Originally published at: Apple Watch Series 7 Brings Modest Tweaks - TidBITS
Rumors suggested the Apple Watch was due for a major physical design, but the Series 7 turned out to look much like its predecessor—albeit with a few physical and software changes. Also, watchOS 8 gets some fitness improvements aimed largely at cyclists.
An interesting twist to the story: a few months ago, Apple banned an app called FlickType that added a full keyboard to the Apple Watch. The developer is suing.
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Interesting speculation about why Apple rolled out a minor instead of major Apple Watch design, as had been rumored.
I can’t believe that a last-minute substitution exists in this industry. These products are designed over years, and even the manufacturing lines probably take months to set up. I’m with Gruber on this one—the rumors were likely about a future model.
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I’m with Gruber on this. I normally upgrade my stuff when I see a significant change in the device. With the Apple Watch, I bought the original series 0, and then series 2,4, and finally 6. I do remember getting to audition the series 5 when my series 4 was being replaced for a stuck pixel and not being impressed by the changes. So, seeing the series 7 as being a minor bump is totally in keeping the pattern for Apple Watches.
Last minute…you’re probably right. Having a plan B…seems right up Tim Cook’s production guru alley. I don’t think there’s enough evidence to really say. Add in the no talk about the SoC…and the shipping later at some undetermined time in the Fall…lends some support to the idea…but not enough data to know.
Hi,
I recently submitted a request to Apple regarding a feature request,
So I will will be curious to see if it actually made the cut (in the iOS update)
I use my AW6, primarily as a monitor during a rowing workout.
While one can configure some health metrics such as max heart rate,
I noticed, or I cannot easily find, a way to create an audible alert when reaching
a bpm threshold.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
It might be worth it to upgrade my Series 1 Watch now…? I wonder if the cellular version is worth getting.
With the Apple Watch it’s always possible there’s a third party app that will do what you want. Search the Watch and Phone App Store.
I am not sure if this confuses any matters but at the Apple website there is a promotional link, of sorts, indicating the following
Get up to $145 toward a new Apple Watch.8
My first reaction was “Hunh?”
Does this indicate AW7 is a predestined short-lived iteration?
I’m sure it’s just a typo, made easier by the fact that watchOS 8 will ship with the Apple Watch Series 7.
I thought that was surely footnote 8.
Even more likely! 
Dang,
I knew I should’ve taken a screenshot. The item has been corrected
The original “footnote” was not originally in superscript
John Gruber’s review points out that the screen really is quite a bit larger. But even if it has a keyboard, it’s still really hard to type on.