Watchos 26: Apple probably wants to open the control center for developers

Apple apparently faces major changes in operating his computer watch Apple Watch. A report of the Apple blogs 9to5mac According to Control center (Control Center) can be converted with the Watchos 26, which appeared in autumn. The most important innovation: For the first time, developers of apps should also have access to the area. So you could place widgets there to carry out relevant actions. Users would no longer have to move themselves through an application and could trigger app campaigns faster, because the control center can always be reached by clicking on the side button. At the moment, only Apple can place widgets, i.e. switches and symbols, uses this, for example for flight mode, volume, font size or slab. The user can also (a little) configure this, i.e. decide how the widgets are placed and where they appear.

Opening like on the iPhone?

Under iOS, the control center has long been fitted by third-party apps with widgets, with iOS 18 the area was also significantly more flexible, since there are entire widget collections that can be placed on several screens. Apple will probably not go that far at Watchos 26, if only because the Watch screen is significantly smaller.

According to 9to5mac, which is based on “reliable sources”, data from apps should also appear in the Watchos-26 control center. To make the configuration easier, Apple also wants to expand the Apple Watch app on the iPhone. There it can then be determined on the larger screen what becomes part of the Apple watch control center.

Faster functions

As simple as the opening of the control center on the Apple Watch may sound, it could make it significantly easier to operate. Apps can already put complications on the dial to trigger quick actions or display data, but their number is limited. The navigation by individual apps itself is not always pleasant under Watchos, precisely because of the small screen.

Watchos 26, whose current predecessor is called Watchos 11, should otherwise come with a new look that shows glass effects – this internally called “solarium” UI will bring Apple to all of its operating systems, according to the rumor mill.