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Apple Releases watchOS 9.2 With Outdoor Workout Improvements, Crash Detection Optimizations, Noise App Tweaks and More

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Apple today released watchOS 9.2, the second major update to the watchOS 9 operating system that Apple launched in September. watchOS 9.2 comes more than a month after the debut of watchOS 9.1, an update that added battery life improvements.

watchOS-9-Feature.jpg

watchOS 9.2 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌.

watchOS 9.2 includes Race Route, a feature that is designed to let outdoor runners, cyclists, and wheelchair users to compete against their previous performances, plus for outdoor run workouts, it can detect when you arrive at a running track.

There's a new custom kickboxing algorithm, the Noise app now lets you know when sound levels are reduced with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, and there are optimizations for Crash Detection along with a few bug fixes. Apple's full notes for the update are below:
watchOS 9.2 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
- Outdoor Run workout now automatically detects when you arrive at a running track and provides track specific metrics
- Race Route lets you compete against your previous performance in Outdoor Run, Outdoor Cycle, and Outdoor Wheelchair Workouts
- New custom Kickboxing algorithm in the Workout app for more accurate metrics
- Noise app displays when environmental sound levels are reduced while wearing AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods Max with active noise cancellation
- Family Setup users can be invited to the Home app to control HomePod speakers and smart home accessories, and unlock doors with home keys in Wallet
- Accessibility support to visualize when Siren is in use on Apple Watch Ultra
- Improved response time and accuracy of hand gesture controls for AssistiveTouch and Quick Actions
- Crash Detection optimizations on Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
- Fix for bug that causes display of incorrect watch time immediately after dismissing an alarm in Sleep Focus
- Fix for bug causing interruptions to mindfulness sessions

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
Click to expand...
watchOS 9.2 will require iOS 16.2 to install on an Apple Watch, and it is compatible with all Apple Watch models able to run watchOS 9.

Article Link: Apple Releases watchOS 9.2 With Outdoor Workout Improvements, Crash Detection Optimizations, Noise App Tweaks and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/12/13/apple-releases-watchos-9-2/
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The environmental sound levels thing is interesting. I'm not sure what they are going for. AirPods are not hearing protection, right? Is this meant to let you know that even though it doesn't sound like it, it's still too loud? Genuinely hoping someone can explain this to me a bit.
 
Interesting. The release notes I see in my WatchOS 9.2 does not include the first part: "- Outdoor Run workout now automatically detects when you arrive at a running track and provides track specific metrics."
 
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Most excited for the noise reduction information from AirPods Max And pro. I was going to upgrade to the 2 for this feature alone haha!
 
Htsi said:
Most excited for the noise reduction information from AirPods Max And pro. I was going to upgrade to the 2 for this feature alone haha!
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That's not new, the noise app has provided that information for a while. As cool as it looks though, I have a feeling that it just displays a static value of around 30 decibels cancelled by AirPods Pro, and is not actually measuring how much sound they are cancelling at any given time. It's just a reference number. While it reads the actual sound around you, it gives you an "idea" of what is reaching your ears while wearing the pods, because the pods are supposed to be cancelling x amount. Whether they actually are is not being measured as far as I can tell.
 
PauloSera said:
That's not new, the noise app has provided that information for a while. As cool as it looks though, I have a feeling that it just displays a static value of around 30 decibels cancelled by AirPods Pro, and is not actually measuring how much sound they are cancelling at any given time. It's just a reference number. While it reads the actual sound around you, it gives you an "idea" of what is reaching your ears while wearing the pods, because the pods are supposed to be cancelling x amount. Whether they actually are is not being measured as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...
I will find out soon enough. It is new. Currently it shows ambient noise levels/or headphone audio
 
> Race Route lets you compete against your previous performance in Outdoor Run, Outdoor Cycle, and Outdoor Wheelchair Workouts

is this like Strava's segments? could be a huge update
 
PauloSera said:
Maybe the "new" part is the supported devices. It already does this for AirPods Pro 2.
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Yep!
Sadly your observations are correct. It’s a static reduction number. It does not measure the sound levels using the microphone present inside the headphones.
 
The Watch update is slow. I still hate that I have to take the watch off and put it on the charger to get the full update when it's still like 90% charged. We're in the ultra stage of the watch now. Come up with a way to update the watch without having to take it off. if it's connected to the phone via bluetooth, then it should still work as intented.
 
