watchOS 10 Dream List

[kylew1212]

Lately I have been feeling slightly frustrated with watchOS. As we’re nearing WWDC, I thought it might be fun to write down a dream list of new features.

I hope with the new Apple Watch ultra that apple will focus on several athletic painpoints.

1. Sensor support for biking. Speed, cadence, power.
2. Offline maps for workouts. With the ability to pre download and pre load routes.
3. Gear tracking. Ability to track shoe usage, bike miles and to bike parts.
4. 3rd party connections. Aka auto uploads to training peaks/Strava/ etc.
5. Enhanced find my for workouts. With Apple Watch offline maps and routes it’d be great if find my could show my location as well as route percentages complete and where I am at along the route. This would be awesome for race events.
6. More frequent HRV readings.
7. A iPhone workout mirror capability where the iPhone could be mounted on a bike (for example) and display the map and metrics. Especially cadence, speed, power, heart rate.

Other things that are fueled by watchOS but not specifically watchOS.

1. Ability to view and analyze workouts from Mac or iPad.
2. Apple health on Mac/iPad.
3. Data insights, AW collects lots of information such as HRV, sleep etc. what is something meaningful from it? Example Garmin a body battery.
4. Workout customization from iPhone/iPad.

Note that there are a 3rd party apps which can do portions of these things. This is a thread about 1st party support.

 

[srknpower]

More frequent HRV readings would be nice. Also, I want Apple to utilize Wrist Temperature and Oxygen Sensors in more areas.
Also, an ability to check the tightness of the Apple Watch band by using the health and other sensors would be perfect.

 

[thecautioners]

Also, an ability to check the tightness of the Apple Watch band by using the health and other sensors would be perfect.

This would be interesting... I am often accused of having my band too tight because it looks like it... I am fat and my wrist is more narrow than my hand and arm so it's always going to look like a wrapped ham lol

 

[Night Spring]

A iPhone workout mirror capability where the iPhone could be mounted on a bike (for example) and display the map and metrics. Especially cadence, speed, power, heart rate.

You can kind of do this with Apple watch mirroring on iPhone.

Interact with Apple Watch on your iPhone

Apple Watch Mirroring allows you to see and control your Apple Watch screen from a paired iPhone.

support.apple.com

Configure a workout to show the metrics you want, then start the workout and mirror the watch to the phone.

The problem is that the mirroring tend to cut off after a few minutes. I wish it was more stable.

 

[nippyjun]

Constant O2 monitoring during sleep.

 

[thecautioners]

Constant O2 monitoring during sleep.

Yes please. I have sleep apnea and this would be helpful.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Constant O2 monitoring during sleep.

That would burn through the battery.

 

[thecautioners]

That would burn through the battery.

Maybe not for the  WATCH Ultra Pro Max Extreme™️

 

[kylew1212]

Seems like it could be an option for the user to choose..
For those with sleep apnea they might be willing to sacrifice battery life or even buy two watches.

 

[kylew1212]

You can kind of do this with Apple watch mirroring on iPhone.

Interact with Apple Watch on your iPhone

Apple Watch Mirroring allows you to see and control your Apple Watch screen from a paired iPhone.

support.apple.com

Configure a workout to show the metrics you want, then start the workout and mirror the watch to the phone.

The problem is that the mirroring tend to cut off after a few minutes. I wish it was more stable.

Yeah that’s cool, especially for someone with disabilities.

What I’m thinking of is more like RKIF or whatever the acronym is. Example being that Garmin watches can broadcast and communicate with Garmin head units on bikes to show data without looking at the watch screen. The goal would be here that I could see cadence, speed, hr, other metrics all the time on my screen without interaction and preferably without locking.
A live activity could work well for this

 

[xDKP]

Lately I have been feeling slightly frustrated with watchOS. As we’re nearing WWDC, I thought it might be fun to write down a dream list of new features.

