Your Apple Watch will soon track your hand washing, and 3 more updates from Apple's June event


Apple is rolling out a new Apple Watch feature that couldn't come soon enough during this pandemic.
Apple's annual developer conference went fully virtual for the first time on Monday as CEO Tim Cook and other developers debuted new updates for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Mac computers. Here are four new features to expect within the next few months.
1. Apple WatchOS7. The next version of the Apple Watch's operating system, set to come out this fall, will come with enhanced health and fitness tracking features. That includes a new Sleep App, which will help remind users when to wind down and lets them track their sleep quality each night. Apple Watch users can also enable automatic hand wash detection, which will measure how long and how often they're washing.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. iOS 14. This latest edition of the iPhone's operating system will give the phones a redesigned homescreen that, for the first time, lets them bookmark more than just apps — widgets for weather and photos, are all on the table. "App Clips" — a smaller version of an app that only performs a piece of its functions, will be debuted with iOS 14 later this year. iOS 13 and 14 will also soon host a digital car key feature, though it only works with the BMW 5 Series for now.
3. AirPod improvements. Apple's signature wireless earbuds will soon seamlessly transition between whatever device is playing audio instead of requiring a manual transition. They'll also have enhanced spatial awareness to create a more immersive listening experience.
4. Apps on Mac. iPhone and iPad apps will run on Macs that have its new Big Sur operating system, expected for release later this year.
Find more of what's new at The Verge.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
June 22 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include a SpaceX flight, Bibi pulling Donald Trump toward war, and an ICE agent looking like a bank robber
-
5 bunker-busting cartoons about the Israel-Iran war
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on Iran waiting for Pete Hegseth to leak war plans and Donald Trump's wish for a Nobel prize
-
Malaysia's delicious food and glorious beaches
The Week Recommends From 'colourful' George Town to the 'jungled interior' of Langkawi, Malaysia is incredibly diverse
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores