watchOS 2

Apple releases watchOS 2 beta 5 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ August 6, 2015

In addition to iOS 9, Apple on Thursday released the fifth beta of watchOS 2 to developers. The update can be downloaded and installed over-the-air using the Apple Watch app, but be careful because it requires your iPhone be on a recent iOS 9 beta and it's very difficult to downgrade.

Today's beta 5 comes a little over two weeks after beta 4, which activated Apple Pay and fixed issues with Apple ID in the Messages app and the Activity complication. It also arrives roughly two months after Apple first unveiled watchOS 2 during its June developer conference keynote.

Apple’s TestFlight app receives support for native Watch apps and iOS 9’s App Thinning technologies

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 5, 2015

TestFlight, an online service for over-the-air installation and testing of mobile applications that was purchased by Apple last year, in its most recent version 1.2 update has introduced support for testing upcoming iOS 9 features, including native Apple Watch applications with watchOS 2.

In addition, the application has been optimized with support for App Thinning, a set of Apple-provided optimization technologies designed to reduce download sizes of iOS 9 and Apple Watch apps by tailoring app delivery to the capabilities of the user’s particular device.

watchOS 2 beta 4 for Apple Watch seeded to developers, here’s your changelog

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 21, 2015

In addition to releasing iOS 9 beta 4 and OS X 10.11 El Capitan beta 4 to its developer army, a matching beta of the upcoming Apple Watch software update is now available to registered members of the Apple Developer Program.

The new watchOS 2 beta 4 (build 13S5305d) requires an iPhone running iOS 9 beta 4 and can be applied over-the-air by going to the General -> Software Update section of the Apple Watch companion app.

Apple seeds watchOS 2 beta 3 to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 8, 2015

In addition to releasing a third developer preview of OS X El Capitan and seeding iOS 9 beta 3 with Apple Music to members of the Apple Developer Program, Apple on Wednesday also released watchOS 2 beta 3 for developers.

It follows watchOS 2 beta 2, which was seeded to developers just a little over two weeks ago, and the first watchOS 2 beta that was posted minutes after last month's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote talk had wrapped up.

The latest watchOS software update must be applied through the Apple Watch companion app on an iPhone with iOS 9 beta by going to the General -> Software Update section.

Apple seeds watchOS 2 beta 2 and iOS 9 beta 2 to developers, here’s what’s new

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 23, 2015

Tuesday, Apple has released a second beta of the forthcoming WatchOS 2 software update to its registered developers. Alongside the new beta firmware for the 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch models, Apple has also released an updated version of iOS 9 Developer Preview which now carries a build number of 13A4280e.

You probably shouldn’t update to watchOS 2 unless you’re genuinely a developer

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated July 3, 2023

Every time a beta is released, we always provide tutorials for those of you who may be developers, but to be honest, we know that even some of you non-developers with paid access to developer accounts will upgrade to the betas as well. Of course, that's your own decision.

But with watchOS, things are different. You really shouldn't upgrade to watchOS 2 unless you truly are a developer, or at the very least, you should thoroughly understand what you're getting in to. Why is this? We explain in this post.

WWDC 2015 keynote posted to iTunes as a downloadable high-definition video podcast

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 9, 2015

Following promotional footage for Apple Music that the Cupertino company posted to its YouTube channel along with the inspirational 'App Effect' video, the entire keynote presentation has now been uploaded to iTunes and made available to everyone in the form of a video podcast.

In case you haven't had a chance to sit through the whole keynote talk yesterday, you can now download the video to your Mac, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and watch it on your own time.

Event recap: everything we learned from Apple’s WWDC 2015 keynote

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 3, 2023

Well, that’s all folks. Apple's WWDC 2015 keynote has come and gone. We now have a good idea of what the future looks like for the company's Mac OS, iOS and watchOS platforms, as well as what its plans are for the streaming music space.

A lot has happened in the last 12 hours, and we understand that it might have been difficult to keep track of everything. So as usual, we’ve put together this awesome roundup for you, of everything important that happened at today’s event.

Activation Lock coming to Apple Watch this fall with watchOS 2 software update

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 8, 2015

Activation Lock, Apple's theft-deterrent feature available on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 7 or later, will be available on the Apple Watch this fall, courtesy of the free watchOS 2 software update announced earlier this morning during the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote talk.

It was previously discovered that the Apple Watch lacks this necessary security feature to dissuade thieves due to the limitations in its software and its dependency on iPhone for network connectivity.

Here are some of the most exciting new features in watchOS 2

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

watchOS 2 brings a ton of new features to the Apple Watch, including a new bedside alarm clock feature, multiple screens for friends, the ability to add new friends directly from the Friends interface, video playback, speaker output, replying directly from email, and so much more.