Andrew O'Hara
Apple just released watchOS 5.1.2 to Apple Watch owners with a litany of features despite numbering suggesting is is only a minor update. AppleInsider goes hands on, and shows you the big changes.
The new ECG app is far and away the most headline-worthy feature baked into watchOS 5.1.2, but there are a number of improvements and features that came along for the ride.
Relating to that ECG functionality, the Apple Watch is now able to monitor for atrial fibrillation throughout the day, and not just while running an electrocardiogram. Apple Watch already monitored for high and low heart rates, so this just adds additional background functionality.
With the update, the Apple Watch now has the functionality to access movie tickets, coupons, and rewards cards when tapped at an NFC reader, forgoing the need to open them directly.
Walkie Talkie availability can now be toggled from Control Center rather than from within the app itself.
The Infograph watch face gained eight new complications including Mail, Maps, Messages, Find My Friends, Home, News, Phone, and Remote. The relatively small amount of complications was a large complaint from early Apple Watch Series 4 adopters who were limited in what first-party complication worked on the new watch faces.
Lastly, you can now receive notifications and animated celebrations when you reach your daily max during an Activity competition.
Preceding the release of watchOS 5.1.2, Apple also released the latest versions of macOS, iOS, and tvOS.
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40 Comments
Even though Irregular Rhythm Notifications feature has been made available to all Apple Watch series, it does not work outside the U.S. even with USA selected in regional settings. Another disappointment... it’s not an ECG app, which as Apple warned is only available in the US and IS territories.
dude- resting heart rate of 100- either much more stressful environment than it appears, or you gotta get outside a bit more.
This update is killing my battery quick! iPhone XS Max is barely making it . Around 4:00 pm est I’m usually around 70%. Currently at 39%. Apple needs to test these updates a lot better ...
More Infograph complications, woot! Sweet, will be able to replace my old Utility face design in Infograph now.