Apple today announced watchOS 2 for the Apple Watch. The headline feature is native apps, which allows watch apps to work without being in range of a paired phone, and work over the Internet via a local Wi-Fi network, instead of relying on a paired iPhone for Internet connectivity.
Apps will also have access to new APIs for accessing the Watch microphone, speaker, Taptic Engine, accelerometer, HomeKit, and more. Third-party apps can now also provide their own “complications”, which are like widgets that live on the modular watch faces.
The complications also support “Time Travel”, which lets you rotate the digital crown to see future info, such as weather forecasts and calendar appointments.
Other new watchOS features include a nightstand mode with alarm clock and the ability to reply to emails. Developers can access a beta version today, while it will roll out for consumers in the fall.
