Apple releases iOS 13 and watchOS 6, iPadOS coming on Sep 24; Apple Watch Series 4 ECG functionality now available in India

Apple has released iOS 13, its latest operating system for iPhone users as it had promised and also released watchOS 6.0 for Apple Watch users. Announced at the WWDC in June this year, iOS 13 is compatible with iPhone 6s and later and the watchOS 6 is now available for Apple Watch Series 3 later and will roll out for Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 later this fall.

The iOS 13 update brings dramatic new look with Dark Mode, a more private way to sign in to apps and websites with Sign In with Apple, and an all-new Maps experience. It also brings new Apple Arcade gaming subscription service, which costs Rs. 99 per month in India, with 1 month free trial.

watchOS 6 brings additional health and fitness features, including the new Cycle Tracking app, which gives customers the ability to log important information related to their menstrual cycles, and see predicted timing for their next period and fertile windows using the convenience of Apple Watch. The Noise app helps users understand the ambient sound levels in environments such as concerts and sporting events that could negatively impact hearing, and Activity Trends on iPhone provides a long-term view of their activity patterns to help them understand their progress. watchOS 6 also brings dynamic new watch faces, including Meridian, Modular Compact and Solar Dial, which can be easily customized for quicker access to favorite apps.

With watchOS 6, the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later is now available in India that lets customers take an electrocardiogram right from their wrist, capturing heart rhythm in a moment when they experience symptoms like a rapid or skipped heart beat and helping to provide critical data to physicians. Apple Watch Series 1 or later with watchOS 6 sends a notification if an irregular heart rhythm such as AFib is identified. This was rolled out in Europe and Hong Kong with watchOS 5.2 update and more countries with watchOS 5.2.1 earlier this year.

Apple also changed the release dates for iOS 13.1 and iPad OS from September 30th to 24th. iOS 13.1 will bring additional software features including AirDrop directionally aware suggestions, Shortcuts Automations and Share ETA. Check out the complete iOS 13 and WatchOS changelog below.

iOS 13 update introduces new features and improvements to:
Dark Mode
– A beautiful new dark color scheme that delivers a great viewing experience especially in low-light environments
– Can be scheduled to turn on automatically at sunset, at a certain time, or turned on from Control Center
– Four new system wallpapers that automatically switch appearances with Light and Dark Mode

Camera & Photos
– An all-new Photos tab with a curated view of your library making it easy to find, relive, and share your photos and videos
– Powerful new photo editing tools that make it easier to edit, adjust, and review photos at a glance
– Video editing with over 30 new tools, including Rotate, Crop, and Enhance
– The ability to increase or decrease Portrait Lighting intensity on iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
– High-Key Light Mono, a new Portrait Lighting effect, for a monochromatic portrait with a white background on iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max

Sign in with Apple
– A private way to sign in to participating apps and websites with the Apple ID you already have
– Simple account setup with only your name and email address
– Hide My Email to share a unique email address that is automatically forwarded to you
– Built-in two-factor authentication to protect your account
– No tracking or profiling by Apple as you use your favorite apps

App Store with Arcade
– Unlimited access to groundbreaking new games with one subscription, no ads or additional purchases
– An all-new Arcade tab in the App Store to browse the latest games, personalized recommendations, and exclusive editorial content
– Available to play across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV
– Option to download large apps over your cellular connection
– Ability to view available app updates or delete apps from the Account page
– Support for Arabic and Hebrew

Maps
– An all-new map rolling out in the US featuring broader road coverage, improved
address precision, better support for pedestrians, and more detailed land cover
– Look Around to explore cities in a high-resolution, interactive 3D experience
– Collections for the lists of places you love and can easily share with friends and family
– Favorites for quick and easy navigation to the places you visit daily
– Real-time transit, real-time flight updates and more natural spoken turn-by-turn directions

Reminders
– All-new design with more powerful and intelligent ways to create and organize reminders
– Quick toolbar to add dates, locations, flags, attachments and more to reminders
– New smart lists–Today, Scheduled, Flagged and All–to easily keep track of upcoming reminders
– Subtasks and grouped lists to organize your reminders

Siri
– More natural Siri voice, particularly while speaking longer phrases
– Personalized Siri Suggestions in Apple Podcasts, Safari, and Maps
– Over 100,000 live radio stations from around the world available with Siri
– Shortcuts app now built-in

Memoji and Messages
– New Memoji customization options including new hairstyles, headwear, makeup, and piercings
– Memoji sticker packs in Messages, Mail, and third‑party apps and available on all iPhone models
– Your name and photo, or even Memoji, now optionally shared with your friends
– Search enhancements to easily find messages with intelligent suggestions and categorization of results

CarPlay
– All-new CarPlay Dashboard with your tunes, turns, and smart Siri suggestions on one screen
– All-new Calendar app with a view of your day, option to drive to or dial in to meetings, and contact meeting organizers
– Apple Maps redesign with Favorites, Collections, and Junction View for China
– Apple Music album art to easily find your favorite song
– Do Not Disturb while driving now available in CarPlay

