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watchOS 3.2 Set to Add Theater Mode, SiriKit for Third Party Integration

watchOS 3.2 Set to Add Theater Mode, SiriKit for Third-Party Integration

By Tasneem Akolawala | Updated: 31 January 2017 18:20 IST

Highlights

watchOS 3.2 first beta released for developers
It brings along Theater Mode which disables raise to wake
It also comes with SiriKit for Third-Party apps integration

watchOS 3.1.3 was released commercially for all Apple Watch users just a few days ago, and now the company has rolled out the first beta of watchOS 3.2 to developers. The beta version introduces several useful features including the Theater Mode which disables waking of screen on wrist raise. watchOS 3.2 is also the first version to come with SiriKit enabled, which means you will be able to call actions to specific third-party apps via Siri.

As we said, the biggest change in watchOS 3.2 is the introduction of SiriKit which allows developers to tap into Siri for integration. With this, users will be able to ask Siri on their Apple Watch to book a ride, send a message, make a payment, search photos, or make other requests that the app can handle.

Only apps in specific domains like Messaging, Payments, Ride Booking, Workouts, Calling, and Searching Photos support SiriKit in watchOS 3.2. For the developers, Apple notes in its change log, "Apps that provide services in specific domains can use SiriKit to make those services available through Siri on watchOS. Making your services available requires creating one or more app extensions using the Intents and Intents UI frameworks."

As for Theater Mode, it was first introduced in the beta version of watchOS 3.1.3, but never made it to the stable version. Its return to watchOS 3.2 beta could mean that its arrival is now imminent in the next stable release. Theater Mode lets users quickly mute the sound on their Apple Watch and avoid waking the screen on wrist raise. You will still continue to receive notifications (with haptic feedback) while in Theater Mode, and can even view them by pressing the digital crown or tapping on the screen.

Apple is also running developer beta for iOS 10.3 for iPhone and iPad bringing in live cricket score support for Siri, and a nifty 'Find My AirPods' feature. Developer betas of macOS 10.12.4, and tvOS 10.2 have also been released for registered developers.

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