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Apple seeds watchOS 2 beta 4 for Apple Watch to developers

As Apple continues to develop watchOS 2.0 for Apple Watch ahead of its release this fall, the company has released watchOS 2 beta 4 to registered developers today for testing the operating system update on Apple Watch.

The upcoming OS update includes a ton of improvements to the platform including support for native apps, third-party complications, new watch faces including using your own photos, a clever Night Stand mode for using the watch as a miniature alarm clock, and several refinements to apps and features like Digital Touch and Siri.

The previous beta included improvements to battery life and Notification Center bugs that plagued earlier betas plus Apple Music support, but Apple ID setup and Apple Pay were disabled for the pre-release software betas. We’ll dig in to the latest beta version and update with notable changes discovered.

– watchOS 2 beta 4 configuration profile available on developer center

– Config file features build number 13S5305d

– OTA update is 130MB

– Apple ID issue with Messages appears resolved with iOS 9 beta 4

– Apple Pay is functional again

[tweet https://twitter.com/genadyo/status/623580984450154500 align=’center’]

– Several complications including Activity are now colored for greatly improved legibility

[tweet https://twitter.com/jk9357/status/623591752222572544 align=’center’]

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Comments

  1. Jose Luis Ruiz - 9 years ago

    here we go!! installing the new beta! right now!

  2. jatreat (@jatreat) - 9 years ago

    I have been updating each beta of WatchOS thus far, but for some reason, the new one is not showing up when I hit software update in the Watch app. I am already running the 4th beta on the phone, so what am I missing?

  3. Ben (@Piquantx) - 9 years ago

    you think this Beta is stable enough to install? I used Beta 1 & 2 and they really messed up my watch..

    • If you’re already using the beta you really have no choice but to update. Apple really needs to provide some sort of Apple Watch downgrade / restore option since “send your device off to Apple to be re-flashed (at your expense?)” really isn’t a viable solution. They should make some sort of wireless DFU restore.

  4. Gary Conrad - 9 years ago

    Betas 1 and 2 bricked many a phone that had to be sent back to Apple to be returned to the original OS. As always user beware.

  5. tinman8443 - 9 years ago

    If you have the beta installed, can you tell me if anything changed with the moon phase complication? I really hate that is colors with the faces. When the moon is full I often pick white as my face because a full yellow or green moon looks terrible.

  6. Gregory Hilgendorf - 9 years ago

    how do you get color complications

  7. thisisasticup - 9 years ago

    i don’t have color complications.

    • Kayhan Belek - 9 years ago

      If you costumize and change main color to white (scroll down with digital crown) complication will turn by colors.

    • thisisasticup - 9 years ago

      you have to do it in color options after force touch/customize

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.

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