The next-gen watch operating system gives the gadget a major overhaul. Native apps alone will make the watch more useful on its own. The first version of watchOS required the watch to mirror iPhone apps instead of running directly on the watch, which limited their capabilities and slowed down loading times. WatchOS 2 apps can also tap into the watch’s sensors, so the Taptic Engine, accelerometer, heart rate sensors, and Digital Crown all come into play. We can’t wait to see what developers have in store.
Then there’s new watch faces (including Live Photos, the gorgeous moving images Apple showed off with the new iPhones), third-party complications, Time Travel view, more Siri functionality, and nightstand mode, along with smaller tweaks like the ability to use multiple colors in a Digital Touch sketch. If you don’t upgrade to watchOS 2, your Apple Watch will be left in the dust.
Here’s how to get it: Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap through My Watch > General > Software Update. Make sure your watch is in Bluetooth range of your iPhone and connected to its charger. This could take a while. Let us know in the comments if you have any problems upgrading, or tell us if you plan to hold off on installing watchOS 2 and why.