Apple releases watchOS 2.1 and tvOS 9.1 update

Today is a day of operating system updates for Apple.

Hot on the heels on the release of iOS 9.2, Apple has dropped watchOS 2.1, the latest operating system for the Apple Watch, and tvOS 9.1, the newest version for the 4th generation Apple TV.

Apple’s tvOS 9.1 adds the ability to navigate Apple Music with Siri, a feature the company initially said wouldn’t launch until next year, as well as often-requested support for Apple’s Remote App. The Remote App lets users easily enter text on the Apple TV with iOS devices, a task that is notoriously difficult when using the touch-sensitive Siri Remote.

And here’s the Remote app working with the new Apple TV, featuring Chet Faker and Drake pic.twitter.com/TH1FK0ViRv

— Daniel Bader (@journeydan) December 8, 2015

tvOS 9.0.1 was released in mid November and brought a number of bug and performance related fixes to the 4th generation Apple TV. Unfortunately tvOS 9.1 doesn’t include Apple’s Podcast app, which has been prominently featured in promotional videos but still hasn’t been given a public release.

To download tvOS 9.1 navigate to the settings app and select System Options (located near the bottom of the app). Next, locate Software Updates under Maintenance, and select Update Software. Next, press Download and Install.

Strangely, the update doesn’t include the release notes Apple’s updates typically include.

watchOS 2.1 was also released today and includes a variety of minor bug fixes, as well as Siri Arabic language support and, accordingly, right to left language support, an often requested feature.

To download watchOS 2.1, the iPhone first needs to be updated to iOS 9.2. Next, open Apple’s Watch app on the iPhone and navigate to General, and then Software in order to launch the update.

The Apple Watch needs at least 50 percent battery life or be actively charging to update.

Related reading: watchOS 2 review: The Apple Watch, six months later