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Your Apple Watch is about to get the nearest thing to a brain transplant this fall.

Apple’s watchOS 3, (announced on Monday at WWDC 2016) represents a fundamental rethinking of Apple’s only wearable. It's a concerted effort to clarify the sometimes confusing navigation, stop trying to control everything and to acknowledge that clever doesn't always equal useful.  

It's not that Apple Watch wasn't already a very good wearable device. But, for most people, the utility had narrowed down to notifications, reminders to stand-up and regular alerts about your level of activity ("Look, I closed a ring!"). Watch OS 2.0, which arrived late last year, added important features like third-party complications, HomeKit device access and, of course, access to native hardware for third-party apps.

However, that last update also revealed a major weakness: These apps simply couldn’t load fast enough. Pre-loading oft-used apps in memory, as watchOS 3 promises to do, is going to make a major difference on that front, but I think it's some of the other upcoming watchOS 3 changes that will have the biggest impact on Apple Watch's overall utility.

A fresh face

In some small ways, Apple Watch is becoming a bit more like the iPhone, meaning that watchOS is inheriting the best parts of iOS. A swipe up from the bottom of the watch will now reveal a control panel, just like on the iPhone. The Dock, which reveals cards of your most-used apps, looks a bit like the apps screen you get when you double-press the iPhone’s Touch ID button. (A swipe down from the top still gives access to notifications, something Apple got right with the Apple Watch from day one.)

But there are even bigger, more fundamental and strategic changes. As my colleague Raymond Wong has noted thoroughly, a number of key functions, for instance, have been demoted or recast.

The Apple Watch home screen and its lovely cluster of app bubbles becomes an artifact of a failed user interface experiment. You’ll still be able to access it, but only when you press the digital crown. The Friends Circle that used to come up when you pressed the side button is dead, but the digital touches it encouraged (drawing, sending heartbeats) will have a new life in the much more powerful and cohesive iOS message system.

Take Scribble, which turns finger swiping into drawings or handwriting. Scribble iss now more or less the same between Apple mobile devices, but there's an extra wrinkle in watchOS 3: It will let you write an custom message one letter at at time — for those instances were the boilerplate responses aren't enough. (In my experience, they were almost never the ones I needed.)

Glances, which you accessed by sweeping up from the bottom of the Apple Watch screen and gave you quick links to things like your heart rate, battery life, activities and your calendar are done, too. That’s what the Dock is for: live cards of the apps you choose and the one you used most recently, instead of a set of features mostly selected by Apple.

Even the Apple Watch iPhone app is getting an update. No other Apple utility looks as much like an afterthought as the current watch app. With the brand new Face Gallery, the watchOS 3 app finally reveals all the hard work third-party apps vendors have been doing to create watch complications and even their own Apple Watch faces.

However, Apple’s change of heart is nowhere more evident in its fresh approach to activity and health.

Shaping up and calming down

Ever since companies started producing smartwatches, there’s been an ongoing debate about whether or not anyone even wears watches. A lot of people had given them up for the watch in their pocket: their smartphone. Wearables were all about fitness.

The Apple Watch, naturally, came with fitness- and health-tracking built in, but it was Apple’s brand of fitness and the company often seemed more interested in people seeing Apple Watch as a watch and fashion accessory first and a fitness gadget second.

That changes with watchOS 3.

Activities may no longer have a "glance," but now they're a full-blown watch face. So the three rings of Movement (for calories) Exercise and Standing can now be ever-present if you wish. Activities also still live within an app (which means it’s in the app Dock) and as a watch complication. No matter where you find it, though, Apple has done away with the virtual navigation grid in favor of strips. That’s right, if you want to see your activities, you just scroll the heck down.

It’s a much less complicated approach that will surely appeal to workout fanatics who perhaps found Apple’s wearable health and fitness ideas confusing and somewhat inflexible.

Speaking of flexibility, Apple has finally opened up the activity circles to third-party health and fitness apps like Strava. Now workouts done in your favorite workout app that start on the iPhone will get counted and continue on the watch. They’ll even let you define “Other” workouts.

watchOS also adds a new workout complication and, when you tap that, up to five live workout metrics. You’ll even be able to pause a workout by simultaneously pressing the side and crown buttons, which means you don’t even have to look at the watch to control the tracking.

Apple seems particularly proud of its new well-being-focused Breathe watch app, a watchOS 3 addition that’s probably not welcome news to apps like Headspace, which uses a mellifluous voice to help you practice mindfulness. Still, I have to applaud the simplicity of Apple’s approach. It’s really just about deep breathing, some flower graphics, and gentle wrist taps to help guide you along. Breathe seems emblematic of Apple’s larger watchOS 3 effort to help you achieve your goals without pressing its own methods and metrics upon you.

