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Here Are All The Best watchOS 2 Features Coming to Apple Watch

Here Are All The Best watchOS 2 Features Coming to Apple Watch

by Abdel Ibrahim
July 27, 2015

We’re still several weeks away from watchOS 2 debut, but we can’t help but be excited about all the new things we’ll be able to do with the Apple Watch once this update is released. From the looks of it, this update will truly take the Watch from what seems like a beta product to something that’s more in line with a first generation product. Below we’ve listed what we think are going to be the best features of watchOS 2.

Digital Crown:

  • The Digital Crown will now  be accessible to third-party developers via an API allowing them to use the Crown for various features.
  • Rotating the Digital Crown while on the watch face will enter the Watch into “Time Travel” mode allowing the user to see events from the last 72 hours, both past and future.
  • You’ll be able to see future events including updates to your calendar, weather, as well as time in other parts of the world. Some third-party complication will also be able to take advantage of this feature.

Watch Faces:

  • Users will be able to set their own photos as backgrounds.
  • User will also be able to set a Photo Album and see the face change to a different photo every time they raise their wrist.
  • There will also be five time lapse cities including London, Hong Kong, Mack Lake, New York, and Shanghai. These face will show how the city looks during the time of day you look at it. For example, if you look at your Watch at noon, it will show noon in London.

Sensors:

  • Developers will have access to various sensors built into the Apple Watch including the microphone, speaker, Taptic engine, heart rate sensor, and accelerometer.
  • Developers will be able to customize different feelings using Apple’s Taptic engine.
  • Health Apps will be able to use the build in heart rate sensor to measure one’s activity and contribute it to your daily movements.

Wifi:

  • The Apple Watch will be able to connect to wifi networks without the need for an iPhone. This means that the Watch will be able to do things  like take voice calls and text messages without needing the iPhone whatsoever.

Digital Touch:

  • You’ll be able to add more than 12 friends to your Contacts. Now, you’ll be able to create sets of friends such as “Work Friends” and “Family Friends” or “People I hate.”
  • You’ll be able to choose multiple colors for sketches. Yay!
  • You’ll be able to add friends from the Watch itself without having to use the Watch app on your iPhone.

Email Replies and Short Videos:

  • With watchOS 2, you’ll be able to send quick replies like you’re currently able to do with text messages. This includes voice and quick messages.
  • Applications are likely to let users create specific responses on a per app basis. For example, you can set a quick reply that says “You’re Fired”  in Mail but it won’t show up in your text messages quick reply.
  • Apple is allowing third-party developers to display short form video. Things like Snapchat, Vine and such may benefit immensely from this feature.

Maps:

  • The new transit directions found in Apple Maps will show you various mass transit schedule including subway and bus schedules.
  • Walking direction to and from different stops will also be displayed. Weeee!

Siri:

  • You’ll be able to start a workout without touching your Watch by using the “Hey Siri” command. Simply raise your arm and say something like “Hey Siri, I’m going on a 30 minute outdoor run” and Siri will instantly open and start the Workout app. Very awesome.

Nightstand Mode:

  • When you set you Watch down to charge at night, a new user interface will present itself showing the time, date, and your alarm time.
  • The Digital Crown and Contacts button also change and become your snooze and turn off buttons.
  • Don’t pick and smash your watch like Billy Murry.

Apple Pay:

  • More credit cards and rewards cards will be accessible on the Apple Watch with watchOS 2.

Of course, there are other features, but as we mentioned, we think these are the very best. Once this update is released and third-party developers begin incorporating these features, we think the Watch is truly going to become much more appealing to a wide-range of customers.