On the surface, watchOS 11 is a minor update. A new Vitals app gives you an overview of your well-being and a feature called Training Load for athletes. However, this update also significantly improves one-handed operation on the Apple Watch, a crucial aspect often overlooked.
Enhanced one-handed operation
Operating your iPhone with one hand is relatively straightforward, but doing the same with your Apple Watch is more challenging. With watchOS 11, developers now have access to the Double Tap gesture. This feature, introduced last year with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, allows you to tap your index finger and thumb together twice as quickly. This can perform everyday tasks such as using the Smart Stack, pausing your music or video, and even scrolling through apps.
The new Double Tap API enables developers to create intuitive, one-handed app interactions. Lori Hylan-Cho, senior engineering manager for watchOS, expressed her excitement about how Double Tap's automatic scrolling action could benefit apps like Messages and Weather, which use scroll views extensively.
Eric Charles, senior manager of watchOS product marketing, highlighted the potential for developers to rethink their app designs with one-handed use in mind. He encouraged developers to consider how users might interact with their apps while holding something like coffee.
Smart Stack improvements
While Double Tap is a great addition, it has limitations as it only works with the newest Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. This is where the Smart Stack comes into play. Introduced in watchOS 10, Smart Stack is a stack of widgets you can access by swiping up from the bottom of your display or using the Double Tap gesture.
watchOS 11 enhances Smart Stack with machine learning and contextual cues such as time, date, location, daily routines, and environmental factors to show the widgets you need at the right moment. For example, the new Shazam widget might appear at the top of the Smart Stack if your Apple Watch detects music playing nearby. If you're travelling, the Translate app widget might be the first to appear, offering on-device translation.
Another improvement to the Smart Stack is live activities. When a Live Activity appears on your iPhone, the widget will show up at the top of your Apple Watch's Smart Stack, making it easier to track important events like calling an Uber or tracking a flight.
Practical applications
Think about how often you wanted to use your Apple Watch but couldn't because your other hand was occupied. The enhanced Smart Stack, the Double Tap gesture, and Siri's assistance aim to make these interactions smoother and less awkward.
If you're eager to try out these new features, the public beta of WatchOS 11 was released last week.
