On a January Wednesday in 2021, Apple placed the second developer beta of watchOS 7.3 into the hands of those who build for its watches, a small step in a long procession of software refinements. Roughly a month after the first trial and more than a month after watchOS 7.2 had reached everyday owners, the update carries a quiet hint of something to come. A new setting called Time to Walk points toward guided walking sessions, yet it sleeps in this build, waiting for a later hand to wake it.
Apple Seeds Second watchOS 7.3 Beta to Developers, Hinting at Guided Walking Workouts
A setting that suggests guided walks, but doesn't work yet
Mark
So what actually happened here? It sounds like a routine beta.
Mimi
Mostly it is. Apple gave developers the second watchOS 7.3 beta, about a month after the first. The interesting part is a new setting called Time to Walk.
Mark
What does that setting tell us?
Mimi
Its description says Time to Walk workouts are downloaded when the watch is on power and near the iPhone, and that completed workouts are deleted automatically. That sounds like downloadable guided walking sessions.
Luke
Careful, though. "Sounds like" is doing the work. The feature isn't functional in this beta, so all we have is a line of settings text.
Mimi
Fair. The report itself says it only suggests guided walking workouts, and that it might arrive in a later beta.
Mark
And what else is in 7.3?
Luke
Unknown. There's no word on other features. The idea that it includes bug fixes left over from 7.2 is a likely guess, not something Apple has said.
Mark
Who can even try this?
Mimi
Developers. They install a configuration profile, then update through the Watch app on the iPhone. The watch needs 50 percent battery, a charger and iPhone range.
Luke
And nothing says when 7.3 ships to the public. Worth remembering.
El Pulso
- Apple has seeded the second watchOS 7.3 beta, arriving about a month after the first and more than a month after watchOS 7.2.
- A newly discovered 'Time to Walk' setting hints at guided walking workouts, but it does nothing yet in this build.
- Developers must install a configuration profile and then pull the beta through the Watch app, with the watch charged past 50 percent, on its charger, and in range of the iPhone.
- The setting's description suggests walking workouts would download while the watch charges near the phone and delete themselves once completed.
- Everything beyond that remains unannounced, and the next beta will reveal whether the feature truly switches on.
On a January Wednesday in 2021, Apple placed the second developer beta of watchOS 7.3 into the hands of those who build for its watches, a small step in a long procession of software refinements. Roughly a month after the first trial and more than a month after watchOS 7.2 had reached everyday owners, the update carries a quiet hint of something to come. A new setting called Time to Walk points toward guided walking sessions, yet it sleeps in this build, waiting for a later hand to wake it.
On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, Apple released the second developer beta of watchOS 7.3, the next update planned for the Apple Watch. It came about a month after the first beta and more than a month after watchOS 7.2 reached the public with Fitness+, cardio fitness notifications, and ECG updates.
Installing the beta takes some preparation. Developers download a configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center, then fetch the update through the Apple Watch app on their iPhone. The watch must have at least 50 percent battery, sit on its charger, and remain within range of the phone.
The most striking find is a new setting called "Time to Walk." It suggests Apple may be preparing guided walking workouts for a later version, though the feature is not active yet. Its description says workouts will download while the watch charges near the iPhone and be deleted automatically once completed.
Beyond that, Apple has said nothing about the rest of watchOS 7.3. Bug fixes carried over from watchOS 7.2 are likely, but unconfirmed. The next beta will show whether Time to Walk comes alive and what it actually does.
On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, Apple pushed out the second developer beta of watchOS 7.3, the next update in line for the Apple Watch. The release arrived about a month after the first beta, and more than a month after watchOS 7.2 reached the public with support for Fitness+, cardio fitness notifications, ECG updates and other changes.
Getting the beta onto a watch takes a few steps. Developers first have to download the right configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. With the profile installed, the beta can be fetched through the Apple Watch app on a paired iPhone, under General, then Software Update.
The watch itself has to meet three conditions before it will take the new software. It needs at least 50 percent battery, it has to sit on its charger, and it has to be within range of the iPhone.
The most notable discovery in this beta is a new setting called "Time to Walk." Its presence suggests Apple may be preparing guided walking workouts for a later release of watchOS 7.3. The feature does not work yet in this beta, and it could be switched on in a subsequent one.
The wording of the setting offers a few clues about how it would operate. It reads: "Time to Walk Workouts are downloaded when Apple Watch is connected to power and near your iPhone. Completed workouts are deleted automatically." In other words, the walking sessions would apparently be fetched while the watch charges near the phone, and cleared away once finished.
Beyond that, nothing has been said about what else watchOS 7.3 will include. The update will probably carry bug fixes for problems that were not resolved in watchOS 7.2, though that is an expectation rather than anything Apple has confirmed.
What to watch for next is whether a later beta turns on Time to Walk and shows what the feature actually does.
Citas Notables
Time to Walk Workouts are downloaded when Apple Watch is connected to power and near your iPhone. Completed workouts are deleted automatically.— Text of the new Time to Walk setting in the watchOS 7.3 beta
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en MacRumors ↗
Technology