Apple's next watch may finally deliver on some of the features that we as users have been waiting for for a very long time and bring about new features we didn't even know we needed.
Let's talk Apple Watch Series six.
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I'm not delusional I know that there's a very real possibility that we may not see a new watch or a new iPhone for that matter in September of this year because well, let's face it 2020 has not exactly been like any other year before and not having these products is the least of our worries.
But whether it's September, October, November, or Apple is forced to push it to early 2021, rest assured, we will see a Series 6.
Most importantly, some of those rumored new features that at least I'm most excited about Are actually coming with a software update and they don't require new hardware.
The biggest one this year may very well be sleep tracking or well, native sleep tracking because I know I know there are plenty of third party apps out there that already do this on the Apple Watch.
I'm talking about an apple branded sleep tracking app.
Full disclosure.
I have made this prediction before, I did it with the series five because rumours of a Sleep Tracking App have been around for a while but I think this is finally the year because there's more evidence this time around.
Back in October a Mac rumours reader actually caught something kind of suspect on the App Store.
He saw a reference, To a sleep app in a screenshot of the pre installed alarm app on the Apple Watch the image has since been removed, but it was up there long enough to feel this firmer.
Now my question would be whether Apple can pull it off with software alone, or whether this feature would require new hardware aka A bigger battery because battery life has been one of the biggest handles preventing Apple from putting a native sleep tracking app on the Apple watch.
Now it is possible that Apple could optimize the battery using software alone or as I said before, bringing a completely new battery in the series 6.
I have the feeling it might be a little bit of both so old Apple Watches would get the feature, but only the series six would allow you to get a full day and night of tracking.
The other feature I'm really excited about is SPO tracking or the ability to monitor your blood oxygen levels.
It's been a rumor that's been floating around, most recently from nine to five Mac And they say that it would actually alert users.
If your blood oxygen levels dip below a certain number similar to what the watch already does with the high and low heart rate alerts.
This will be a very important feature for many reasons, but especially right now, with the corona virus outbreak, people could monitor their blood oxygen levels.
Without having to go to the hospital, say, if you're experiencing shortness of breath.
Now, let's be clear that Apple wouldn't be the first one to offer this type of feature on a watch.
In fact, a lot of Garmin watches already have SVO2 tracking on them, and Fitbit has a similar feature that reviews the variation in blood oxygen levels.
But what's interesting about Apple's proposition, if this rumor turns out to be true, is that alert system.
Because then you don't have to manually be looking at your levels.
It would just tell you when it's time to check with a doctor or go to the hospital, for example, and we're starting to go into the medical realm.
And to be honest, I wasn't really comfortable talking about it with you guys without consulting with a specialist first, which I did.
Before this video I talk to Dr. Graham, a lung specialist at UCSF before recording this video to make sure everything checked out.
And when I asked him whether Apple could pull it off with a software update or if SPO two tracking required specific hardware, he mentioned that it is possible that Apple could do it with an algorithm and with a software update, but realistically, it would require new hardware.
So he's talking about a pulse oximeter, a specific pulse oximeter on the next Apple Watch in that case.
That means that only the series 6 would have this type of feature.
But again, everything's possible.
The other rumoured new feature that doesn't require a new hardware is a fitness app.
Now this is not the activities app which is already on your Apple Watch and on your iPhone.
What MacRumors says is that Apple is working on a standalone fitness app that would actually guide you through different workout routines, anywhere from rowing, cycling, running weights, you name it,.
It would have it on there.
Obviously there are plenty of third party apps out there that already do this.
My favorite right now because it's free is the Nike training club.
But there are tons of other ones and Fitbit already has something similar called Fitbit premium, which gives you guided workouts on your wrist.
What's interesting about Apple's take on this is that it would be available On different devices so you could access the fitness app on your Apple TV if you'd rather work out with the TV on or on your iPhone, if you'd rather just take your iPhone to the gym as well.
So, pretty interesting.
Like I said, it's not completely novel, but I'd be curious to see how Apple pulls it off.
My question would be, how much are we gonna have to pay for it?
Is it gonna be free as MacRumors suggest, or will it be behind a paywall?
Maybe it'll be some sort of system like Apple News+ where some of the news is free so some of the workouts are free.
But maybe the more Premium content added.
And we may finally see an Apple Watch for kids.
Although it won't be a new Apple Watch per se.
It'll just give parents more tools to be able to give an Apple Watch to their kid.
So most importantly, the ability To configure a new Apple watch onto the same Apple ID and the same iPhone.
So say, for example, I wanna give my kid an Apple watch to stay connected, but I don't wanna give them an iPhone to pair with the Apple watch.
I could Do it from my own device and I'd have all sorts of parental controls that would, ironically, my kid is crying in the background, sorry about that, that would allow me to set certain limits.
So I could limit who the contacts are, what music they can listen to, and activate something that 9to5Mac calls SchoolTime, basically restricting certain apps during school hours so that the kids aren't distracted.
And in terms of design, I don't think we're going to be seeing a new look on the Apple Watch at least not in 2020.
Maybe new materials like better known diamond encrusted Apple Watch.
I don't know what else we haven't seen yet from the apple.
Watch.
But not a new form factor, not a round watch face that doesn't rule out the possibility of it existing in the far future because we know that Apple has already registered quite a few patents showing around watch face but just not this year.
But hey, at least we're gonna have new watch faces to spice things up a little bit on our old Apple watches.
At least that's what 9 to 5 Mac seems to think..
Apparently there are going to be flag watch faces for different countries.
You're also going to be able to set a shared album as your Apple watch faces.
So say for example, you have a shared family album like either I do,where I upload pictures of the kids.
If my parents have an Apple Watch and they're in El Salvador and I upload a new picture of my kids, they would be able to see new kids photos appear as their watch face background, which is really cute and a new tick emitter that would make it look more like an analogue watch as well.
Sadly no watch faces store yet which I know a lot of you have been asking for, but at least it seems to be loosening its reins a little bit because according to nine to five Mac Apple will allow you to share via airdrop your different configurations and your different watch faces with different users and I think that's all I got.
Although we did cover a lot to me, I'm probably missing a few things.
Let me know in the comment section what you guys are most excited about in terms of watch iOS seven or the Apple Watch Series six.
I really want to know I'm very excited about both of them.
So I will keep you posted on any other updates that I find along the way.
And I'm gonna have to go, because my baby is continuing to cry.
And for all of you guys staying at home, continue staying at home.
Thank you, and I'll see you next time.
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