The watchOS 8.3 release candidate has expanded AssistiveTouch, allowing users to control their Apple Watch using only hand gestures, to older Apple Watch models after the feature was previously exclusive to only newer Apple Watches.
Apple first previewed the feature in May as part of its continued commitment to making its products accessible to as many people as possible. AssistiveTouch uses a combination of data from onboard Apple Watch sensors to notice subtle changes in muscle movements and tendon activity. Using gestures like a clinch or pinch, users can control their Apple Watch without touching the screen.
AssistiveTouch for watchOS enables people with upper-body limb differences to use Apple Watch without ever having to touch the display or controls. Using built-in motion sensors and on-device learning, Apple Watch detects subtle differences in muscle movements and tendon activity, letting you control the display through hand gestures like a pinch or a clench. This feature also works with VoiceOver so you can navigate Apple Watch with one hand while using a cane or leading a service animal. Answer incoming calls, control an onscreen motion pointer, and access Notification Center, Control Center, and more.
The feature was previously exclusive to newer Apple Watch models, such as the Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE. Now, with the last several watchOS 8.3 betas and the release candidate released this week, Apple has expanded the feature to include older Apple Watch models such as the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5. The expansion was first noted on Twitter and later picked up on Reddit.
It's great that they're rolling this out to more models.
I have a physical disability that makes it hard (although not impossible) to use my Apple Watch while standing.
However, I've tried this feature quite a bit on my Series 7 and found it to be unreliable and frustrating to use (similar to the "back tap" feature on iPhones).
I guess if it was absolutely impossible for me to use my watch then I'd just get used to it and adapt, but I hope they keep working to improve this feature. It feels like it would benefit from some dedicated hardware, like an accessory of some kind.
I was wondering how well this works, it seems more like an experiment than a finished feature.
Apple today published a new support document indicating that iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5 allow an Apple Watch to be restored with a nearby iPhone.
The support document states that if an Apple Watch running watchOS 8.5 or later displays an animation showing an Apple Watch and iPhone being brought close together, customers can follow the steps below to initiate the restore process:1. Make sure...
Monday February 28, 2022 3:45 am PST by Tim Hardwick
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Saturday January 1, 2022 4:15 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared a new ad titled "911" that emphasizes the Apple Watch's life-saving potential during emergencies.
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Tuesday February 1, 2022 1:16 am PST by Sami Fathi
In celebration of Heart Month, Apple is offering all customers who trade in an Apple Watch $25 extra in credit to encourage owners of older Apple Watch models to upgrade to one of the newer models.
Heart Month is celebrated during February, and Apple this week shared some of the ways it's celebrating across its services. The $25 Apple Watch trade-in credit is valid until February 28 in...
Tuesday February 1, 2022 1:18 pm PST by Juli Clover
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watchOS 8.4.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new...
Thursday January 20, 2022 4:01 pm PST by Juli Clover
The watchOS 8.4 release candidate that was seeded to developers and beta testers this morning addresses an ongoing bug that could cause some Apple Watch chargers not to work properly with the Apple Watch.
Back in December, we reported on a growing number of charging issues that Apple Watch Series 7 owners were facing. Since watchOS 8.3, there have been a number of complaints about...
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The European Parliament today voted overwhelmingly in favor of enforcing USB-C as a common charging port across a wide range of consumer electronic devices, including the iPhone and AirPods, by the end of 2024.
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Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for ...
YouTube may make watching videos in 4K quality on the platform exclusive to only YouTube Premium subscribers, according to screenshots posted by users on Twitter and Reddit.
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Top Rated Comments
Can continue with my good old series 5 for a couple of years more now.
I also find back tap too unreliable to use.