watchOS 10: A surprisingly sporty update for Apple Watch The headline news here is that Apple Watch now natively connects to cycling power meters and also allows developers to use the Workout app to pull workouts directly from Training Peaks. If you add to that some clever new hiking features then there is a reasonable amount to be excited about here for sports fans over and above the more techy improvements to how the Watch now works. Let's dive in Cycling and Hiking Features Apple Watch has always been a useful workout logger for cyclists, and watchOS 10 takes this experience to the next level. The update introduces advanced cycling features that provide cyclists with detailed metrics and insights. Users can track their cycling workouts, including distance, pace, cadence, power, and heart rate. The Apple Watch can also detect when the user starts or finishes a ride, ensuring accurate tracking of their cycling activities from the true start to the true end. Cleverly Apple adds this enhanced feature to the iPhone and once the workout starts on the Watch, it simultaneously starts on the iPhone too - handy, as many people prefer to use larger screens when cycling. [gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="82166,82167"] The more serious cyclists amongst you will be excited by the ability of the Watch to natively pair Bluetooth-enabled cycling accessories - power meters, speed sensors, and cadence/RPM sensors. The additional charts and screens we now see from Apple have very much the same look and feel as those released in 2022 for running. This time around cyclists can get cadence charts for the ride or instant feedback on power zones. Naturally, you'll need to buy an external sensor for all this to work and we can only assume at this stage that Apple has figured out how to support calibration and connect to all the bike power meters that exist as many have quirks and idiosyncrasies. Or perhaps Apple will force the power meter manufacturers to better standardise their products and adhere to the Bluetooth standard? Highlight: Apple will automatically calculate and update your cycling FTP [gallery size="large" columns="2" ids="82164,82165"] For hiking and adventure enthusiasts, watchOS 10 offers new features to enhance their outdoor adventures. The updated hiking app provides real-time updates for elevation, gain, and descent, some of which was already available. The app also shows a visual representation of the user's elevation changes over time, giving them a comprehensive overview of their hike. [gallery size="large" columns="4" ids="82160,82161,82162,82163"] The Compass in watchOS 10 automatically generates two new waypoints: A Last Cellular Connection Waypoint and a Last Emergency Call Waypoint. These will help you find your way back into the connected world should you need help or just want to check your emails. That's a pretty neat feature IMO. Highlight: (US Only) Maps have contour lines, elevation shading and inbuilt points of interest such as nearby trails/trailheads and places to stay. Training Peaks (Pull) Integration via API Workouts can now be pulled from Training Peaks, FinalSurge or other workout providers and then those workouts can guide you through your exercise in the Apple Workout app. The information we have so far seems to suggest that complex structured workouts will now be much easier for developers to get to work on your Watch. Popular coaching platforms such as TrainingPeaks can use a new API to create a Custom Workout that can be imported directly into the Workout app. App developers using HealthKit for workouts will be able to provide validated calories for golf workouts, as the variation between using a golf cart or walking on the green is now identified. Developers can also access speed, cadence, and power metrics for cycling, plus mirror workouts from Apple Watch to iPhone. As an aside, I had a chat with the Workoutdoors app owner, Ian. He was mindful that Apple's new features are often very tightly scoped and less broad than a casual assumption might suggest, despite that hesaid "..what I can say is that I have never seen so many API changes that are relevant to me, so it will be a busy Summer!" Tools for Mental Health: Breathe and Mindfulness Enhancements In addition to the sports-related features, watchOS 10 introduces tools to support mental health and well-being. The Breathe app, which promotes relaxation and mindfulness through guided breathing exercises, has been enhanced with new visualizations and calming animations. Redesigned Apps One of the standout features is the introduction of the Smart Stack widget. I already use these on my iPhone and they are great space savers as well as great ways to quickly view relevant snippets of info on widgets based on your context, simply by turning the Digital Crown. For instance, the Smart Stack might display the weather forecast in the morning or your boarding passes when you're travelling. Another feature is an extension to the existing Find My feature. Here you can automatically share your location with your family/friends when you get home. This feature is called Check In and I thought it was kinda already possible albeit in a convoluted way (Find My) Take Out watchOS 10 is a significant update that shows continued progress with the overall Apple Watch experience. With what seems to be a decent emphasis on sports features and redesigned features we should soon receive some nice new toys to help us better enjoy our activities and adventures.
