On a Wednesday in late June, Apple placed the second test version of its next watch software into the hands of registered developers, two weeks after first showing it at its developer conference. The step is one more stage in a long, deliberate march toward autumn, when the software will meet new hardware and reach everyone who wears the device. Behind the technical milestone lies a quiet bet that a watch is becoming less a tool for telling time and more a companion for understanding the body, its rest, and its rhythms.
Apple Seeds Second watchOS 9 Beta to Developers, Two Weeks After WWDC Debut
A public beta will come later this summer, ahead of the fall release.
Mark
Two weeks between betas. Is that a notable pace, or routine?
Mimi
The source frames it as the ordinary next step: first beta at WWDC, second two weeks later, public beta later in summer, final release in the fall.
Luke
Worth saying that the two-week gap is stated, but nothing here says it's faster or slower than usual. That comparison would be ours.
Mark
What's the headline feature for people who care about health?
Mimi
Sleep stages, AFib History, and the Medications app. The watch would tell you REM, Core, or Deep sleep, log how long you've been in atrial fibrillation, and remind you about meds and supplements.
Luke
Those are described as features in the beta. Nothing in the reporting tells us how well they work or whether they change in later builds.
Mark
And the fitness side?
Mimi
Custom workouts, improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers, and Fitness+ streaming to some third-party TVs.
Luke
Note the phrase "certain" TVs. Which ones isn't specified here.
Mark
What's still unknown?
Luke
The exact public beta date and the new watch models. The source only says later this summer and fall.
O Pulso
- Apple has pushed the second watchOS 9 beta to developers only, leaving everyone else waiting on the sidelines.
- Installing it is a fussy ritual: a profile download, a hunt through settings, and a watch that must sit charging, at least half full, within reach of its iPhone.
- The health features take center stage, with sleep stages, AFib History, and a Medications app that nudges users when a dose is due.
- Developers are now working through the details of new faces, a reworked Workout app, and Fitness+ streaming to third-party TVs.
- A public beta is expected later this summer, with the full release set to arrive in the fall alongside new Apple Watch models.
On a Wednesday in late June, Apple placed the second test version of its next watch software into the hands of registered developers, two weeks after first showing it at its developer conference. The step is one more stage in a long, deliberate march toward autumn, when the software will meet new hardware and reach everyone who wears the device. Behind the technical milestone lies a quiet bet that a watch is becoming less a tool for telling time and more a companion for understanding the body, its rest, and its rhythms.
On Wednesday, Apple sent the second beta of watchOS 9 to developers, two weeks after unveiling the software at WWDC and releasing the first test build. For now, only registered developers can take part, and the release marks another step toward a fall launch that will arrive with new Apple Watch models.
Getting the beta onto a watch takes some patience. Developers download a configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center, install it on their iPhone, and then fetch the update through the Apple Watch app. The watch must have at least half its battery, sit on its charger, and stay within range of the phone.
The heart of the update is health. Sleep tracking now shows distinct stages, including REM, Core, and Deep sleep. The ECG app gains AFib History, which records how long a person has spent in atrial fibrillation. A new Medications app lets users track prescriptions, vitamins, and supplements, with reminders when doses come due.
Fitness gets attention too. The Workout app supports custom routines and offers improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers, while Fitness+ sessions can stream to some third-party TVs.
The watch face also gets a refresh, with four new designs: Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy. Notifications are redesigned to intrude less while the screen is active. Smaller additions include a CallKit API for answering VoIP calls on the watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the watch from an iPhone, expanded Quick Actions via a double pinch, and updates to Reminders and Calendar.
For everyone outside the developer program, the wait continues. A public beta is planned for later this summer.
On Wednesday, Apple pushed out the second beta of watchOS 9 to developers, two weeks after it first showed the software at WWDC and handed over the initial test build. The release is limited to registered developers for now, and it is the next step in a fall launch that Apple plans to pair with new Apple Watch models.
Installing the beta takes a few steps. Developers first download a configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is on the iPhone, the watch software can be fetched through the dedicated Apple Watch app, under General, then Software Update. The watch itself has to meet three conditions: at least 50 percent battery, a place on its charger, and a position within range of the paired iPhone.
The update is built around health and fitness. Sleep tracking now reports sleep stages, so the watch can distinguish when a wearer is in REM, Core, or Deep sleep. The ECG app gains AFib History, which tracks how long a person has spent in atrial fibrillation. Apple has also added a Medications app, where users can manage and track medications, vitamins, and supplements and receive reminders when a dose is due.
The Workout app is also reworked. It now supports custom workouts and includes improvements aimed at runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Fitness+ workouts can stream to certain third-party TVs, which means people without an Apple TV can still use them on a larger screen.
The look of the watch changes too. Four new faces arrive: Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy. Some existing faces and complications have been updated as well. Notifications have been redesigned to be less obtrusive while the watch's screen is active.
A handful of other additions round out the release. A CallKit API lets VOIP calls be answered on the Apple Watch. Apple Watch Mirroring lets people control the watch from an iPhone. Quick Actions allow more to be done with a double pinch gesture. The Reminders and Calendar apps also get updates.
For anyone not enrolled as a developer, the wait continues. Apple says a public beta will come later this summer, ahead of the fall release alongside the new watch hardware.
Citações Notáveis
Apple plans to provide a public beta later this summer ahead of the software's fall launch alongside new Apple Watch models.— MacRumors, reporting on Apple's plans
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