Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of watchOS 8 to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the fifth beta of the upcoming watchOS 8 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple released the fourth watchOS 8 beta.

To install ‌watchOS 8‌, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌watchOS 8‌ can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.

To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌. It's not recommended to install ‌watchOS 8‌ on a main Apple Watch as the software may be unstable at this early date.

watchOS 8 has several new features that are extensions of new features introduced in iOS 15. There are improvements to Wallet that allow it to hold keys for unlocking hotel, car, and home doors, plus Apple will let U.S. users add their IDs to Wallet later this year.

Apple overhauled the Home app, and for the Workout app, there are new Tai Chi and Pilates workout types, and the Breathe app has been renamed to Mindfulness thanks to a new Reflect session that invites users to get into a positive state of mind. When sleeping, the Apple Watch now measures respiratory rate.

Focus mode from iOS 15 syncs to the watch so users can stay on task, and in the Messages app, Scribble, dictation, and emojis can be combined within the same message, making it easier to communicate. Dictated text can be edited, and GIFs can be sent right from the watch.

There's a new Portrait watch face, and the Photos app has been updated with support for Memories and Featured Photos. A new Find My app lets items be located right on the wrist, and there are also new updates for Music, Weather, Timers, and more, along with a new Contacts app.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of watchOS 8 to Developers

 

[Khedron]

It's not recommended to install ‌watchOS 8‌ on a main Apple Watch as the software may be unstable at this early date.

No beta software on your mission-critical wrist is a good rule of thumb ?

 

[trifero]

Hope it fixes the problem with voice commands to homekit of Beta 4.

 

[coolman124]

No beta software on your mission-critical wrist is a good rule of thumb ?

im on beta on my apple tv and iphone but not my watch, just too much risk

 

[elvisimprsntr]

im on beta on my apple tv and iphone but not my watch, just too much risk

I like to live dangerously and install betas on all my Apple Kit.

Installing betas on a future Apple Car is where I draw the line.

 

[luciferuk]

No beta software on your mission-critical wrist is a good rule of thumb ?

Gotta say, I will not be doing this again. Battery life was bad to begin with but this beta, lucky if you get half a day; and no way back either. Nightmare.

 

[Khedron]

I like to live dangerously and install betas on all my Apple Kit.

Installing betas on a future Apple Car is where I draw the line.

View attachment 1817488

Apple Car will only update when parked at your home address to avoid leaving you stranded

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Gotta say, I will not be doing this again. Battery life was bad to begin with but this beta, lucky if you get half a day; and no way back either. Nightmare.

Luck of the draw [/s] I have the beta on my Watch SE paired to an iPhone 11 and I have not experienced this.

 

[Ansath]

I'm not seeing the beta. Weird!!

 

[cmatuk]

I’m running it on my series 5 and it’s the last time

the beta has been fine but you then can’t also opt out from the iPhone beta because then it won’t work fine. And so now I don’t get to use my bank app because of my watch ?

 

[Ansath]

I’m running it on my series 5 and it’s the last time

the beta has been fine but you then can’t also opt out from the iPhone beta because then it won’t work fine. And so now I don’t get to use my bank app because of my watch ?

If it's First Direct or HSBC, they updated the app and it now works with iOS 15

 

[Chet-NYC]

I installed OS8 on my Series 5 watch. It worked fine but killed battery life...like from 100% to 50% in a few hours. Beta 4 seems to have fixed that. My watch is at 70% right now, ten hours after taking it off the charger, but it also hasn't had much use- like no workouts, etc.

iOS 15 Beta 3 also played havoc with my iPhone 12 Pro Max battery life, but that stopped with Beta 4. Put Beta 5 on there yesterday and so far no issues. I'll install Beta 5 on the watch tonight.

The only thing that never gets betas are my iMac and MacBook. That's too risky.

 

[Richard1864]

The beta is a buggy POS. Took four damned downloads before it would install. Watch never rebooted after verification, had to reboot manually.

 

[Ansath]

Got it installed. Curious to see if there's still an issue with slow charging on my Belkin stand, compared to no issues with Apple's own charger.

 

[alphaswift]

Is it going to install on a Series 3? Such a PITA trying to install updates on my watch these days.

 

[cmatuk]

If it's First Direct or HSBC, they updated the app and it now works with iOS 15

Thanks!, It's Citi... I could swear it was working the very first beta but since Beta 3 it's been out

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Apple Car will only update when parked at your home address to avoid leaving you stranded

And be at least 50% charged and on the charger

 

[CopyChief]

Hope it fixes the problem with voice commands to homekit of Beta 4.

It fixed the issue on my S6. Responses seem faster than ever. As Siri goes it won’t work later tonight, but just a moment ago, all was well.

 

[swarlos]

My contacts are finally fixed on my watch with this beta!!

 

[DaveMcM76]

Still not fixed the rings going AWOL on the activity analog faces Been happening for the last 3 betas now - time to report it again!

 

[bababooie]

not seeing it either

 

[jackaltx]

Cellular not working for me, rebooted and toggled cellular multiple times. Thankfully too hot to run right now.

 

[qpid360]

No public beta yet?

 

[jackaltx]

Cellular not working for me, rebooted and toggled cellular multiple times. Thankfully too hot to run right now.

So turning off my iPhone solved the problem... previously I just put my phone is airplane mode (making sure BT is off). However my watch still showed the icon that it was paired to the phone.