Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Gaining New 'Double Tap' Gesture Control Feature

[MacRumors]

Following the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple today detailed a new feature coming to the smartwatch next month. Called "Double Tap," the new gesture feature lets you control the Series 9 by tapping your thumb and index finger together twice.

Users will be able to answer calls, stop alarms, open Smart Stack, play and pause Music, and more by using Double Tap. Apple said the new feature should make it easier to navigate the Apple Watch when you're one-handed, like walking your dog or holding a cup of coffee.

Double Tap will also be available on the new Apple Watch Ultra 2. The feature will be available in a software update next month for the Series 9 and Ultra 2.

Article Link: Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Gaining New 'Double Tap' Gesture Control Feature

 

[1Peace]

Very disappointing update.

 

[scrapesleon]

An accessibility feature they incorporate to another apps let me guess older models can’t get this

 

[Stephen13]

The finger tap thing isn't new. Perhaps the trigger of some specific functions are new, but in the current WatchOS you can use Assistive Touch to customize many different gestures using a finger tap(s) or even a fist clench.

 

[JPack]

It almost seemed like Apple was about to make an entire event out of this one feature. 😄

 

[GadgetBen]

This is it?!! I mean this and a new processor essentially.

Not worth the upgrade at all.

So disappointed that Apple haven’t done what Withings have done with their body temperature advancements to measure performance during and after workouts.

 

[_Spinn_]

Looks useful.

 

[BayouCritter]

a watch!! Woo Hoo!! THAT'S a big "So What"! Oh My, Carbon Neutral... that would be a second "So What"! Apple just continuing down the uncreative path... perhaps they should hire Elon to give them some suggestions??

 

[dojoman]

How about a new Apple TV show called Carbon Neutral?

 

[mannyvel]

Double tap - so gangsta!

This sounds stupid but will be surprisingly useful. Lots of times I can't get to my watch/phone because my hands are full.

 

[XXPP]

Double tap - so gangsta!

This sounds stupid but will be surprisingly useful. Lots of times I can't get to my watch/phone because my hands are full.

just use siri.

 

[Antes]

The thing is most apple watches can already do this as an accessibility feature. It was almost comical this got such a long segment in the keynote.

 

[TruthWatcher412]

Did the Apple Watch go on sale same day last year too or is this new?

 

[jayducharme]

This to me was the biggest announcement. It's a great concept. But otherwise the thing that impressed me most was how Apple was able to draw out three minor updates to an hour-and-a-half presentation. The other announcement that got my attention was the new iCloud storage options. I'm curious as to how much they're going to cost.

(I just checked and noticed they've upped the price of the previous storage options, but haven't yet posted the new tiers.)

 

[vertsix]

Don't be fooled - this is already on your watch under Accessibility.

 

[kruso2]

Would LOVE it if I’d be able to mute and unmute mic for conference calls this way.

 

[brofkand]

Is Double Tap Apple's acknowledgement that Siri is horrible?

 

[Johnny907]

It didn't gain Jack. This has been available under Accessibility since WatchOS 8.
Accessibility -> Assistive Touch -> Hand Gestures and then scroll down to Customize Gestures. Set Double Pinch to Tap and you can do everything shown in that promo right now. Or you can really get fancy and customize all the options like clenching your fist to go forward and back in menus.
I've been using these settings to control my watch during workouts for a couple years now, which is evidently how long it took Apple to figure out it had a useful feature it should promote, especially if it helps them sell a yawn of a new product that 100% isn't required to use it.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

The finger tap thing isn't new. Perhaps the trigger of some specific functions are new, but in the current WatchOS you can use Assistive Touch to customize many different gestures using a finger tap(s) or even a fist clench.

As I've been heavily using the "clench fist" and "index+thumb" double tap gesture control via Accessibility on my Watch since last November, I was legitimately questioning my memory and critical thinking skills watching this.

Literally every single thing they used gesture controls to do is something I've been doing almost every day since I got my Watch almost a year ago.

Obviously, the UI doesn't look the same because I'm on WatchOS 9 and they're on 10.

But what am I missing, is there anything different to it or are they just pulling a feature out of Accessibility and presenting as a new feature?

I cannot spot what has changed.

Is it just supposed to be more accurate?

Yes, it's a minor thing. But this might be the weirdest thing I've seen from Apple in recent memory. I'm at a loss.

More importantly though, are they saying it's only available for Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2? So it goes away for Series 8, Ultra 1 and older if we upgrade to WatchOS 10???

 

[Fortimir]

I'm sure that while the concept is the same as what has already existed in accessibility, this is done in a fundamentally new way that is more reliable/accurate/configurable.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

This "new" feature has been available since watchOS 8.3. Apple even did a video on it themselves, explaining what it does and how to set it up.

So Apple will be removing gesture controls for Series 8 and older if you upgrade to watchOS 10?

 

[btrach144]

While this may have already existed, I am excited to see Apple bring this front and center. I think we’ll see even deeper integration.

 

[tivoboy]

Yeah this has been available in some forms for over a year through Accessibility controls. Maybe not every linked action could be enabled and maybe it isn’t situational aware like this appears to be. As well they’ve elevated the “accessibility” to the regular UI or settings making it easier to enable. But it’s not ground breaking. Probably just dipping their toe into the gesture based controls landscape and seeing what works.

 

[Johnny907]

While this may have already existed, I am excited to see Apple bring this front and center. I think we’ll see even deeper integration.

They already brought it "front and center," hell they made a video explaining how to use it and how useful it is.
Then they just sort of forgot about it.
Now they are bringing it up again in a misleading way to promote an otherwise unremarkable updated Series 9, giving users the impression you have to upgrade to get that functionality. It's cheap and it's unethical.

 

[addamas]

“New”