for example. I will also use it, no doubt.
Find items and devices
Until now, the Search application on the Apple Watch was limited to locating contacts with location permissions. With watchOS 8, you can also locate elements and devices.
As with the iPhone, you can now search for items (these are the labels with which you have registered your AirTag, for example "Car keys"). And you can also search the devices that are with you Apple ID. I'll definitely use it too, especially when I'm not carrying the iPhone.
AssistiveTouch
AssistiveTouch in watchOS 8 will help people with arm and hand differences because it allows the use of only one arm on the Apple Watch. This will allow the Apple Watch to feel simple hand gestures instead of interacting with the Apple Watch screen. Using the motion sensors Built-in, you can answer calls, control an on-screen pointer, and display an action menu that can access the Notification Center, Control Center, and more on your Apple Watch.
In my case it can be very useful. And it's not that I'm missing an arm. Simply because I usually carry my work bag in my right hand, and my Apple Watch in my left. When I had the original Apple Watch without the "Always On" screen, I haven't touched the watch with my nose to see the screen ...
As I said in the introduction, I am sure that we are going to use (at least I) these new features As soon as they are available in our Apple Watch, than perhaps other more bombastic ones, such as being able to open the car or the door of my house with the clock.