First Apple Watch software update arrives with fixes, more health tracking info
Apple updated the Watch OS software for its Apple Watch on Tuesday, bringing bug fixes and more detailed health tracking for certain activities.
Watch OS 1.0.1 appears to be fairly incremental based on on the version number and few items found in the official release notes, which include improved performance for:
- Siri
- Measurement of standing activity
- Calculating calories for indoor cycling and rowing
- Distance and pace for outdoor walking and running
- Accessibility
- Third party apps
Apple also added new Emoji characters and support for seven languages including Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Thai, and Turkish.
The software update on my iPhone measured 51.5 MB in size, which also suggests the changes are far and few between. Apple says an Apple Watch must be 50 percent charged and on the charger to install the update. Indeed, even with 82 percent battery life on my watch, I had to place it on the charger to install the software.
I'm hopeful the update brings more stability to Siri in particular. I've noticed over the past few days that Siri doesn't always activate when I wake the watch and say "Hey Siri". Rebooting the watch has fixed that issue, at least temporarily, but clearly that's not an ideal solution.
Update: The release notes for Watch OS 1.0.1 don't mention it but the Apple Watch now has a nice, default scrollable Today view after installing this update. Previously, this was a Force Touch option.