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sjsharksfan12 said:
The Watch update is slow. I still hate that I have to take the watch off and put it on the charger to get the full update when it's still like 90% charged. We're in the ultra stage of the watch now. Come up with a way to update the watch without having to take it off. if it's connected to the phone via bluetooth, then it should still work as intented.
Click to expand...
I can see why they do this. If the battery is faulty and incorrectly reporting charge level, the Watch could suddenly "zonk out" of juice. Makes sense, for safety reasons, to have the Watch on the charger for downloading the OS and installing.
 
msackey said:
I can see why they do this. If the battery is faulty and incorrectly reporting charge level, the Watch could suddenly "zonk out" of juice. Makes sense, for safety reasons, to have the Watch on the charger for downloading the OS and installing.
Click to expand...

Would that happen on the newer model watches though? I would think as much as the watch would advance, having an easier way to update it would advance alongside it. We're updating the Apple Watch 8 the same way we update the original Apple Watch. The technology and the battery should be good enough to make the process easier.
 
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sjsharksfan12 said:
The Watch update is slow. I still hate that I have to take the watch off and put it on the charger to get the full update when it's still like 90% charged. We're in the ultra stage of the watch now. Come up with a way to update the watch without having to take it off. if it's connected to the phone via bluetooth, then it should still work as intented.
Click to expand...

Dop you disable bluetooth entirely beforehand? That way the update is much faster as it's transfered via WiFi.
 
sjsharksfan12 said:
Would that happen on the newer model watches though? I would think as much as the watch would advance, having an easier way to update it would advance alongside it. We're updating the Apple Watch 8 the same way we update the original Apple Watch. The technology and the battery should be good enough to make the process easier.
Click to expand...
Not too likely on newer models, but not impossible and it's not a great inconvenience to have the Watch be plugged in and charged while installing the OS. There could be glitches along the way including a very slow connection to the internet that drains the Watch battery unexpectedly. The Watch battery is quite small, after all.

To me, the risk of a bricked Watch due to battery insufficiency is much higher than the inconvenience of needing the Watch to be plugged and charging/charged.
 
sjsharksfan12 said:
Would that happen on the newer model watches though? I would think as much as the watch would advance, having an easier way to update it would advance alongside it. We're updating the Apple Watch 8 the same way we update the original Apple Watch. The technology and the battery should be good enough to make the process easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, new gadgets can be faulty, too.
 
baking soda said:
Dop you disable bluetooth entirely beforehand? That way the update is much faster as it's transfered via WiFi.
Click to expand...
I just tried this, and if you turn it off in control center the watch stays connected via bluetooth even though it looks like it's disabled. Screenshots attached for proof.

If you turn off bluetooth in Settings with the toggle switch (which actually turns it off), when you go back to the Watch app it says you must have Bluetooth on.
 

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Finally, my vibration is back to normal. Since WatchOS9 the vibration has been really weak. I thought I was going crazy, since the WatchSO9.2 update, vibration is back to how it used to be, so obviously a bug.
 
roguedaemon said:
I just tried this, and if you turn it off in control center the watch stays connected via bluetooth even though it looks like it's disabled. Screenshots attached for proof.

If you turn off bluetooth in Settings with the toggle switch (which actually turns it off), when you go back to the Watch app it says you must have Bluetooth on.
Click to expand...
The Get Connected message is a bug and has existed for years now. Bluetooth turned on via the Watch and Phone, advised I need to turn on Bluetooth.

Happened with various Apple Watches, and iPhones. Let's see how both the iOS and WatchOS updates go.

It's annoying!
 
roguedaemon said:
I just tried this, and if you turn it off in control center the watch stays connected via bluetooth even though it looks like it's disabled. Screenshots attached for proof.

If you turn off bluetooth in Settings with the toggle switch (which actually turns it off), when you go back to the Watch app it says you must have Bluetooth on.
Click to expand...
Correct. The old advice was to start the update and THEN disable Bluetooth after the process starts. I stopped messing with it long ago and just start the update during a normal charging session.

I have a sneaking suspicion that lots of people turn bluetooth “off” in control center not knowing that doing so has been a soft “off” for bluetooth and WiFi for quite some time, and then see a placebo “faster” update.
 
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Is anyone having issues with the heart rate monitor during a workout since the latest update?

I did a workout yesterday and at one point I noticed my watch lost my heart rate for 10mins! After my workout I gave the back of the watch a good clean hoping it was just dirty but then I thought I wonder if it’s to do with the new software update…

Today at the gym i kept looking at my watch throughout the workout and it lost my heart rate quiet a few times and at one point it lost it for 5 mins.

The model is: Apple Watch series 8.
 
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