New leaked information suggests that Apple plans to launch several new apps for watchOS 8 at WWDC 2021 (June 7), which takes place today

This is according to MacRumors, which reports that developer Khaos Tian has discovered several updates to the App Store manifest, which now contain references to several mysterious app bundles

MORE: If this information is true, the Apple Watch may shift further from being just an iPhone accessory to offering more independent applications in a more independent software ecosystem While not much information is available, Tian notes the new App Store profile, which features a number of unreleased "Nano" entries

"Nano" usually refers to watchOS apps, and the included entries seem to hint at new features in native watchOS versions of the "Contacts" and "Tips" apps found on other Apple devices, including those based on iOS and iPadOS

Perhaps the most intriguing of these new manifest updates is the mention of the "Mind" app, which is not available on existing Apple products

Again, with little basis in fact, such forms of mental health and mindfulness apps would be consistent with recent reports that watchOS 8 gets better health tracking, among several other new health tools

Thus, this remains pure speculation for now, but it does suggest a possible path to a freer Apple Watch The company has certainly made great strides toward greater independence with the watchOS 7 family setup, allowing children to use an Apple Watch linked to a parent's iPhone

However, unlike the run-up to watchOS 7's release, there have been no major leaks of watchOS 8 related to software details And while full autonomy of the future Apple Watch may not be expected, it seems certain that the new software is getting there

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