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watchOS is the operating system developed by Apple for its Apple Watch devices, focusing on health, fitness, and seamless integration with the broader Apple ecosystem. Each version of watchOS builds on the previous, adding new features and enhancements to improve user experience and device functionality. Below is the history of major watchOS versions, with no URLs included as per your preference.

watchOS 10 introduced a redesigned interface, emphasizing widgets for quicker access to information. The update also added cycling features, mental health tracking tools via the Mindfulness app, and several new watch faces. This version marked a deeper integration between health-related goals and device functionality, reflecting Apple's focus on wellness and fitness.

watchOS 9 brought advanced fitness tracking features such as Heart Rate Zones and running metrics, including stride length and vertical oscillation. Sleep tracking was enhanced with sleep stages, and the AFib History feature allowed users to monitor atrial fibrillation symptoms over time. This update also included more customization options for watch faces and complications.

watchOS 8 focused on mindfulness and mental health with the introduction of the Mindfulness app, replacing the Breathe app. It added new workout types, including Tai Chi and Pilates, and improved support for messaging and home automation through the Home app. This version continued enhancing the Apple Watch as a tool for both fitness and communication.

watchOS 7 introduced sleep tracking, allowing users to monitor their sleep patterns, along with a Handwashing Detection feature that promoted proper hygiene with a timer. The addition of Family Setup enabled users to set up and manage Apple Watches for family members, even if they didn’t own an iPhone. This version also expanded workout options with new types like Dance and Functional Strength Training.

watchOS 6 was a major release that brought the App Store directly to the Apple Watch, allowing users to download and install apps without needing an iPhone. New health features included Cycle Tracking for menstrual health and Noise monitoring, which alerted users to harmful noise levels in their environment. The update also added several new watch faces and complications to improve customization options.

watchOS 5 focused on improving fitness tracking with features like automatic workout detection and support for competitions with friends. It introduced the Walkie-Talkie feature, allowing users to communicate via voice messages quickly. Other updates included improvements to notifications and new workout modes such as Yoga and Hiking.

watchOS 4 introduced new watch faces, including a Siri face that provided proactive suggestions based on the user’s activity. The update also enhanced fitness tracking with features like personalized activity coaching, additional workout options, and more advanced heart rate monitoring. GymKit integration was introduced, allowing the Apple Watch to sync with gym equipment for more accurate workout data.

watchOS 3 was a major overhaul that focused on speed and usability. The update introduced the Dock, providing quicker access to frequently used apps, and improved the performance of many core apps. New health features included the Breathe app, which guided users through deep breathing exercises. The update also included new watch faces and more options for customizing complications.

watchOS 2 introduced native apps, allowing developers to create apps that could run directly on the Apple Watch without needing an iPhone for processing. This version also added new watch faces, including a Time-Lapse face and a feature that allowed users to add complications to more watch faces. Enhanced communication features, like the ability to reply to emails directly from the watch, were also introduced.

watchOS 1 was the first release of the operating system for the original Apple Watch. It provided basic functionality, including notifications, fitness tracking, and integration with iPhone apps. The version introduced the concept of Glances, which offered quick access to key information. While limited in scope, watchOS 1 laid the foundation for future developments in wearable technology.

The watchOS version history showcases how each update has added new functionalities and improvements to the Apple Watch. From fitness and health tracking features to greater app integration and customization options, watchOS has evolved to meet the needs of users looking for a multifunctional device. Over the years, the operating system has become more independent from the iPhone, with native apps and enhanced user experiences tailored specifically for wearable technology.

Snippet from Wikipedia: MacOS version history

The history of macOS, Apple's current Mac operating system formerly named Mac OS X until 2011 and then OS X until 2016, began with the company's project to replace its "classic" Mac OS. That system, up to and including its final release Mac OS 9, was a direct descendant of the operating system Apple had used in its Mac computers since their introduction in 1984. However, the current macOS is a UNIX operating system built on technology that had been developed at NeXT from the 1980s until Apple purchased the company in early 1997.

macOS components derived from BSD include multiuser access, TCP/IP networking, and memory protection.

Although it was originally marketed as simply "version 10" of Mac OS (indicated by the Roman numeral "X"), it has a completely different codebase from Mac OS 9, as well as substantial changes to its user interface. The transition was a technologically and strategically significant one. To ease the transition for users and developers, versions 10.0 through 10.4 were able to run Mac OS 9 and its applications in the Classic Environment, a compatibility layer.

macOS was first released in 1999 as Mac OS X Server 1.0. It was built using the technologies Apple acquired from NeXT, but did not include the signature Aqua user interface (UI). The desktop version aimed at regular users—Mac OS X 10.0—shipped in March 2001. Since then, several more distinct desktop and server editions of macOS have been released. Starting with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, macOS Server is no longer offered as a standalone operating system; instead, server management tools are available for purchase as an add-on. The macOS Server app was discontinued on April 21, 2022, and will stop working on macOS 13 Ventura or later. Starting with the Intel build of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, most releases have been certified as Unix systems conforming to the Single UNIX Specification.

Lion was referred to by Apple as "Mac OS X Lion" and sometimes as "OS X Lion"; Mountain Lion was officially referred to as just "OS X Mountain Lion", with the "Mac" being completely dropped. The operating system was further renamed to "macOS" starting with macOS Sierra.

macOS retained the major version number 10 throughout its development history until the release of macOS 11 Big Sur in 2020.

Mac OS X 10.0 and 10.1 were given names of big cats as internal code names ("Cheetah" and "Puma"). Starting with Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, big-cat names were used as marketing names; starting with OS X 10.9 Mavericks, names of locations in California were used as marketing names instead.

The current major version, macOS 15 Sequoia, was announced on June 10, 2024, at WWDC 2024 and released on September 16 of that year.

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