Apple is set to unveil a new widget system for its smartwatch software, watchOS 10, at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is known for his accurate reporting on Apple’s product plans, released his latest newsletter outlining what to expect from the tech giant’s annual developer conference. In addition to the new software, Apple is also expected to announce new product hardware and software updates.
The new widget system for Apple watches will allow users to scroll through a range of different widgets for activity tracking, weather, stock tickers, calendar appointments, and more. The feature will be available as an overlay for any watch face, reminiscent of the Siri watch face introduced in watchOS 4. As part of the update, Apple will bring back widgets and make them a central part of the interface, acknowledging that the iPhone-like app format doesn’t always make sense on a watch.
This software update is expected to be the most significant change to the Apple Watch this year, with the new models set to be unveiled in the fall expected to be similar to last year’s lineup. Apple upgraded both its standard and SE models in 2022 while adding the rugged Ultra version.
Apple is also set to introduce major new health features, including an AI-powered coaching app called Quartz, which will be essentially a trainer built into users’ iPhones and Apple Watches. The company is also expanding its health app to include mood and emotion tracking and vision management features, which will be geared toward nearsightedness. However, the blood pressure feature for the watch may not arrive until 2025.
The WWDC event in June will see the unveiling of watchOS 10 and its new health features, alongside other product announcements, such as iOS 17, macOS 14, the 15-inch MacBook Air, and the much-anticipated mixed-reality headset.
