Apple Seeds Sixth Beta of WatchOS 2.2 to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers, less than a week after seeding the fifth watchOS 2.2 beta and three months after releasing watchOS 2.1, the first major update to the watchOS 2 operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2.2 has been in testing since January 11.

The latest watchOS 2.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone running the iOS 9.3 beta by going to General --> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, with each watch running watchOS 2.2 and each iPhone running iOS 9.3. watchOS 2.2 also includes a revamped look for the built-in Maps app on the Apple Watch with access to the Nearby feature first introduced with iOS 9 and new buttons for quickly accessing directions to home and work.

There were no other obvious outward-facing changes introduced in the first five watchOS 2.2 betas aside from the changes to the Maps app, but the update undoubtedly includes under-the-hood performance updates and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1. WatchOS 2.2 is expected to debut in the spring, perhaps at Apple's rumored March 21 event.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Sixth Beta of WatchOS 2.2 to Developers

 

[jonnysods]

So Watch users, has this 2.2 update made your watch any faster?

Still wrestling with the temptation to buy one... trying to hold out until this supposed event in a week or two.

 

[gsmornot]

So Watch users, has this 2.2 update made your watch any faster?

Still wrestling with the temptation to buy one... trying to hold out until this supposed event in a week or two.

Mine is the same overall speed is has been since launch day. Some apps are faster to load since they are native now vs fully dependent on the iPhone but generally, the watch is what I consider slow. That said, 90% of the time the watch does not need to be anything else, slow is fine. The complications for example are limited (due to battery restrictions) to updates every half hour roughly so you don't need fast for such a slow update cycle. The time does not need speed, just needs to display along with most of the other "things" you look at via the watch. I hope the future models feature a faster processor because generally as you get used to something you want it faster each update. I do. 2.2 is not for speed, its for adding a new feature to maps and generally cleaning up code. (opinion). If you have a use of the watch now, try it. You can add multiple watches to your phone now so in the future you can keep this one and get a new one and have two for different uses.

 

[jonnysods]

That's really helpful, thanks. People have been bashing it for the sluggishness of it, I would use it for fitness, time keeping obviously, Fantastical, text and email notifications, and not a lot of other stuff I think.

What's your battery life like?

 

[SvP]

Mine is the same ov...e two for different uses.

What a great answer. I wanted to + this. For the watch more than other devices it's the experience that matters: pick the right complications and you'll love knowing what you used to check in the weather app, traffic app or other things. The notifications will be fantastich if you have lots of "have to know but rarely act" messages; you can separate it from your mail making you not more productive: but better productive; way less screentime on your phone, too.

It is slow tho: i hope they'll optimize for the moments you want to do more than check the status, weather, traffic or bankaccount balance; the reason slowness doesn't bother me that much is that those things are usually what i grab my phone for

Battery life is easily one day, it'll make it to the next day also, until about 22:00. Full brightness, longest on-time. Tweaking the brightness and on-time it'll go for three days.

 

[Mac 128]

I hope the future models feature a faster processor because generally as you get used to something you want it faster each update. I do. 2.2 is not for speed, its for adding a new feature to maps and generally cleaning up code. (opinion). If you have a use of the watch now, try it. You can add multiple watches to your phone now so in the future you can keep this one and get a new one and have two for different uses.

Since this looks release looks like it will coincide with a possible event in a couple of weeks, with features they will likely demo (pairing multiple watches), what is the likelihood they do release a new model if only equipped with a faster processor, optimized for better battery life?

This would certainly give customers more reason to buy a second watch to use the pairing feature, rather than just buy the same watch in a different color.

 

[h00ligan]

If they can't magically make it twice as fast it doesn't matter. They were bullied into releasing this at least a year too early. Aside from notifications and some glances the watch is functionally useless die to speed issues. I can get my phone out. Unlock it. Open an app. And search or find whatever before an app loads on the watch.

Battery lasts well into a day or 24 hours. In some cases more. I'd take half the battery life for 50% more speed.

They also need to reduce the zoom
When you turn on redice motion - which is the only way to use this watch at a reasonable speed. It makes finding apps terrible.

Overall this is easily the worst apple
Product in the modern era.

 

[blasto2236]

Anyone else had problems installing the beta? I have the profile installed, and iOS 9.3 Beta installed on my paired iPhone, however the beta update never shows up in the Watch app under "General>Software Update". I have tried deleting and reinstalling the profile to no avail.

 

[gsmornot]

That's really helpful, thanks. People have been bashing it for the sluggishness of it, I would use it for fitness, time keeping obviously, Fantastical, text and email notifications, and not a lot of other stuff I think.

What's your battery life like?

Most of my days are 6AM to 11:30PM and I have battery left. Honestly, I have only looked at the battery level closely when it was new. Knowing and being able to complete the day has stopped me asking the question at the end of the day "how much battery do I have left". I glance at it maybe when I put it on its stand and it shows my level but I don't study it. Guessing, I will say I have 30% left. I have noticed over time small things like that I no longer focus on. I notice some days I don't even look at the complication for my next meeting. I just let the watch give me the 15 minute prior to tap and let the automation happen. I think that is the beauty of this thing for me. I don't notice it during the day. No weight to speak of and I'm not asking it to do anything more than it should and in return it keeps me on time, informed and because I see the weather, correctly dressed when I leave the house.

 

[Vanilla35]

and because I see the weather, correctly dressed when I leave the house.

That's what life's all about, right?

 

[gsmornot]

That's what life's all about, right?

Maybe not all but it's good not being that guy.

 

[Juo100]

Anyone else had problems installing the beta? I have the profile installed, and iOS 9.3 Beta installed on my paired iPhone, however the beta update never shows up in the Watch app under "General>Software Update". I have tried deleting and reinstalling the profile to no avail.

