14 DAY TRIAL // watchOS 2.0, the version expected to arrive at the same time as iOS 9 on September 16, was finally released just a few moments ago with a huge list of improvements and a vast number of security fixes, one of the latter being responsible for this version's delayed release.
The watchOS 2.0 version comes with Siri improvements designed to make it easier to get transit directions, to make FaceTime calls and reply to e-mails. It also makes it possible to control your home devices using Siri and adds support for Austria, Belgium (French and Dutch), and Norway.
Moreover, watchOS 2.0 includes new watch faces with time-lapses of major cities around the world and a host of new timekeeping features, such as time travel via the Digital Crown and a NightStand Mode that transforms your Watch into an alarm clock.
Workout and activity improvements have also been added, to make it simpler to include workouts recorded with third-party apps into Activity rings, to share your workouts, Activity rings and achievements via the iPhone Activity app, and mute Activity notifications for an entire day, among many others.
The watchOS 2 release comes with a large list of new features, improvements and bug fixes
watchOS 2.0 also adds some Wallet and Apple Pay improvements, such as support for reward cards, store credit and debit cards, and Discover cards. Furthermore, you will now be able to add passes to your Wallet from third-party apps installed on your Watch.
The Maps also come with a new transit view available in select major cities around the world, as well as station placards with info on departures and directions for the currently selected route.
A new Beats 1 button has also been added to Apple Music, and there's also a new Quick Play button designed to make it easier to start playing random songs from Apple Music.
The watchOS 2.0 release will also allow you to reply to e-mails via dictation, to make and receive audio calls via FaceTime, as well as make Wi-Fi calls without using the iPhone.
watchOS 2.0 also features a large list of security fixes, one or more of them most probably being behind Apple's decision to delay this release for almost a week until the problems were properly fixed.
You can download watchOS 2.0 for both 42 and 38 mm watches from our website's Mac OS X area.
