watchOS 10.1 to Enable Apple Watch's New 'Double Tap' Gesture

[MacRumors]

The new Double Tap gesture for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be enabled starting with watchOS 10.1, according to Marques Brownlee, host of the popular tech-focused YouTube channel MKBHD.

The first beta of watchOS 10.1 will likely be available by next week, and Apple announced that the software update will be released next month.

Brownlee shared his impressions of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the video below, which was highlighted by @M1Astra on X, formerly Twitter.

Double Tap will allow users to tap their watch hand's index finger and thumb together twice to perform common actions on the Apple Watch, such as stopping a timer, playing and pausing music, snoozing an alarm, answering and ending a phone call, opening the Smart Stack, and more, all without touching the screen.

Apple says Double Tap is enabled by the S9 chip's faster Neural Engine, so the feature is only available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2. Apple said it developed an algorithm that detects the "unique signature" of tiny wrist movements and changes in blood flow when the index finger and thumb are tapped together.

A similar but more limited accessibility feature called AssistiveTouch is already available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.

Both new Apple Watch models launch this Friday, but Double Tap will require watchOS 10.1. For now, the latest version is watchOS 10.0.1, released today.

Article Link: watchOS 10.1 to Enable Apple Watch's New 'Double Tap' Gesture

 

[t0rqx]

Seriously. This is the only so called "new feature" which actually already exist on older watches and they still manage to not ship this with the "final product".

Whats with this BETA products on so called "final products".? Every hardware is shipped with a just released OS, that just get stable after the next major release is around the corner.

 

[desslr]

What? It isn’t even available at launch?!

 

[midkay]

What? It isn’t even available at launch?!

This has been known since the keynote. Coming next month.

 

[desslr]

This has been known since the keynote. Coming next month.

I skipped to the good part
The iPhone bit

 

[antiprotest]

watchOS 11...

"Our engineers have been working long and hard to develop features that help manage users' carpel tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury aggravated by watchOS 10. We think you'll love it."

 

[jz0309]

so we have a new "leaker"? some YouTube "influencer"?
there's not even a 10.1 beta out ...

 

[Joe Rossignol]

so we have a new "leaker"? some YouTube "influencer"?
there's not even a 10.1 beta out ...

Marques Brownlee is the most well-known Tech YouTuber for over a decade and you are just casually referring to him as "some influencer." Alrighty then

 

[t0rqx]

This has been known since the keynote. Coming next month.

Thats still no excuse.

 

[AstroRexaur]

This can be easily enabled in the AWUltra 1st gen.

 

[Born Again]

Apple is so full of bleep that it required a new processor for this function.

Shame on you Apple.

A pox on you!

Steve Jobs would roll in his grave !

No courage with this move

 

[Realityck]

Why does the topics double tap picture remind me of the Adam Family's thing? 🤣

 

[xpxp2002]

That's a long wait to just move a feature that has already existed for years under Accessibility to a different menu.

 

[klasma]

"Our engineers have been working long and hard to develop features that help manage users' carpel tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury aggravated by watchOS 10. We think you'll love it."

Well, double-clicking was already invented by Apple for the Lisa: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jwherrman/the-death-of-the-double-click

 

[appleguy123]

Should have just delayed the release. Not to have any new features for the new watch available on release day is embarrassing, especially when the improvements are so modest.

 

[AMagicianNamedJOBs]

Marques Brownlee is the most well-known Tech YouTuber for over a decade and you are just casually referring to him as "some influencer." Alrighty then

He’s on track to be the 🐐

 

[Chiromac81]

Doesn't everyone know by now that this is already possible on Gen 8 Apple Watch??

 

[klasma]

Apple says Double Tap is enabled by the S9 chip's faster Neural Engine, so the feature is only available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2.

I wonder how they managed to implement double-clicking in the 1980s with the CPUs of that era.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

This has been known since the keynote. Coming next month.

Looks already available to me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ they’re just highlighting an accessibility feature and calling it “new” and innovative.

 

[dumastudetto]

Apple is so full of bleep that it required a new processor for this function.

Shame on you Apple.

A pox on you!

Steve Jobs would roll in his grave !

No courage with this move

The enhanced functionality is only possible using the new smarts they've built into the latest and greatest chips. Yes one gesture works as an accessibility feature, albeit unreliably, but Apple is bringing an enriched gesture experience to Apple Watch Series 9 / Ultra 2.

 

[Baywatchboy]

I've been getting notifications for the last week to use a double tap to clear notifications.

 

[coachgq]

The AWUltra looks so cool....on other people. I can't imagine wearing that behemoth. I also like to sleep with my watch on and I've heard it's a bit uncomfortable due to it's size and weight.

 

[NARadyk]

I do find it odd that this seems like the “highlight” feature, yet it’s not available at launch.

 

[btrach144]

Thats still no excuse.

So what do you suggest Apple should do?

 

[JosephAW]

Can't wait until they bring this to the iPhone