After months of beta testing, the latest watchOS 9 update is finally available for all. The new update brings a redesigned Compass app for Apple Watch users who love to hike, trek, mountain climb, and other adventurous activities.
Here is everything to know about the watchOS 9 new Compass app
There are three main changes in the new Compass app: Waypoints, Views, Backtrack.
- Offering more in-depth information, new views include a hybrid view that shows an analog compass dial and a digital view simultaneously and an orienteering view that shows Compass Waypoints and Backtrack. Upon turning the Digital Crown, an additional view features longitude, latitude, incline, and elevation.
- Using GPS data, the new Backtrack feature creates a chronological path of all the points where the user has been and when the user goes off-grid, the feature is enabled automatically in the background. Backtrack is helpful in situations where the user gets lost or needs assistance in retracing their steps.
- Compass Waypoints allow users to quickly and easily mark points or locations of interest directly in the app. Simply by tapping on the Compass Waypoint icon, the app drops a waypoint. For each waypoint, users get a targeted view of its direction and an approximate distance to show how far away it is.
In addition to the updated Compass app, watchOS 9 also brings a new Low Power mode, AFib History feature for users with irregular heart rhythm to better monitor and track their condition, improved sleep tracking and cycle tracking, a Medications app, and more.
The new watchOS 9 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 or later models paired with iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, running iOS 16.
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