Reprinted from TidBITS by permission; reuse governed by Creative Commons license BY-NC-ND 3.0. TidBITS has offered years of thoughtful commentary on Apple and Internet topics. For free email subscriptions and access to the entire TidBITS archive, visit http://www.tidbits.com/ Apple Watch Series 2 Offers GPS, Water Resistance, and More Power Julio Ojeda-Zapata The original Apple Watch, though groundbreaking in many ways, was a disappointment for many when Apple trotted it out last year. It was criticized as bulky and underpowered while lacking certain important features, such as a GPS chip and water resistance. Its screen was sometimes hard to make out in bright sunlight, too. Apple has now [1]announced the [2]Apple Watch Series 2, which appears to be roughly the same size as the original. So much for fantasies about a thinner, less obtrusive watch. However, Apple did check off vital items on Apple Watch users' wish lists: water resistance, more horsepower, a brighter display, and most important, a built-in GPS. [3][tn_Apple-Watch-Series-2.jpg] Apple also announced a handful of specialty models ' notably a new and supposedly extra-durable white ceramic Apple Watch Edition Series 2, which replaces the gaudy gold Apple Watch Edition. Apple is also keeping the original watch model around at a lower price along with a processor upgrade and a new moniker: Apple Watch Series 1. Let's Go for a Run -- Runners and other athletes have long been irked that the Apple Watch lacked a GPS chip, making it necessary to carry an iPhone during a run in order to track the route and get performance stats. That should be a thing of the past courtesy of the Series 2's integrated ' and, crucially, iPhone-independent ' GPS chip. It enables the Apple Watch to record precise distance, pace, and speed during outdoor workouts such as walking, running, or bicycling ' no iPhone required (cue singing angels and a happier publisher; see Adam Engst's '[4]Exercising with the Apple Watch: The Hardware,' 15 May 2015). At the start of a workout, according to Apple, a Series 2 watch uses a blend of Wi-Fi, GPS, and locally stockpiled satellite data to quickly pinpoint a user's location. Upon completion of a workout, a route map with speed data appears in the watch's Activity app. This all counts towards filling in those Stand, Move, and Exercise rings, naturally. We expect to see third-party apps from the likes of Strava take advantage of the new GPS capabilities as well. Though GPS is a truly welcome improvement, it should be noted that the Series 2 still lacks cellular connectivity ' found in some rival timepieces ' which allows for phone-independent voice calling and data transfers when away from Wi-Fi. Let's Go Swimming -- Brave owners of the original Apple Watch have been known to take their wearables into the shower or pouring rain with no consequences. Apple said that the original devices were 'splash and water resistant, but not waterproof,' and recommended against submersion. The Series 2 models are being touted as vastly more resistant to water, even being certified for dunks in a pool or open water at a depth of up to 50 meters or 164 feet. Apple said it accomplished this by aggressively plugging up all the ingress points ' with the exception of the speaker, which must be open in order to work as intended. Apple claims to have resolved that problem with a new speaker that can actively eject water (insert your own jokes here). [5][tn_Apple-Watch-squirting-speaker.jpg] With the Series 2 watches now positioned as thoroughly aquatic contraptions, Apple has rolled out two new Workout options called Pool and Open Water that will enable swimmers to count laps, track average lap pace, and detect stroke styles in order to measure burned calories accurately. But you still shouldn't take calorie counts seriously ' apart from 'burning more is better,' the specifics aren't particularly useful (see '[6]Exercising with the Apple Watch: The Software,' 2 June 2015). More Power! -- The original Apple Watch was woefully slow, causing users no end of frustration. Some of its sluggishness was due to inefficiencies in watchOS 1 and watchOS 2, due to be corrected in watchOS 3, but the hardware deserved major blame too. Apple says that its new second-generation dual-core S2 System in Package (SiP) in the Series 2 watch will take performance 'to a new level,' and make the Apple Watch 50 percent faster. The S2 SiP will also sport a new GPU that promises to deliver up to two times greater graphics performance. The upgraded innards will also drive a brighter display. At 1000 nits, it's more than twice as bright than the Series 1, and has the distinction of being the brightest display Apple has ever shipped on any device. It should make it easier to see the screen in bright sunlight. The screen can even run video at 60 frames per second ' again thanks to those updated internals. The dual-core S2 chip is going into the lower-cost Series 1 watches, too, so even budget-conscious Apple Watch buyers will get zippier performance. The Fancier Options -- Apple's original version of the fancy Apple Watch Edition was made out of gold. Now, maybe fearing bored yawns among its monied clientele or perhaps chagrined at slow sales of watches whose prices topped out at $17,000, Apple has shifted direction. The new [7]Apple Watch Edition Series 2 is made out of ceramic. This might conjure up images of plates or ashtrays falling to the floor and shattering ' but Apple said it's not that kind of ceramic. Far from it, Apple claims its ceramic is four times tougher than stainless steel with 'a beautiful, white, pearl-like finish' that is 'extremely scratch-resistant.' [8][tn_Apple-Watch-ceramic.jpg] The ceramic Apple Watch Edition looks to be tricky to track down since, like its precursor, it will be made available only at a limited number of Apple stores and Apple-authorized resellers. Apple also announced two other specialty Apple Watch options. The [9]Apple Watch Nike+ Series 2, offered in a partnership with the footwear manufacturer, is basically a stock Series 2 watch with Nike-like aesthetics ' including Swiss cheese-like, sports-style bands in a choice of four subdued colors with bright-yellow accents (also flaunted on-screen). The watch has integration with the (also yellow-accented) [10]Nike+ Run Club app, too. [11][tn_Apple-Watch-Nike.jpg] For those who fancy Hermès luxury products, Apple also will sell you an [12]Apple Watch Hermès Series 2 with your choice of redesigned Hermès leather bands. Model Breakdown -- All Apple Watch models are available in the same two case sizes as before, 38 mm and 42 mm. Series 2 and Series 1 watches are all available in aluminum and stainless steel with gold, rose gold, silver, or space-gray coloring ' no big surprises there, either. Cost is one crucial differentiator. Series 2 watches, including the Nike+ model, start at $369 while Series 1 models now start at $269. Dropping that price is a welcome move since the Apple Watch has been regarded by many as pricey. The starting prices are for 38 mm models and increase with the 42 mm model and with certain bands. On the high end, the ceramic Apple Watch Edition Series 2 begins at $1249, and the Hermès-branded model starts at $1149. Availability -- Like the iPhone 7, the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 versions, along with the Apple Watch Edition Series 2, will be available for preorder in the United States on 9 September 2016. They will hit U.S. stores on 16 September 2016. You can also preorder the Nike+ version on 9 September 2016, but it won't be available for purchase until October. The Apple Watch Hermès Series 2 goes on sale 23 September 2016. Internationally, Apple is releasing the new models in stages. See Apple's [13]press release for details. References 1. http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-apple-watch-series-2.html 2. http://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-2/ 3. http://tidbits.com/resources/2016-09/Apple-Watch-Series-2.png 4. http://tidbits.com/article/15663 5. http://tidbits.com/resources/2016-09/Apple-Watch-squirting-speaker.png 6. http://tidbits.com/article/15691 7. http://www.apple.com/apple-watch-edition/ 8. http://tidbits.com/resources/2016-09/Apple-Watch-ceramic.png 9. http://www.apple.com/apple-watch-nike/ 10. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nike+-run-club/id387771637?mt=8&at=10l5PW 11. http://tidbits.com/resources/2016-09/Apple-Watch-Nike+.png 12. http://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/ 13. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-Apple-Watch-Series-2-The-Ultimate-Device-For-A-Healthy-Life.html .