Apple announces watchOS 26 with a 'Workout Buddy,' new gestures, and more

Apple has unveiled watchOS 26, another operating system under the new naming scheme (all of Apple's systems now feature the same version number to match the current/upcoming year) and "Liquid Glass" Redesign. The latter is a dynamic interface that features translucency, reflections, parallax, and other visual candy.

Aside from the redesign and a new number, Apple is introducing new health and workout features. Workout Buddy is a feature that offers personalized, spoken motivation during workouts. It analyzes your pace, heart rate, and fitness history, delivering real-time encouragement and more engagement, like having someone else work out next to you, providing useful information and cheering you up. Here is an example of what you will hear with Workout Buddy:

Way to get your workout in! You went 4.3 miles in just over 38 minutes. Your average pace was 8 minutes and 58 seconds, and your average heart rate was 128. That was your longest run of the last 28 days. What will you do next?

The Workout app also has a more streamlined interface with four buttons in the corners for quick access to favorite features during workouts. You can set up music and podcasts right in the Workout app so that your favorite content starts playing when you begin your workout.

In addition, Apple announced a new one-handed wrist flick gesture that allows users to dismiss notifications with a quick flick, which is convenient when you cannot use your both hands to interact with your watch. Other changes include the Notes app, which now lets you access notes on the Apple Watch, Hold Assist and Call Screening in the Phone app, Live Listen with real-time Live Captions of what the iPhone hears, improvements to the Photos face, and more.

watchOS 26 will be available later this year, and the first developer betas are expected soon.

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