Do over

Apple’s sold millions of Apple Watches, but still felt the need for a course correction. Not enough people want beautiful timepieces, but many more want to work out and get credit for it. Not everyone is charmed by Apple’s cute ideas for reaching friends or seeing their schedule for a day or a week ago (Time Travel anyone?), but notifications, messaging and fast access to utility is something everyone can get behind.

WatchOS still bears little resemblance to any of the other wearable interfaces out there, but, like Samsung and Google before it, Apple has taken a major second swing at the wearable market. The Tizen-based Samsung Gear S2 showed that Samsung was listening to customer feedback and took note of the general disinterest in its previous (and relatively bulky) Gear watches. Android Wear 2.0 was also a major update that helped turn Google's wearable platform into something usable.

Apple calls its new wearable platform watchOS 3, but it's really the second iteration of the platform. And like everyone else, Apple is finally figuring this space out.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

You've all seen the Apple Watch's app screen before. Even though the device has only been out for a year, the Apple Watch's app cloud has become iconic — the face of the smartwatch — just as the iPhone's grid of apps has.

At WWDC 2016, Apple walked us through all of the improvements in watchOS 3, including showing off speed improvements, new watch faces, and even a new meditation app called Breathe, but not once did it show the iconic app screen during its keynote.

The beautiful screen, activated by pressing the digital crown, will still exist when watchOS 3 launches this fall, Apple has confirmed to Mashable. But you won't need to use it as much.

Pretty, but slow

When Apple first unveiled the Apple Watch in the fall of 2014, the apps screen was the literal face of the device, showing just how functional and innovative the creation of the digital crown was. Turning the digital crown lets you zoom closer into an app, without covering the small screen with your finger. Keep turning the crown and zoom in deep enough and you can launch the app.

In video spots, advertisements and photos, the screen is a beautiful display of all the things you can do with the Apple Watch with apps.

It's alluring, sophisticated and sleek. It's classic Apple design that makes competing products look like complete unthoughtful hot trash. I mean look at how pretty our Apple Watch photos from our review came out:

Users can even arrange apps in any layout they want, adding another level of personalization to the Apple Watch.

In practice, though, the iconic app screen's UI, is a failure.

As a person who has worn an Apple Watch for a year now, I can say definitively I almost never access the app screen. Using the digital crown to zoom in and out of apps sounded groundbreaking on paper, but in the real world it was more disappointing.

In the few times I tried to zoom into and launch an app, I always ended up zooming into the wrong app. (Pro tip: It zooms into whatever app is center-aligned on the screen.) And as pretty as the effect is, it's not fast. In fact, it's really slow.

Speed boost

With watchOS 3, how you launch apps on Apple Watch will likely change in a meaningful way.

At WWDC, Apple emphasized the new dock in watchOS 3, which is accessible by pressing the side button, which then takes you to a row of apps that you can swipe left and right between.

Apple says the dock lets you access your vital apps faster without needing to dive into the endless grid of apps on the app screen. In other words, never mind about that silly app cloud if you found it annoying.

Apple confirmed to Mashable the dock is only for accessing recent and favorite apps and not all of your apps. Users will be able to pin up to 10 apps in the dock. The dock won't be replacing the app screen, where the rest of your apps will exist.

The Apple Watch dock won't be replacing the app screen.

With the dock, you'll spend less time pecking around on the app screen searching for the right icon. Also, it's unlikely you'll ever use more than 10 core apps on a daily basis. So the dock is a huge plus in my book.

But if you get to the dock by pressing the side button, what happens to the friends shortcut for messaging, calling and sending Digital Touch doodles — what the button currently activates? Those features will be integrated into the Messages and Phone app (messaging and Digital Touch in Messages and making calls in Phone), Apple says. Good riddance, I say.

Habits are usually hard to change. But once watchOS 3 arrives, I'll finally be able to use apps (native and third-party) instead of spending an eternity locating them on the app screen and waiting for them to load.

The dock looks to be just the thing to make apps the main attraction on the Apple Watch — the way it should have been at launch. Better late than never, I suppose.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

You've all seen the Apple Watch's app screen before. Even though the device has only been out for a year, the Apple Watch's app cloud has become iconic — the face of the smartwatch — just as the iPhone's grid of apps has.

At WWDC 2016, Apple walked us through all of the improvements in watchOS 3, including showing off speed improvements, new watch faces, and even a new meditation app called Breathe, but not once did it show the iconic app screen during its keynote.

