Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Watch Ultra 'Depth' and 'Siren' Apps Appear on App Store Ahead of Device's Launch This Friday

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,206
37,189


Apple has listed two new apps on the App Store that are made exclusively for the Apple Watch Ultra: "Siren" and "Depth."

siren-depth-apps.jpg

Siren is designed for emergency situations if users become lost or injured to draw attention to their location. When the Action button on Apple Watch Ultra is long-pressed, Siren emits a unique 86-decibel sound pattern which can be heard up to 600 feet (180 meters) away.

The Depth app is for use during recreational underwater activities to 130 feet (40 meters), from snorkeling, and free diving, to simply playing in a swimming pool.

Users can see their current depth, water temperature, duration under water as well as the maximum depth they've reached to 130 feet (40 meters). It can automatically activate as soon as Apple Watch Ultra is submerged, or manually launched like any other app.

The two apps are exclusively for Apple Watch Ultra models, which launch on Friday, September 23, so they can't actually be used by the general public yet.

Apple Watch Ultra models will come with the two apps pre-installed, and if users opt to delete the stock apps and then change their minds, they'll be able to re-download both from the App Store.
Priced at $799, the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ is available in a single 49mm size, with Trail, Ocean, and Alpine band options available. The new smartwatch can be pre-ordered now and launches alongside the second-generation AirPods Pro this coming Friday. For more on the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌'s design and features, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup.

Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra 'Depth' and 'Siren' Apps Appear on App Store Ahead of Device's Launch This Friday
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/21/apple-watch-ultra-apps-depth-siren-released/
Last edited:
lucas said:
Wonder how much they’re going to charge for that Oceanic dive computer app?
Click to expand...
As a free app on the App Store, Oceanic+ will include depth tracking (including depth alarms), GPS tracking, logbook (up to 12 dives), snorkeling, and more.

For more advanced diving options such as No Decompression Limit, users will be required to purchase an Oceanic+ subscription plan ($4.99/day, $9.99/month, or $79/year). Oceanic+ will be available on the App Store later this fall.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jimthing, Mr. Awesome, nate320 and 1 other person
I don't understand why the watch itself can go to a maximum of 100M but the Depth app stop at 40.

I don't dive so I probably won't use it under 40M, but I find it strange. Is it the sensor who isn't capable to calculate the depth and/or temperature under the 40M?

edit: i answer to myself lol. Seems indeed an hardware issue as apple website claims that the sensor is able to calculate up to 40M so it’s probably the good explaination.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: addamas
Nicolas Som said:
I don't understand why the watch itself can go to a maximum of 100M but the Depth app stop at 40.

I don't dive so I probably won't use it under 40M, but I find it strange. Is it the sensor who isn't capable to calculate the depth and/or temperature under the 40M?

edit: i answer to myself lol. Seems indeed an hardware issue as apple website claims that the sensor is able to calculate up to 40M so it’s probably the good explaination.
Click to expand...
Water resistance ratings on watches are very misleading - they generally relate to a static pressure (i.e. if the watch is stationary, in stationary water) but this is not representative of 'real' pressure that would be experienced at that depth where undersea currents or just moving your arm could significantly increase that pressure.

This table shows the very big difference between the static pressure rating (middle column) and what that actually equates to (right column). Even 3 ATM/30 meters isn't rated for simple surface swimming. So, a watch rated for 10ATM/100m isn't actually suited to use at depths of 100m.

Water RatingDefinitionSuitable
IPX7Withstands incidental exposure to water of up to 1 metre for up to 30 minutessplashes, rain or snow, showering
IPX6Protected against powerful jets of water. Water projected at all angles through a 12.5 mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 litres/min at a pressure of 100 kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 metresheavy spray, driving rain, boat washing, outdoor use in rough sea conditions
1 ATMWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 10 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering
3 ATMWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 30 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering, jumping into water
5 ATM, SwimWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 50 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, diving into water, snorkeling
10 ATMWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 100 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, diving into water, snorkeling, high-speed water sports
Dive (up to 11 ATM)Tested to engineering standard EN13319 for dive compliancesplashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, diving into water, snorkeling, high-speed water sports, scuba diving
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vazor and centauratlas
NightFox said:
Water resistance ratings on watches are very misleading - they generally relate to a static pressure (i.e. if the watch is stationary, in stationary water) but this is not representative of 'real' pressure that would be experienced at that depth where undersea currents or just moving your arm could significantly increase that pressure.

This table shows the very big difference between the static pressure rating (middle column) and what that actually equates to (right column). Even 3 ATM/30 meters isn't rated for simple surface swimming. So, a watch rated for 10ATM/100m isn't actually suited to use at depths of 100m.

Water RatingDefinitionSuitable
IPX7Withstands incidental exposure to water of up to 1 metre for up to 30 minutessplashes, rain or snow, showering
IPX6Protected against powerful jets of water. Water projected at all angles through a 12.5 mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 litres/min at a pressure of 100 kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 metresheavy spray, driving rain, boat washing, outdoor use in rough sea conditions
1 ATMWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 10 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering
3 ATMWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 30 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering, jumping into water
5 ATM, SwimWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 50 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, diving into water, snorkeling
10 ATMWithstands pressures equivalent to a depth of 100 metressplashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, diving into water, snorkeling, high-speed water sports
Dive (up to 11 ATM)Tested to engineering standard EN13319 for dive compliancesplashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, diving into water, snorkeling, high-speed water sports, scuba diving
Click to expand...
well yes but according to apple website, the ultra is responding to the standard EN13319 This correspond to the 11ATM according to what you sended so..
 