Augmented Reality
– People Occlusion for apps to place virtual objects naturally in front or behind people using iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
– Motion Capture for apps to understand the body position and movement of a person so you can animate a character or interact with virtual objects using iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
– Multiple face tracking for AR content on up to 3 faces at a time so you can have fun with your friends using iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
– AR Quick Look to view and interact with multiple AR objects at the same time

Mail
– Block sender to move all email messages from a blocked sender directly to the trash
– Mute thread to stop notifications from an overly active email thread
– Format bar with easy access to rich text formatting tools and attachments of all kinds
– Font support for all system fonts, as well as new fonts you download from the App Store

Notes
– Gallery view with your notes as visual thumbnails helping you find the note you need
– Shared folders to collaborate with others giving them access to entire folders of notes
– More powerful search for visual recognition of images inside your notes and text in items you’ve scanned
– New checklist options to easily reorder checklist items, indent them, or move checked items to the bottom of the list automatically

Safari
– Updated start page with favorites, frequently visited, most recently visited websites, and Siri suggestions
– View options in the Smart Search field for quick access to text size controls, Reader view, and per‑site settings
– Per‑site settings to choose Reader view, and enable content blockers, camera, microphone, and location access for individual websites
– Download manager

QuickPath
– Slide to type on the keyboard for easier one-handed typing when you’re on the go
– Slide or tap to type interchangeably, even mid‑sentence
– Alternate word options in the predictive bar

Text Editing
– Scrollbar scrubbing to directly drag the scrollbar for quickly navigating long documents, web pages, and email conversations
– Faster and more precise cursor navigation–just pick it up and move it to where you want
– Text selection improvements for easier selection by just tapping and swiping on the text

Fonts
– Custom fonts are available from the App Store for use in your favorite apps
– Font management in Settings

Files
– External drives supported in Files to access and manage files on a USB drive, SD card, or hard drive
– SMB support to connect to a server at work or a home PC
– Local storage for creating folders on the local drive and adding your favorite files
– Zip and Unzip support for creating and expanding Zip files

Health
– New Summary view of personalized data, including alerts, favorites, and relevant highlights from frequently used apps and devices
– Highlights of health data from frequently used apps and devices showing trends over time in helpful charts and graphs
– Cycle Tracking feature to log information about your menstrual cycle including flow level, symptoms, and fertility metrics
– Hearing health data types for environmental audio levels from the Noise app on Apple Watch, headphone audio levels, and audiograms from hearing tests

Apple Music
– Time-synced lyrics make listening more fun with perfectly timed lyrics
– Over 100,000 live radio stations from around the world

Screen Time
– 30-day usage data to compare Screen Time numbers over the previous weeks
Combined limits to include multiple app categories, specific apps, or websites in one limit
– “One more minute” option to quickly save your work or log out of a game when a Screen Time limit is met

Privacy and Security
– Allow Once location permission with the option to share your locations with apps only once
– Background tracking alerts now notify you when an app is using your location in the background
– Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enhancements help prevent apps from accessing your location without your consent
– Location sharing controls give you the option to easily omit location data when sharing photos

System Experience
– Wi‑Fi networks and Bluetooth accessories selection in Control Center
– A redesigned, unobtrusive volume control in the upper-left corner
– Full-page screenshots for web pages, Mail messages, iWork documents, and Maps
– Redesigned share sheet with intelligent suggestions to share content with just a few taps
– Dolby Atmos playback for a thrilling surround sound experience from content with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, or Dolby Digital Plus soundtracks on iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max

Language support
– Support for 38 new keyboard languages
– Predictive input in Cantonese, Dutch, Hindi (Devanagari), Hindi (Latin), Najdi Arabic, Swedish, and Vietnamese keyboards
– Separate emoji and globe keys make it easier to quickly switch between languages and select emoji on iPhone X and later
– Automatic language detection for dictation
– Bilingual dictionary support in Thai and English and Vietnamese and English
China
– A dedicated QR code mode in Camera, accessible from the Control Center, for improved QR code performance, a flashlight option, and enhanced privacy
– Junction View in Maps for drivers in China to more easily navigate complex roadways
– Adjustable handwriting area on the Chinese keyboard
– Cantonese predictions on the Cangjie, Sucheng, Stroke, and Handwriting keyboards

India
– All‑new Indian English male and female Siri voices
– Support for all 22 official Indian languages with the addition of 15 new keyboard languages
– Bilingual keyboard for Hindi (Latin) and English keyboard, including typing predictions
– Typing predictions on the Hindi (Devanagari) keyboard
– New Indian language system fonts for Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, and Odia for greater clarity and ease when reading in apps
30 new document fonts for Assamese, Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu
– Contacts with hundreds of new relationship labels to help more accurately label your contacts

Voice Control
– A new way to control your iOS devices, entirely with your voice
– Comprehensive navigation with just your voice to open apps, search the web, tap, swipe, pinch, zoom, press the Home button and more
– Accurate dictation using the Siri speech recognition engine
– Rich text editing to make corrections using just your voice, or select from word and emoji suggestions
– Custom words, such as legal or medical terms, to ensure Voice Control recognizes words you commonly use
– Seamless transitions from text dictation to voice commands
– Attention Awareness to keep Voice Control off when you turn your head away from True Depth camera on supported iPhone models
– On‑device processing so your personal data is kept private

