It's always interesting to see what gets people excited about a keynote. There's always one big, big name item that makes the biggest headlines — at WWDC 2024 this week, that award went to Apple Intelligence — but often it's the little things that presenters sling around that really get people excited.
The arrival of Calculator for iPad was the biggest pre-AI attraction at the event; even the mention of the app got the crowd excited before the company showed off its impressive equation-solving capabilities. Sometimes, some deferred gratification is all you need.
As surprising as it is to admit, the most exciting news outside of AI was announced in the watchOS segment, something I've been asking Apple for for years, triggered by my own health issues and the fact that I've somehow ended up getting COVID four times now.
The ability to pause your Activity rings is a minor feature update for most people, but for those of us who are obsessed with such things, it's the best Apple Watch update in years. If you're sick with a cold, on an international flight, or find yourself shaking your wrist violently at 9pm to tighten your rings, you can pause your progress from the Watch or the connected iPhone app.
There are several options for pausing: you can pause for a day, a day of the week, or a month. The system will still collect metrics, but you won't lose your streak if you don't reach the number required to close a ring.
watchOS 11 brings even more customization to your rings, allowing you to adjust your goals by day. For example, if you want Sunday to be a recovery day for your marathon training, you can lower your exercise goal. Once entered, it will be used as your goal for that day of the week until you change it again.
But what's best about it is knowing I won't have to do 30 minutes of exercise when my fifth Covid infection is inevitable.