I hope with the new Apple Watch ultra that apple will focus on several athletic painpoints.

1. Sensor support for biking. Speed, cadence, power.
2. Offline maps for workouts. With the ability to pre download and pre load routes.
3. Gear tracking. Ability to track shoe usage, bike miles and to bike parts.
4. 3rd party connections. Aka auto uploads to training peaks/Strava/ etc.
5. Enhanced find my for workouts. With Apple Watch offline maps and routes it’d be great if find my could show my location as well as route percentages complete and where I am at along the route. This would be awesome for race events.
6. More frequent HRV readings.
7. A iPhone workout mirror capability where the iPhone could be mounted on a bike (for example) and display the map and metrics. Especially cadence, speed, power, heart rate.

Other things that are fueled by watchOS but not specifically watchOS.

1. Ability to view and analyze workouts from Mac or iPad.
2. Apple health on Mac/iPad.
3. Data insights, AW collects lots of information such as HRV, sleep etc. what is something meaningful from it? Example Garmin a body battery.

Note that there are a 3rd party apps which can do portions of these things. This is a thread about 1st party support.

That's a lot of great areas - I would love some simple changes as well as some more dynamic ones
- Ability to setup custom runs from my phone and not exclusively on the watch (intervals etc.)
- Recovery or Body Battery competing feature as you mentioned. You might be able to get apps now, but please think about making a seamless version with the rings. The day after a marathon for example, it should not say "Wow you were very active yesterday, let's do it again today" and maybe give a well needed rest-day?!
- Dynamic complications! For a very long time, I have wanted the complications to be a little more smart. For example have a dynamic area that shows a countdown timer if active - if it's not active, flip to the day/date or something more usefull - if I show todays meetings that is great, but by the time I have no further meetings today, maybe swap to sunset/sunrise as I might think about a bike ride og run home from the office etc.

Come on Apple - the complications have SO MUCH potential as making this watch even more excellent than it already is - some AI might help here

 

[kylew1212]

That's a lot of great areas - I would love some simple changes as well as some more dynamic ones
- Ability to setup custom runs from my phone and not exclusively on the watch (intervals etc.)
- Recovery or Body Battery competing feature as you mentioned. You might be able to get apps now, but please think about making a seamless version with the rings. The day after a marathon for example, it should not say "Wow you were very active yesterday, let's do it again today" and maybe give a well needed rest-day?!
- Dynamic complications! For a very long time, I have wanted the complications to be a little more smart. For example have a dynamic area that shows a countdown timer if active - if it's not active, flip to the day/date or something more usefull - if I show todays meetings that is great, but by the time I have no further meetings today, maybe swap to sunset/sunrise as I might think about a bike ride og run home from the office etc.

Come on Apple - the complications have SO MUCH potential as making this watch even more excellent than it already is - some AI might help here

I agree, especially for myself the workout customization with iPhone would be great. A step further would be from an iPad too!

 

[Mikeske]

The biggest one for is put the Apple health app maybe as a read only on the iPad. Also mprove the temperature monitor to be more useful

 

[surfzen21]

Lately I have been feeling slightly frustrated with watchOS. As we’re nearing WWDC, I thought it might be fun to write down a dream list of new features.

I hope with the new Apple Watch ultra that apple will focus on several athletic painpoints.

1. Sensor support for biking. Speed, cadence, power.
2. Offline maps for workouts. With the ability to pre download and pre load routes.
3. Gear tracking. Ability to track shoe usage, bike miles and to bike parts.
4. 3rd party connections. Aka auto uploads to training peaks/Strava/ etc.
5. Enhanced find my for workouts. With Apple Watch offline maps and routes it’d be great if find my could show my location as well as route percentages complete and where I am at along the route. This would be awesome for race events.
6. More frequent HRV readings.
7. A iPhone workout mirror capability where the iPhone could be mounted on a bike (for example) and display the map and metrics. Especially cadence, speed, power, heart rate.

