watchOS 3 Released: New Apple Watch OS Features Overhauled Interface, More — How To Download And Install

Apple has officially released watchOS 3 for its smartwatch line — both old and new. The new Apple Watch OS brings a lot of good things to the table that users who are very acquainted with the previous smartwatch operating system will be impressed with the overhauled interface and overall performance improvements.

According to Apple Insider, users will right away notice how different watchOS 3 is from its predecessor because the watch face is different and the controls have been modified. For example, accessing the revamped Control Center now entails swiping the display from the bottom.

Apple Watch and Apple Watch 2 users can easily and smoothly switch among the new watch faces with edge gestures from either side of the display panel. Aside from the default watch faces, users can select and customize their own because Apple is now encouraging third-party apps to create their own complication for the Apple smartwatch.

Thus far, some first-party apps, like Music, Home and Find My Friends already have their own watchOS 3 complication. Users will also notice the addition of new weather complication that would come in handy with the temperature complication.

Additionally, watchOS 3 offers a new dock to house all of the recently used apps and user favorites for faster access. The new dock is capable of displaying up to 10 apps which users can launch instantly, as per MacRumors.

Other new features that watchOS 3 brings with it include the long-rumored Breathe app and the enhanced Reminders, Find My Friends and Heart Rate apps. A new Activity feature is also present, making it possible for users to keep track of their detailed workouts and activities.

The new Apple Watch operating system also comes with handwriting recognition support, so users can send texts by just writing on the screen of their timepiece. Another feature that is worthy of praise is the Emergency SOS feature that is programmed to call 911 and alert loved ones when the user of the smartwatch is in a risky situation.

Before downloading and installing the watchOS 3, users must ensure first that their paired iPhone device should already be running iOS 10. When the new mobile OS for the Apple smartphone is installed, users can download watchOS 3 by clicking on Software Update under the General settings.

Users are advised that they should see to it that their Apple Watch device has at least 50 percent of battery life, while it is downloading and installing watchOS 3. If not, the high-end timepiece should be plugged into a power source to avoid disruptions and other problems.

Apple’s watchOS 3 software update is available for all Apple Watch models as well as the Apple Watch 2 devices that are arriving this Friday.