Apple’s first beta release of watchOS 2.2 for the Apple Watch brings a welcome new “Quick Links” features to the Maps app’s Glance function.
The Apple Maps Glance for Apple Watch has been reimagined with watchOS 2.2, providing users with quick links to directions to their home, work, nearby locations, and more.
In the current version of watchOS 2, version 2.1, the Maps glance simply displays a small map with the user’s current location. In the first beta of version 2.2 the glance now displays the following four “Quick Links” for directions:
- Home
- Work
- Search
- Nearby
“Home” and “Work” will automatically start navigation from the user’s current location to their home or work location, which is set on the user’s “Me” card on the iPhone.
“Search” offers the options of “Dictation,” and “Favorites,” plus a list of recently searched locations.
“Nearby” offers users a number of locations, based on certain categories, which include: Food, Drinks, Shopping, Travel, Services, Fun, Health, and Transport. Each one of those categories then offers a subcategory. For example, tapping “Food” would then present options for “Popular,” “Restaurants,” “Groceries,” “Coffee,” and more. Tapping a subcategory displays a list of local options along with user ratings for each location.
watchOS 2.2 is currently in beta, and is only available to developers for testing.
