“Apple is continuing to fine tune the upcoming watchOS update for Apple Watch ahead of the software update’s release this fall, and now registered developers can test their apps against the latest build as watch OS 2 beta 5 is now available,” Zac Hall reports for 9to5Mac.
“The watchOS 2 update allows developers to build native (read faster) apps that do not rely as much on the iPhone for processing power, third-party complications or widgets for the watch face, and closer access to hardware like heart rate sensor data and more,” Hall reports. “The last watchOS 2 beta notably added support for colored complications including Activity with increased legibility on certain watch faces including Utility and Modular. ”
More info in the full article here.
“With App Thinning enabled, apps will install faster, launch faster, and will take up less space on a device,” Juli Clover reports for MacRumors. “An iPhone app, for example, won’t need to download unnecessary content designed for the iPad.”
“watchOS 2 support in TestFlight means developers can begin installing and working with the first native apps for the Apple Watch. Native apps are run entirely on the Apple Watch and should speed up app launch times and performance,” Clover reports. “Today’s update does not include support for the external testing of iOS 9 and watchOS 2 apps, which means developers cannot yet provide apps with iOS 9 and watchOS 2 features to external beta test groups.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: watch OS 2 can’t arrive fast enough. It removes the single biggest complaint (app sluggishness) seen in Apple Watch reviews to date.
Can’t wait😃⌚️🎉
IOS 9 beta seeded today too.