Other things that are fueled by watchOS but not specifically watchOS.

1. Ability to view and analyze workouts from Mac or iPad.
2. Apple health on Mac/iPad.
3. Data insights, AW collects lots of information such as HRV, sleep etc. what is something meaningful from it? Example Garmin a body battery.
4. Workout customization from iPhone/iPad.

Note that there are a 3rd party apps which can do portions of these things. This is a thread about 1st party support.

With regard to 1, I can't see them adding ANT+ support since its an inferior communication method. Even if almost all sensors use it. Its more likely they would partner with a sensor brand to bring Bluetooth 5.3 standards to a sensor.

I'm currently using an older Cateye that has speed and cadence. I like being able to look down and see it immediately instead of having to look at my wrist.

Gear tracking would be very cool. Nike running app does it but I switched to using the Apple Watch Workouts app since it seems more comprehensive.

I would LOVE if they added a notes section within that app so I could add things I want like, whether or not I ran on the beach or what the wind is, etc. It would also be nice to put what weight training workout I did for tracking purposes.

I also agree customizing a workout from the iPhone/iPad would be very helpful.

 

[ndouglas]

Better battery life

Let me say “set a timer for X minutes” when I’ve left my phone just a bit >100 feet away.

FM radio (I know, very unlikely… would be better in phone but I’d like it either via phone or watch)

Notes app, or at least better Reminders functionality

 

[kylew1212]

With regard to 1, I can't see them adding ANT+ support since its an inferior communication method. Even if almost all sensors use it. Its more likely they would partner with a sensor brand to bring Bluetooth 5.3 standards to a sensor.

I'm currently using an older Cateye that has speed and cadence. I like being able to look down and see it immediately instead of having to look at my wrist.

Gear tracking would be very cool. Nike running app does it but I switched to using the Apple Watch Workouts app since it seems more comprehensive.

I would LOVE if they added a notes section within that app so I could add things I want like, whether or not I ran on the beach or what the wind is, etc. It would also be nice to put what weight training workout I did for tracking purposes.

I also agree customizing a workout from the iPhone/iPad would be very helpful.

I agree that ant+ is unlikely to happen, and I think that’s acceptable. Most newer sensors (speed / cadence, not certain about power) support ant+ and BLE these days so the needed radio is in place. In fact I can already do this using WorkOutDoors app solely on my Apple Watch. I just want a first part solution from apple.

 

[d3vp0ll]

Here’s my wishlist:

• Rest and Recovery - incorporate it into my goals
• Fitness Goals - allow for weekly and/or monthly, not just daily ring closing
• Insights into my training data collected
• Performance evaluation during workouts, not just alerts I configure
• Apple Fitness+ training/coaching plans, and all available on the watch
• More frequent HRV readings throughout the night
• Grid like home screen of app icons, not just the list or the honeycomb
• Offline voice dictation
• Manual calibration of treadmill distances
• Charging reminders when battery hits certain levels
• Better/faster music sync
• Automatic rep detection during strength training workouts

 

[kylew1212]

Here’s my wishlist:

• Rest and Recovery - incorporate it into my goals
• Fitness Goals - allow for weekly and/or monthly, not just daily ring closing
• Insights into my training data collected
• Performance evaluation during workouts, not just alerts I configure
• Apple Fitness+ training/coaching plans, and all available on the watch
• More frequent HRV readings throughout the night
• Grid like home screen of app icons, not just the list or the honeycomb
• Offline voice dictation
• Manual calibration of treadmill distances
• Charging reminders when battery hits certain levels
• Better/faster music sync
• Automatic rep detection during strength training workouts

These are great!