I have the exact same problem. Can never get the watch update to display.

 

[Keane16]

If they can't magically make it twice as fast it doesn't matter. They were bullied into releasing this at least a year too early. Aside from notifications and some glances the watch is functionally useless die to speed issues. I can get my phone out. Unlock it. Open an app. And search or find whatever before an app loads on the watch.

Battery lasts well into a day or 24 hours. In some cases more. I'd take half the battery life for 50% more speed.

I completely agree that it needs to be faster.

However even if it was I don't think I'd use a lot of apps (happy to be wrong when faster versions come out over the next few years).

The apps are not not a great experience - small screen, fiddly controls.

It's fine for small things like logging sets/reps a the gym, but I much prefer taking my phone out for interactions and using my watch for glancing types tasks (and also one of my fav use cases directions via the haptic feedback when walking or cycling).

Overall this is easily the worst apple
Product in the modern era.

And in the real world people are very satisfied:

http://www.imore.com/six-months-after-launch-apple-watch-owners-remain-satisfied

If you don't think it's a good product now, I don't think you will even when it's faster. I just don't see people suddenly using lots of apps on their watches.

 

[jonnysods]

If they can't magically make it twice as fast it doesn't matter. They were bullied into releasing this at least a year too early. Aside from notifications and some glances the watch is functionally useless die to speed issues. I can get my phone out. Unlock it. Open an app. And search or find whatever before an app loads on the watch.

Battery lasts well into a day or 24 hours. In some cases more. I'd take half the battery life for 50% more speed.

They also need to reduce the zoom
When you turn on redice motion - which is the only way to use this watch at a reasonable speed. It makes finding apps terrible.

Overall this is easily the worst apple
Product in the modern era.

Shivers, that's a different take on the AW from what someone offered me above. I think I will wait now that I'm so close to a revision.

 

[SvP]

Shivers, that's a different take on the AW from what someone offered me above. I think I will wait now that I'm so close to a revision.

Almost a universal advice. If you don't see the benefit of the new one, you'll get the old one for less. Win

 

[Mac 128]

And in the real world people are very satisfied:

http://www.imore.com/six-months-after-launch-apple-watch-owners-remain-satisfied

Oh right, the Wristly study. The mysterious Watch devoted company that sprang up over night solely to conduct studies about Apple's new smartwatch product.

Never mind that it's a survey of 1,500 OPT-IN participants. In other words, pro-Apple watch enthusiasts. The participants found them. It in no way represents the "real world". And less than half worked outside the tech industry, and of those in the tech industry over 10% were developers for the watch!

 

[blasto2236]

I have the exact same problem. Can never get the watch update to display.

Glad to know I'm not alone. Wish there was a solution, but from the sounds of it we aren't missing too much anyway.

 

[npmacuser5]

Most of my days are 6AM to 11:30PM and I have battery left. Honestly, I have only looked at the battery level closely when it was new. Knowing and being able to complete the day has stopped me asking the question at the end of the day "how much battery do I have left". I glance at it maybe when I put it on its stand and it shows my level but I don't study it. Guessing, I will say I have 30% left. I have noticed over time small things like that I no longer focus on. I notice some days I don't even look at the complication for my next meeting. I just let the watch give me the 15 minute prior to tap and let the automation happen. I think that is the beauty of this thing for me. I don't notice it during the day. No weight to speak of and I'm not asking it to do anything more than it should and in return it keeps me on time, informed and because I see the weather, correctly dressed when I leave the house.

Battery drain is a minor annoyance when using the workout programs as the sensors are active all the time during the workout. I appreciate the workouts and the information they collect so not a big issue. Using the Apple Watch without workouts I get 6am to 11pm with about 10 % left. With workouts 6am to 8pm. Depends on the length of the workouts and the number. Hope that helps.

 

[Keane16]

Never mind that it's a survey of 1,500 OPT-IN participants. In other words, pro-Apple watch enthusiasts.

Yep - just like this opt-in website we are on, where every comment is pro-Apple because of all the Apple enthusiasts. /s

 

[h00ligan]

The issue for me isn't being able to use a ton of apps. It's being able to use a few faster than I can get my phone out.

Logging food in a nutrition program.
Weather five day forecasts (stock weather app is he fastest )
And a few others. Like scrolling through news headlines.

I don't want to replace my phone. I do want to interact with notifications faster. And do a few things it's just too slow for.

I owned two pebble watches for a couple years before the Apple Watch and the Apple Watch doesn't do anything he pebble didn't do practically speaking. And needs to be charged daily.

I'm not all
Pro pebble but I am
Disappointed the speed issues keep me from
Accomplishing more. Even dictated text response is hit and miss die to the speed of the phone. THats a biggie for me.(as you can probably tell by my typing)

I just had double spinal surgery and my fine motor skills aren't back yet. Hopefully they will return but typing is becoming arduous for text messages as more and more
People only communicate that way. Voice response is the number one reason I bought the Apple Watch.

 

[Sunnyqueensland]

Anyone else had problems installing the beta? I have the profile installed, and iOS 9.3 Beta installed on my paired iPhone, however the beta update never shows up in the Watch app under "General>Software Update". I have tried deleting and reinstalling the profile to no avail.

Same here, anyone have a fix? Keeps saying I have the latest software even though it's only 2.1. The beta profile is installed on both devices, battery is charged above 50%. I have restored the phone many times also with luck.

 

[Cpt. Gilgamesh]

I say screw the apps. I don't use them. Except timer and calendar. Make Siri functional and have it working more than 50% of the time and you're golden. That's what I really want: proactive Siri on my wrist.