The beautiful screen, activated by pressing the digital crown, will still exist when watchOS 3 launches this fall, Apple has confirmed to Mashable. But you won't need to use it as much.

Pretty, but slow

When Apple first unveiled the Apple Watch in the fall of 2014, the apps screen was the literal face of the device, showing just how functional and innovative the creation of the digital crown was. Turning the digital crown lets you zoom closer into an app, without covering the small screen with your finger. Keep turning the crown and zoom in deep enough and you can launch the app.

In video spots, advertisements and photos, the screen is a beautiful display of all the things you can do with the Apple Watch with apps.

It's alluring, sophisticated and sleek. It's classic Apple design that makes competing products look like complete unthoughtful hot trash. I mean look at how pretty our Apple Watch photos from our review came out:

Users can even arrange apps in any layout they want, adding another level of personalization to the Apple Watch.

In practice, though, the iconic app screen's UI, is a failure.

As a person who has worn an Apple Watch for a year now, I can say definitively I almost never access the app screen. Using the digital crown to zoom in and out of apps sounded groundbreaking on paper, but in the real world it was more disappointing.

In the few times I tried to zoom into and launch an app, I always ended up zooming into the wrong app. (Pro tip: It zooms into whatever app is center-aligned on the screen.) And as pretty as the effect is, it's not fast. In fact, it's really slow.

Speed boost

With watchOS 3, how you launch apps on Apple Watch will likely change in a meaningful way.

At WWDC, Apple emphasized the new dock in watchOS 3, which is accessible by pressing the side button, which then takes you to a row of apps that you can swipe left and right between.

Apple says the dock lets you access your vital apps faster without needing to dive into the endless grid of apps on the app screen. In other words, never mind about that silly app cloud if you found it annoying.

Apple confirmed to Mashable the dock is only for accessing recent and favorite apps and not all of your apps. Users will be able to pin up to 10 apps in the dock. The dock won't be replacing the app screen, where the rest of your apps will exist.

The Apple Watch dock won't be replacing the app screen.

With the dock, you'll spend less time pecking around on the app screen searching for the right icon. Also, it's unlikely you'll ever use more than 10 core apps on a daily basis. So the dock is a huge plus in my book.

But if you get to the dock by pressing the side button, what happens to the friends shortcut for messaging, calling and sending Digital Touch doodles — what the button currently activates? Those features will be integrated into the Messages and Phone app (messaging and Digital Touch in Messages and making calls in Phone), Apple says. Good riddance, I say.

Habits are usually hard to change. But once watchOS 3 arrives, I'll finally be able to use apps (native and third-party) instead of spending an eternity locating them on the app screen and waiting for them to load.

The dock looks to be just the thing to make apps the main attraction on the Apple Watch — the way it should have been at launch. Better late than never, I suppose.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

You've all seen the Apple Watch's app screen before. Even though the device has only been out for a year, the Apple Watch's app cloud has become iconic — the face of the smartwatch — just as the iPhone's grid of apps has.

At WWDC 2016, Apple walked us through all of the improvements in watchOS 3, including showing off speed improvements, new watch faces, and even a new meditation app called Breathe, but not once did it show the iconic app screen during its keynote.

The beautiful screen, activated by pressing the digital crown, will still exist when watchOS 3 launches this fall, Apple has confirmed to Mashable. But you won't need to use it as much.

Pretty, but slow

When Apple first unveiled the Apple Watch in the fall of 2014, the apps screen was the literal face of the device, showing just how functional and innovative the creation of the digital crown was. Turning the digital crown lets you zoom closer into an app, without covering the small screen with your finger. Keep turning the crown and zoom in deep enough and you can launch the app.

In video spots, advertisements and photos, the screen is a beautiful display of all the things you can do with the Apple Watch with apps.

It's alluring, sophisticated and sleek. It's classic Apple design that makes competing products look like complete unthoughtful hot trash. I mean look at how pretty our Apple Watch photos from our review came out:

Users can even arrange apps in any layout they want, adding another level of personalization to the Apple Watch.

In practice, though, the iconic app screen's UI, is a failure.

As a person who has worn an Apple Watch for a year now, I can say definitively I almost never access the app screen. Using the digital crown to zoom in and out of apps sounded groundbreaking on paper, but in the real world it was more disappointing.

In the few times I tried to zoom into and launch an app, I always ended up zooming into the wrong app. (Pro tip: It zooms into whatever app is center-aligned on the screen.) And as pretty as the effect is, it's not fast. In fact, it's really slow.

