In addition to iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1, Apple has just released watchOS 10.1, the first major update for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The update introduces the "Double Tap" feature advertised at launch, which is demonstrated in the launch trailer embedded below.
This feature allows you to control certain functions of the Apple Watch by tapping the thumb and index finger (twice, in quick succession) of the hand on which the smartwatch is worn. Among other things, this aims to enable users to comfortably pause music playback, open the widget view of a watch face, answer or end calls, open notifications, scroll through long emails, mute an alarm, pause a timer or even take a photo via the remote camera control on the connected iPhone.
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How this gesture is performed for specific apps can be configured in the settings of the Apple Watch app. To give users feedback that a Double Tap gesture has just been detected, the Apple Watch displays the corresponding icon at the top of the screen. Apple stresses that this feature is not available on older models because Double Tap needs Apple S9's AI accelerator on the latest Apple Watches.
Users of an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer will also get new features with watchOS 10, starting with NameDrop, which allows users to send their contact information to another iPhone or Apple Watch by holding the watch near that device. NameDrop can be activated at any time via a new watch face complication. watchOS 10.1 also fixes a number of bugs.