watchOS 2

The 30 best watchOS 2 features [Video]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

After a unscheduled delay, watchOS 2 was released on Monday for the Apple Watch. As we've noted in the past, watchOS 2 is a significant upgrade over the first version. It brings with it several big name features, including third-party complications, native apps, Nightstand mode, and a handful of all new watch faces.

No, watchOS 2 isn't as big as last week's release of iOS 9 in terms of features, but if you're an Apple Watch owner, it's something that you'll definitely want to update to without delay. Have a look at our video walkthrough to see many of the new features in action

Hands on with Night Sky’s ISS Complication for Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 1, 2018

Complications in the watch making industry are added features to the movement of a watch beyond simply telling the hour and minutes. The Apple Watch, of course, features a selection of software-based Complications allowing you to put stuff like Activity rings, the weather, stocks, the latest sports scores and more right on your watch face.

With watchOS 2, Apple began permitting third-party complications on watch faces. To tell learn more about how third-party Complications work in watchOS 2, I took iCandi Apps' awesome stargazing app called Night Sky for a spin.

New in watchOS 2: a bigger, square keypad

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 22, 2015

Apple yesterday unleashed the free watchOS 2 software update for the Apple Watch and with it came tons of improvements, most of which our writers will be explaining in detail here on iDownloadBlog in the coming days and weeks,

One of the little things that I think many Apple Watch wearers will greet with a resounding 'at last!' is a redesigned keypad for entering your passcode. Here's what it looks like and why it's better than the old Apple Watch keypad from a user experience standpoint.

Check out new animated emoji in watchOS 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 22, 2015

WatchOS 2 expands availability of emoji on your Apple Watch with more than two-dozen newly added, fully animated hand symbols and smileys.

The new smileys and hands let you convey your feelings and express emotions more precisely than before. Some of the new emoji support changing colors between yellow and red by way of pressing firmly on the screen.

Here’s everything that’s new, improved and enhanced in watchOS 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 21, 2015

Following a slight delay in launching watchOS 2 due to a critical bug discovered at the last minute, Apple on Monday released the first major update to the operating system powering the Apple Watch.

In addition to executing your favorite apps directly on the device rather than on your iPhone, watchOS 2 lets native apps take advantage of hardware features such as built-in mic, the Digital Crown and the Taptic Engine.

For the full list of changes, check out Apple's official release notes further below detailing everything that’s new, improved and enhanced in watchOS 2.

How to update to watchOS 2

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

As of a few minutes ago, watchOS 2 is now available for download. If you own an Apple Watch, you can upgrade from watchOS 1 to watchOS 2 and enjoy many of the Apple Watch's new features. These features include native apps, third-party complications, and much, much more. In this post, we'll show you how to update your Apple Watch to the latest and greatest.

Apple releases watchOS 2

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2015

After a nearly week long delay, Apple has released watchOS 2 to the public. The update is a big one, and brings new features like custom complications, photo-based watch faces, and native apps to the Apple Watch. To update, simply head over to the Watch app on your paired iPhone running iOS 9, and check for new updates.

Apple delays watchOS 2 rollout after discovering bug

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 16, 2015

Apple has delayed its release of the highly-anticipated watchOS update for the Apple Watch. Apple confirmed with TechCrunch that, after discovering a bug, it would not be releasing watchOS 2 today as scheduled, but would do so shortly.

How to use third-party complications in watchOS 2

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Although watchOS 2 and iOS 9 won't be available for another few hours, several apps that include new watchOS 2 functionality have already been approved for distribution on the App Store. One such app is Star Walk 2, the sequel to the groundbreaking astronomy app for iOS.

StarWalk 2's iOS 9 and watchOS 2 update includes support for in-app Spotlight searches on iOS, Slide Over and Split View on the iPad, and more. But in this post, we want to concentrate on one thing in particular—third-party Apple Watch complications. How do third-party complications work, and how do you use them? Take a look at our video walkthrough.

Apple is now asking developers to submit app updates for iOS 9, OS X El Capitan, and watchOS 2

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

After the successful launch of the OS X El Capitan, watchOS 2, and the iOS 9 GM seeds, Apple is now requesting that developers submit their app updates to take advantage of the new features present in its latest OS updates. You can read Apple's bulletin via the Developer Center.

Apple posts ‘Hey Siri’ downloadable video to iTunes

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2015

If you want to relive new iPhone, iPad and Apple TV announcements and watch Apple's keynote presentation in the comfort of your home, on your own time and without streaming, now you can as the full event video has surfaced as a downloadable high-definition video podcast on iTunes.

“See Apple CEO Tim Cook and team introduce iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus, the all-new Apple TV with tvOS, iPad Pro, WatchOS 2 and iOS 9,” reads the description. The presentation runs two hours and twenty minutes long so block out about three hours of your time this weekend and enjoy it in its entirety.

Hacker adds custom watch face to the Apple Watch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ August 18, 2015

Hamza Sood, a well-known member of the jailbreak community who likes to dabble in code, just tweeted a video of an Apple Watch running a custom watch face. The video, which is 23 seconds long, shows a custom watch face with running on a stainless steel Apple Watch with Milanese loop. Check out the full video and tell us what you think.