When smart watches first came out, they ignited our inner Spy Kids nostalgia, having grown up with countless undercover-spy storylines featuring space age tech that could do it all.
We’ve been inching closer to this overtime — from being able to say ‘hey siri’ and offer voice commands to using your watch to sound an alarm on your phone to help you find it — but the latest iteration of the Apple Watch (Series 9) takes us even further into the frontier of fully-fledged Bond heroes.
Officially the ‘world’s most popular watch’, the new range offers carbon neutral models and a brand-new capability that Apple is calling a ‘Double Tap Gesture’.
It’s a new way to use the watch that doesn’t involve touching it at all. Users simply need to make a specific gesture using the hand that the watch is on, and it will know exactly what you want it to do. It makes it easy to give the watch basic commands without even needing to look down at it, let alone toggle with the buttons.
For example, if you tap the index finger and thumb of the watch hand together twice quickly, the watch can carry out the set command. This may include stopping a watch timer, pressing play and pause on music or snoozing an alarm (one the sleepy heads will surely approve of).
Essentially, the new update extends the watch’s technology so you can use your body parts (your fingers tapping together) to control it. And yes, you are about to start seeing a bunch of people walking around with stylish watches on their wrists signalling silently with their hands. It will be the new version of covering your Apple Watch with your hand to put it into sleep mode.
How Does The Space Age Double Tap Gesture Work?
No, your watch doesn’t have a secret camera filming your finger movements. Instead, it uses a ‘Neural Engine’ to process data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor, in combination with a machine learning algorithm.
Essentially, this algorithm will be able to detect the unique signature of tiny wrist movements and changes in blood flow when the index finger and thumb perform a double tap.
What Else Is New About The Watch?
In Series 9, you can now use voice commands with Siri (who is faster on-device) to log and access health data, making it more seamless for you to track and log your symptoms or the start of a new menstrual cycle.
It also has a new Precision Finding feature which will make locating your iPhone easier than ever (a useful solution for those who tend to misplace their mobile). The new feature will provide distance and direction as well as visual, haptic and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone, even if it’s in a different room.
It also offers new features for cycling and hiking fanatics, as well as tools to support mental health, such as ‘state of mind logging’. You’ll also be able to track the amount of time per day you spend in daylight, using the ambient light sensor on the watch, a great option for those trying to improve their sleep and wellbeing.
How To Pick The Right Watch For Your Style?
As a type of wearable tech, there’s no denying the natural cross section between fitness trackers and fashion. You want to wear the watch and have it fit in seamlessly with your existing wardrobe, whether that be with workout gear or your office suit.
The good news is that the Series 9 comes in a series of colourways including the classic aluminium starlight, midnight, red and silver, stainless steel in gold, silver and graphite and even a new pink aluminium case.
All the aluminium styles are carbon neutral (to be paired with a carbon neutral sport loop band, ofc).
For those who expect their watch to have a touch of high fashion, Hermès has released a series of bands for the Series 9 drawing on the house’s expertise in textiles. They have two woven bands, the Toile H (evoking Hermès signature checked canvas) and Twill Jump (rich solid colour with contrasting details) as well as a knitted band the Bridon. They have also launched a new watch face to pair with the bags, the Hermès Radial.
The Apple Watch Series 9 starts at $649, while the Apple Watch SE starts at $399.
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