Nicolas Som said:
I don't understand why the watch itself can go to a maximum of 100M but the Depth app stop at 40.

I don't dive so I probably won't use it under 40M, but I find it strange. Is it the sensor who isn't capable to calculate the depth and/or temperature under the 40M?

edit: i answer to myself lol. Seems indeed an hardware issue as apple website claims that the sensor is able to calculate up to 40M so it’s probably the good explaination.
Click to expand...
There was a great explanation by an actual Dive Instructor on Waveforms Podcast (MKBHD) where they interviewed 3 experts in diving, running, and hiking. It's worth a listen.


Specifically, the 40 metres relates to where recreational divers can dive using compressed air. Below 40 metres it becomes a technical dive as you have a different composition of gases in the tank and you have a dive computer that will organise a different mixture of those gases depending on the depth. The Apple Watch cannot do that which is why they are saying it needs to be used by recreational divers. (By his estimates), only 5% of people who dive do technical diving, with the rest doing recreational diving.

You can use it below 40 metres and the watch will still function fine, but you cannot use it as your Dive Computer.

Danny (Scuba instructor): https://bit.ly/Scuberro
Hellah Sidibe (Runner/YouTuber): https://bit.ly/HellahGoodYoutube
Guillermo Ponzo (Mountaineer): https://bit.ly/guillermopunzo
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: lucas, jimthing, EmotionalSnow and 6 others
steve09090 said:
There was a great explanation by an actual Dive Instructor on Waveforms Podcast (MKBHD) where they interviewed 3 experts in diving, running, and hiking. It's worth a listen.


Specifically, the 40 metres relates to where recreational divers can dive using compressed air. Below 40 metres it becomes a technical dive as you have a different composition of gases in the tank and you have a dive computer that will organise a different mixture of those gases depending on the depth. The Apple Watch cannot do that which is why they are saying it needs to be used by recreational divers. (By his estimates), only 5% of people who dive do technical diving, with the rest doing recreational diving.

You can use it below 40 metres and the watch will still function fine, but you cannot use it as your Dive Computer.

Danny (Scuba instructor): https://bit.ly/Scuberro
Hellah Sidibe (Runner/YouTuber): https://bit.ly/HellahGoodYoutube
Guillermo Ponzo (Mountaineer): https://bit.ly/guillermopunzo
Click to expand...

Well thank you! Seems like a more plausible explanation than the one of the supported depth (no offence Nightfox, it was interesting as well)
 
  • Like
Reactions: EmotionalSnow, Mr. Awesome and nate320
Nicolas Som said:
well yes but according to apple website, the ultra is responding to the standard EN13319 This correspond to the 11ATM according to what you sended so..
Click to expand...
Yes, but 11ATM doesn't mean 100m - it needs that certification for scuba diving of any sort.

Nicolas Som said:
Well thank you! Seems like a more plausible explanation than the one of the supported depth (no offence Nightfox, it was interesting as well)
Click to expand...

From Apple's own footnotes on the 100m rating: "Apple Watch Ultra has a water resistance rating of 100 metres under ISO standard 22810. It may be used for recreational scuba diving (with compatible third-party app from the App Store) to 40 metres and high-speed water sports. Apple Watch Ultra should not be used for diving below 40 metres. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. For additional information see support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205000."

Nowhere have I seen any claim by Apple that the Ultra can be used for diving to 100 meters. The only references seem to be to an ISO 22810 rating of 100m and as I mentioned earlier, that doesn't mean you can dive to 100m with it (regardless of software). I'm not looking for an argument here and am happy to be proved wrong, but you seem to be dismissing my explanation of ISO 22810 and what Apple are actually claiming with that rating as 'not plausible' for no apparent reason. Whilst the lack of multi-gas support may indeed limit the depth usage of the app itself, that doesn't mean that the watch's rating isn't also a factor. Multi-gas or technical diving watches/computers will typically (though not always) be rated to 200m or 300m
 
NightFox said:
Yes, but 11ATM doesn't mean 100m - it needs that certification for scuba diving of any sort.



From Apple's own footnotes on the 100m rating: "Apple Watch Ultra has a water resistance rating of 100 metres under ISO standard 22810. It may be used for recreational scuba diving (with compatible third-party app from the App Store) to 40 metres and high-speed water sports. Apple Watch Ultra should not be used for diving below 40 metres. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. For additional information see support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205000."

Nowhere have I seen any claim by Apple that the Ultra can be used for diving to 100 meters. The only references seem to be to an ISO 22810 rating of 100m and as I mentioned earlier, that doesn't mean you can dive to 100m with it (regardless of software). I'm not looking for an argument here and am happy to be proved wrong, but you seem to be dismissing my explanation of ISO 22810 and what Apple are actually claiming with that rating as 'not plausible' for no apparent reason. Whilst the lack of multi-gas support may indeed limit the depth usage of the app itself, that doesn't mean that the watch's rating isn't also a factor. Multi-gas or technical diving watches/computers will typically (though not always) be rated to 200m or 300m
Click to expand...
I'm sure you don't search for arguments and indeed you seems to be right as well!

anyway it is really confusing as hell..

"Our watch is certified for up to 100M but you can't use it below 40M" 😓

Anyway I won't probably use it below than 10 meters so it don't really matter to me in reality..but still confusing
 
  • Like
Reactions: NightFox
contacos said:
Cool. I wonder why siren cannot be included in the regular one though
Click to expand...

While I agree it could be useful, not having it avoids all the knuckleheads activating it by accident or on purpose for laughs.

Most likely reason not to is the speaker size would necessitate a larger case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back