New OS and heaps of colours for Apple Watch
As part of its slew of announcements today, Apple has introduced the first major software update for the Apple Watch, with new features as well as a new range of Apple Watch cases and bands.
Amongst the new accessories are new gold and rose gold aluminum Apple Watch Sport models.
The next operating system, watchOS 2, will arrive as a free update come September 16, which Apple says will further enhance the Apple Watch experience with new features and third party apps.
New features of watchOS 2 includes the ability for third-party apps to display information on the watch face, new ways to see future events and past headlines with Time Travel, and new communication features such as the ability to response quickly to Mail with dictation, Smart Replies of emoji, as well as Digital Touch.
"Our customers love Apple Watch and tell us its incredible health and fitness features are having a huge impact on their lives," says Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of Operations. "We're excited to expand Apple Watch's functionality with watchOS 2 and offer even more personal choice with beautiful new styles and colours.
The company says watchOS 2 will provide more ways to customise the Apple Watch with new watch faces including Photo, Photo Album and Time-Lapse.
It says watch faces are even richer with third-party app complications that let users see news headlines, upcoming flight times and more. Time Travel allows users to explore events in the future by scrolling the Digital Crown.
Apple Watch app developers can now take advantage of key hardware and APIs to create fast, fluid, native third-party apps such as playing back video in the CNN app, using the speaker and microphone in iTranslate or measuring heart rate while cycling with Strava.
Along with watchOS 2, the tech giant has released a bunch of new case colours and bands.
New standalone Sport Bands range from vibrant colours to more neutral tones, and the Apple Watch Sport's case now comes in two new colours, gold aluminium and rose gold aluminium, paired with high-performance fluoroelastomer Sport Bands in lavender, antique white, stone and midnight blue.
Apple Watch Sport silver aluminium is now available with new orange or blue Sport Bands.
The stainless steel Apple Watch collection offers a variety of new bands including a two-toned Classic Buckle in black or saddle brown, and the the Apple Watch space black stainless steel case is now available with a black Sport Band.
The Apple Watch Edition now includes an 18-carat rose gold case with a midnight blue Classic Buckle.
Apple Watch bands for the entire Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch collections are available to purchase separately, along with four new Sport Band colours in fog, turquoise, vintage rose and walnut.