Speed boost

With watchOS 3, how you launch apps on Apple Watch will likely change in a meaningful way.

At WWDC, Apple emphasized the new dock in watchOS 3, which is accessible by pressing the side button, which then takes you to a row of apps that you can swipe left and right between.

Apple says the dock lets you access your vital apps faster without needing to dive into the endless grid of apps on the app screen. In other words, never mind about that silly app cloud if you found it annoying.

Apple confirmed to Mashable the dock is only for accessing recent and favorite apps and not all of your apps. Users will be able to pin up to 10 apps in the dock. The dock won't be replacing the app screen, where the rest of your apps will exist.

The Apple Watch dock won't be replacing the app screen.

With the dock, you'll spend less time pecking around on the app screen searching for the right icon. Also, it's unlikely you'll ever use more than 10 core apps on a daily basis. So the dock is a huge plus in my book.

But if you get to the dock by pressing the side button, what happens to the friends shortcut for messaging, calling and sending Digital Touch doodles — what the button currently activates? Those features will be integrated into the Messages and Phone app (messaging and Digital Touch in Messages and making calls in Phone), Apple says. Good riddance, I say.

Habits are usually hard to change. But once watchOS 3 arrives, I'll finally be able to use apps (native and third-party) instead of spending an eternity locating them on the app screen and waiting for them to load.

The dock looks to be just the thing to make apps the main attraction on the Apple Watch — the way it should have been at launch. Better late than never, I suppose.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

You've all seen the Apple Watch's app screen before. Even though the device has only been out for a year, the Apple Watch's app cloud has become iconic — the face of the smartwatch — just as the iPhone's grid of apps has.

At WWDC 2016, Apple walked us through all of the improvements in watchOS 3, including showing off speed improvements, new watch faces, and even a new meditation app called Breathe, but not once did it show the iconic app screen during its keynote.

The beautiful screen, activated by pressing the digital crown, will still exist when watchOS 3 launches this fall, Apple has confirmed to Mashable. But you won't need to use it as much.

Pretty, but slow

When Apple first unveiled the Apple Watch in the fall of 2014, the apps screen was the literal face of the device, showing just how functional and innovative the creation of the digital crown was. Turning the digital crown lets you zoom closer into an app, without covering the small screen with your finger. Keep turning the crown and zoom in deep enough and you can launch the app.

In video spots, advertisements and photos, the screen is a beautiful display of all the things you can do with the Apple Watch with apps.

It's alluring, sophisticated and sleek. It's classic Apple design that makes competing products look like complete unthoughtful hot trash. I mean look at how pretty our Apple Watch photos from our review came out:

Users can even arrange apps in any layout they want, adding another level of personalization to the Apple Watch.

In practice, though, the iconic app screen's UI, is a failure.

As a person who has worn an Apple Watch for a year now, I can say definitively I almost never access the app screen. Using the digital crown to zoom in and out of apps sounded groundbreaking on paper, but in the real world it was more disappointing.

In the few times I tried to zoom into and launch an app, I always ended up zooming into the wrong app. (Pro tip: It zooms into whatever app is center-aligned on the screen.) And as pretty as the effect is, it's not fast. In fact, it's really slow.

Speed boost

With watchOS 3, how you launch apps on Apple Watch will likely change in a meaningful way.

At WWDC, Apple emphasized the new dock in watchOS 3, which is accessible by pressing the side button, which then takes you to a row of apps that you can swipe left and right between.

Apple says the dock lets you access your vital apps faster without needing to dive into the endless grid of apps on the app screen. In other words, never mind about that silly app cloud if you found it annoying.

Apple confirmed to Mashable the dock is only for accessing recent and favorite apps and not all of your apps. Users will be able to pin up to 10 apps in the dock. The dock won't be replacing the app screen, where the rest of your apps will exist.

The Apple Watch dock won't be replacing the app screen.

With the dock, you'll spend less time pecking around on the app screen searching for the right icon. Also, it's unlikely you'll ever use more than 10 core apps on a daily basis. So the dock is a huge plus in my book.

But if you get to the dock by pressing the side button, what happens to the friends shortcut for messaging, calling and sending Digital Touch doodles — what the button currently activates? Those features will be integrated into the Messages and Phone app (messaging and Digital Touch in Messages and making calls in Phone), Apple says. Good riddance, I say.

Habits are usually hard to change. But once watchOS 3 arrives, I'll finally be able to use apps (native and third-party) instead of spending an eternity locating them on the app screen and waiting for them to load.

The dock looks to be just the thing to make apps the main attraction on the Apple Watch — the way it should have been at launch. Better late than never, I suppose.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.