 

[surfzen21]

Here’s my wishlist:

• Rest and Recovery - incorporate it into my goals
• Fitness Goals - allow for weekly and/or monthly, not just daily ring closing
• Insights into my training data collected
• Performance evaluation during workouts, not just alerts I configure
• Apple Fitness+ training/coaching plans, and all available on the watch
• More frequent HRV readings throughout the night
• Grid like home screen of app icons, not just the list or the honeycomb
• Offline voice dictation
• Manual calibration of treadmill distances
• Charging reminders when battery hits certain levels
• Better/faster music sync
• Automatic rep detection during strength training workouts

Those first two would be greatly welcomed.

Currently, I use Mind and Body in workouts to maintain my streak but I would really like not to have to and have a more accurately reflected calorie burn when taking a rest day.

For instance, I biked about 18 miles last friday and was pretty spent on Saturday so I rested. It would be nice to not have to use what seems like a fake workout to keep my rings streak going.

I think either rest and recovery or weekly goals would get it done. I hope enough people are asking for this and it makes its way to developers.

 

[Night Spring]

Those first two would be greatly welcomed.

Currently, I use Mind and Body in workouts to maintain my streak but I would really like not to have to and have a more accurately reflected calorie burn when taking a rest day.

For instance, I biked about 18 miles last friday and was pretty spent on Saturday so I rested. It would be nice to not have to use what seems like a fake workout to keep my rings streak going.

I think either rest and recovery or weekly goals would get it done. I hope enough people are asking for this and it makes its way to developers.

There are already many 3rd party apps that lets you keep streaks going while taking rest days. The problem is getting Apple to incorporate this in their first-party apps.

 

[xxFoxtail]

Make it stand alone. I’d like to sell my iPhone and just use my Watch and iPad.

 

[xDKP]

Gear tracking would be very cool. Nike running app does it but I switched to using the Apple Watch Workouts app since it seems more comprehensive.

I would LOVE if they added a notes section within that app so I could add things I want like, whether or not I ran on the beach or what the wind is, etc. It would also be nice to put what weight training workout I did for tracking purposes.

I sync all my runs from the native app to Strava for the community and the tracking on a more long term distance goals etc.

Also really like the shoe-distance-tracking aspect of it. And that I can use the native app really gives me the best of both worlds.

There are already many 3rd party apps that lets you keep streaks going while taking rest days. The problem is getting Apple to incorporate this in their first-party apps.

Could you give an example? I haven't figured it out yet. I'm running 5-6 days a week at the moment, training pretty intensively for my next marathon in May, so would like to do NOTHING on rest day once in a while 😁😁

 

[Night Spring]

Could you give an example? I haven't figured it out yet. I'm running 5-6 days a week at the moment, training pretty intensively for my next marathon in May, so would like to do NOTHING on rest day once in a while 😁😁

Sorry, I don't run, I just walk. My Pedometer app has allowed a rest day once a week for forever, and I've seen other people mention apps that has rest day functions. know Nike's running app doesn't focus on streaks at all, presupposing that rest days will be part of a training regimen. If you want a running app that works for you, look through the forum for threads on them, or start a new one -- we used to have lively discussions on running apps a few years ago, some of those people may be still around. Unfortunately, a third party app that incorporates rest days won't keep your activity ring streaks going, but if you are serious about running, then ignoring the rings and going with a dedicated running app may be the way to go.

 

[xDKP]

Sorry, I don't run, I just walk. My Pedometer app has allowed a rest day once a week for forever, and I've seen other people mention apps that has rest day functions. know Nike's running app doesn't focus on streaks at all, presupposing that rest days will be part of a training regimen. If you want a running app that works for you, look through the forum for threads on them, or start a new one -- we used to have lively discussions on running apps a few years ago, some of those people may be still around. Unfortunately, a third party app that incorporates rest days won't keep your activity ring streaks going, but if you are serious about running, then ignoring the rings and going with a dedicated running app may be the way to go.

I don't need running apps - I like using the build in and it works great with WatchOS 9 - but it was exactly my rings I was wondering Thanks anyway

 

[johnl1275]

I agree with pretty much everything on this. I would also include pace zones in additional to heart rate zones.