Apple Announces watchOS 2 With Native Apps, Third-Party Complications, and More

At today's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple detailed some major changes coming to watchOS, the operating system that powers the Apple Watch. New features in watchOS 2 include support for native apps, third-party complications, communications improvements, better health and fitness performance, new Siri capabilities, and more.

f1433788149
With watchOS 2, Apple Watch apps are going to see some major improvements. Developers will be able to build apps that run entirely on the Apple Watch, speeding up launch speeds, and they're also getting access to a whole host of Apple Watch features.

Developers have access to the Taptic Engine, to build haptic notifications into third-party applications, and they're also getting access to sensors like the accelerometer and the heart rate sensor. That means third-party apps will be able to track your movement and heart rate, contributing that data to the Activity app on the Apple Watch. Apps can also now access the microphone and play videos.

Apple is introducing new watch faces, with the ability to turn a photo or an album into a watch face. When you select an album, you'll see a different photo from that album each time you raise your wrist. Apple's also debuted a new Time Lapse watch face, which shows iconic locations around the world shot over 24 hours when you look at your watch. With the London Time Lapse, for example, if you look at your watch at noon, you'll see London at noon.

Third-party Complications are also a major new feature, letting developers build Complications for watch faces that allow users to quickly get quick looks at information like flight times, sports scores, the charge level of an electric car and more. Additionally, users can now spin the Digital Crown to access a new feature called Time Travel, which allows users to see future Complications information like what the weather will be like later in the day.

WatchOS 2 is gaining a new Nightstand mode that can be activated while the watch is charging, which displays the time and includes alarm clock features. New communication features include the ability to add more than 12 friends and the ability to send sketches in multiple colors. It'll also be possible to reply to Mail messages using dictation, and FaceTime Audio is supported.

f1433788683
Siri's gaining some improvements, including the ability to start workouts with commands like "Go for a 5-mile run" or "Go for a 300-calorie bike ride." Siri can also bring up glances for users now in watchOS 2, and can access Transit directions.

Some of the new updates to iOS 9, which include Transit directions and store credit and debit cards in Apple Pay are reflected within watchOS 2 as well, and the Apple Watch will gain a major iOS feature with watchOS 2 -- Activation Lock. Activation Lock on Apple Watch will prevent another user from wiping or activating the Apple Watch if it is lost or stolen.

WatchOS 2 will be available for registered developers beginning today, allowing them to begin building apps with the new features. It'll be available to the public in the fall alongside iOS 9 and will be a free update.

Update: The first beta of watchOS 2 is now available for registered developers.

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Friday June 27, 2025 9:52 am PDT by
Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below. CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Tuesday June 24, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...

Top Rated Comments

Chatter Avatar
131 months ago
For me, this is a really exciting part of today's stuff. I am really enjoying the watch and these new enhancements/apps/complications are welcome.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
131 months ago
I was at my local store this afternoon and then iPhone had the most people looking, along with some browsing iPads and Macs. Guess how many were at the watch table? Nobody.
Most pointless post ever.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NotSafeForWork Avatar
131 months ago
No third party watch faces :(
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doelcm82 Avatar
131 months ago
No, you're right. It doesn't have it.

The face of the watch is just too small - I think that's the problem. Plus the fact that it's not fully functional apart from a iPhone.


Fitness and Health? YES

General Purpose? NO
The days of the Apple Watch as a desktop replacement are not yet here.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jamesjingyi Avatar
131 months ago
Seriously? The Fall? Glad I sold mine.

Is this what it feels like when a major Apple launch disappoints? It's so depressing.
That's what usually happens, they release the actual thing later after they have ironed out bugs and given the devs a chance.. It's happened with OS X and iOS for ages now.. Thought you'd be used to it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slash366 Avatar
131 months ago
Not at all.

He's confirming several reports from people all around the world that have stated a dearth of people around the watch tables in Apple Stores, even in busy stores. It means that there is no question that the Apple Watch is, indeed, a failure for Apple; all that remains is to see the size of the failure. Is it a hobby, like the Apple TV used to be, or is it a Newton-sized pull-the-plug failure?

No mention of Apple Watch numbers by Cook; if they were stellar, we would certainly have heard them by now.
Several people!? Around the world you say?! Good lord didn't realise it was that bad. I best sell mine whilst it still holds some value in that case. Definite failure.

P.S I note every negative post in these forums is followed by a 'Benjamin Frost likes this'. Cheer up.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)