Performance
– Up to 2x faster app launch*
– Up to 30 percent faster Face ID unlocking on iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
– 60 percent smaller app updates on average*
– Up to 50 percent smaller apps from the App Store*

Other features and improvements
– Silence unknown callers to get calls from known numbers in Contacts, Mail, and -Messages, while sending all other calls to voicemail
– Optimized battery charging to slow the rate of battery aging by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged
– Low Data Mode to reduce your data usage over your cellular network or specific Wi-Fi networks you select
– PlayStation 4 and Xbox Wireless Controller support
– Find My iPhone and Find My Friends combined into a single app with the ability to locate a missing device even if it can’t connect to a Wi-Fi or cellular network
– Apple Books reading goals help make reading a daily habit
– Apple News+ options to remove downloaded issues, follow a title, or browse the back catalog from the More button in the My Magazines section
– Stocks app with business stories from Apple News+
– Calendar supports adding attachments to events
– Family sharing hotspot for your family’s devices to automatically connect to your nearby iPhone personal hotspot
– Home app redesigned controls for HomeKit accessories with a combined view for ones with multiple services

watchOS 6 update introduces new features and improvements to:

Cycle Tracking

• New Cycle Tracking app to log information about your menstrual cycle including flow level, symptoms, and spotting
• Option to log fertility metrics, including basal body temperature and ovulation test results
• Period predictions and notifications to let you know when your next period is approaching
• Fertile window predictions and notifications to let you know when your fertile window is approaching

Noise

• View the decibel levels in your environment in real time with the new Noise app
• Option to be notified if the noise in your environment rises to a level that could affect your hearing over time
• Available on Apple Watch Series 4

Voice Memos

• Record Voice Memos using Apple Watch
• Listen to Voice Memo recordings through the built-in speaker on Apple Watch or connect a Bluetooth device
• Rename recordings with Dictation or Scribble
• New memos automatically sync across your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with iCloud

Audiobooks

• Sync audiobooks from Apple Books on your iPhone to Apple Watch
• Sync up to five hours of the book you’re currently reading
• Stream audiobooks when connected to Wi-Fi or cellular

App Store

• Discover and install apps for Apple Watch with the new App Store
• Browse curated apps and collections
• Search for apps using Siri, Dictation or Scribble
• View app descriptions, reviews, and screenshots
• Support for Sign in with Apple

Activity

• Track your Activity trends in the Activity app on iPhone
• Trends surfaces your activity metrics averaged over the last 90 days compared to your performance over the last 365 days; metrics include: move, exercise, stand, stand minutes, distance, cardio fitness (VO2 max), walking pace, and running pace
• View specific coaching tips to get back on track if trend arrows are pointing down

Workout

• New current elevation metric for Outdoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle and Hiking workouts. Available on Apple Watch Series 2 and later
• Stopwatch app can now be continuously viewed on your watch face during workouts
• Shuffle your Workout music playlist
• Adds GymKit support for True and Woodway

Siri

• Identify the song playing around you with Shazam—get song and artist information and the ability to add to your Apple Music library
• Support for Siri web search—see up to 5 results for web searches and tap to view website content optimized for Apple Watch
• Siri integration with redesigned Find People app supports location queries

Watch Faces

• Numerals Mono and Numerals Duo—Digital faces available in Arabic, Arabic Indic, Roman numerals and Devanagari
• Meridian—A black or white dial that fills the screen and includes four subdial complications (Series 4 only)
• Gradient—Dynamically changes design as time passes. Available in full screen or circular with up to five complications (Series 4 only)
• California—Available in multiple numeral styles including Roman, Arabic and Devanagari, full screen or circular (Series 4 only)
• Solar Dial—Track the sun’s path in circular form mapped across a 24-hour dial (Series 4 only)
• Modular Compact—Display enriched complications with the option to choose between Analog or Digital time (Series 4 only)
• Tap to Speak on all watch faces with support for over 30 languages
• Option to receive and customize time-keeping chimes—set to receive an alert on the hour, every half hour, or every 15 minutes either with haptics or a customizable audible chime
• Reorder watch faces directly from your Apple Watch
• New complications for Audiobooks, Calculator, Cellular Connectivity, Cycle Tracking, Noise, Wind, Rain and Voice Memos
• New monochrome complications in Infograph and Infograph Modular

Other features and improvements:

• New Calculator app with the ability to calculate tips and split the check
• Podcasts app now supports custom stations
• Maps includes Smart Guidance and spoken navigation
• Redesigned Now Playing app supports Apple TV remote controls
• Personalized music picks are now available in For You
• Automatic software updates
• Redesigned Walkie-Talkie app
• More settings directly available on Apple Watch including Accessibility, Workout and Health
• Redesigned Find People app lets you add friends, set notifications and change settings on Apple Watch
• View shared lists, subtasks and add new reminders right from within the redesigned Reminders app