Malcolm Owen
Apple on Thursday released watchOS 4.3 for the Apple Watch, giving the wearable device new features like a portrait Nightstand mode and aesthetic user interface changes, along with the return of the previously-removed ability to browse an iPhone music catalog.
The final public release of watchOS 4.3 follows after six beta builds were issued to public testers and developers, and almost two weeks after the most recent beta shipped for testing.
Initially Apple Watch users will see smaller changes to the appearance of watchOS with refreshed system graphics and other convenience functions, including a new battery charging animation. Users who charge the Apple Watch on a vertical stand can use a new portrait view of Nightstand, showing the display in the correct orientation.
Appearing to largely consist of smaller improvements, there is one standout feature that has arrived in the new firmware, one that was removed with watchOS 4 last September. The update once again allows users to look through the music catalog located on a connected iPhone.
The reinstated controls, seen in the first watchOS 4.3 beta, allow users to access, browse, and control playback of the iPhone's music library. The controls also let users "love" and "dislike" songs, delete tracks, and route audio to AirPlay devices.
The update to watchOS 4.3 can be installed via the Apple Watch app for iPhone.
The previous update to watchOS, which brought it up to version 4.2, enabled support for Apple Pay Cash. The update allowed users to quickly authorize and send payments using the facility directly from their wrist, without needing to use an iPhone.
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
13 Comments
Wondering if this update will impact battery life at all. One of the 4.2.x updates cut the battery life on my S0 almost in half somehow. I used to get 2 days before charging - now I have maybe 15% left at the end of day 1. Really weird. Love the updates otherwise
Will the portrait nightstand mode work with the watch laying flat, like on an AirPower mat?
The iPhone music feature is cool. It plays on the iPhone not through BT headphones like the previous version did.