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Apple mandates that new Watch apps 'must' work without an iPhone
Apple's laying the law down: Watch apps must operate without an iPhone nearby. In a blog post, the company mandates that anything submitted for App Store approval from this June 1st forward has to be a native app running watchOS 2. This should be a boon for anyone using the wearable during a run or workout where carrying a phone would be a hindrance. And ultimately, it'll result in higher quality applications that make full use of the device and what it's capable of rather than just being shoehorned to run on that OLED screen.
WatchOS 2 hands-on: What Apple Watch should have had from the start
Ignoring the mixed reviews, common sense and the usually wise advice that you should avoid first-gen products at all costs, I bought an Apple Watch last June. Honestly, I'm still surprised by that. I backed the original Pebble crowdfunding campaign, and I've tested a few Android Wear devices, but as a whole smartwatches have always left me wanting. If I was going to wear anything on my wrist, I typically preferred a dedicated fitness tracker. But after hearing about what Apple had planned for watchOS 2 (the software that powers the Watch), I felt compelled to snap up a 42mm Apple Watch Sport. Now, a little more than five months after the Watch's launch, that long-awaited update is here. And while it doesn't fix all of the Apple Watch's flaws, it's a significant improvement for the crazies like me who bought one already.
Apple releases watchOS 2 to put apps directly on your wrist
It's arriving a few days later than originally anticipated, but the first big Apple Watch software upgrade is here. watchOS 2 lets third-party developers create apps that run directly on the device itself, without relying on a connected phone. That means the apps have access to sensors embedded within the Watch itself, and they should run faster and be easier to interact with. Some have compared this change to the introduction of the App Store on iOS in 2008, but we'll have to see what developers use it for first. Other changes include new customizable Watch faces with Photo, Photo Album and Time-Lapse, plus upgraded Apple Pay and Siri integration. It also has Activation Lock, so if someone steals your Watch they can't just reset it or easily access your data. One thing you'll still need your iPhone for is to actually get the update -- owners can check Software Update under the Watch app to start the download now.
Apple delays the launch of watchOS 2 because of a bug
Apple has pushed back the launch of watchOS 2 because of a tricky bug, a spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. The new software was expected to hit Apple Watches today, September 16th. "We have discovered a bug in development of watchOS 2 that is taking a bit longer to fix than we expected," an Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch. "We will not release watchOS 2 today but will shortly."
Apple's first major Watch update arrives September 16th
The iPhone 6s might be what most people are waiting for (or that iPad Pro), but that doesn't mean Apple Watch owners aren't getting any attention. As expected, Cupertino just confirmed the first (significant) software update for the wearable will arrive next week -- September 16th.
