Apple Seeds Third Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers for testing purposes, a week after releasing the second watchOS 4.1 beta and a month after releasing the new watchOS 4 operating system to the public.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4.1 brings support for streaming Apple Music content directly to the Apple Watch Series 3 over LTE and it introduces a new Radio app with access to Beats 1 and other Apple Music radio stations.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The Music app on the watch looks the same, offering up access to the Music Library, recently played songs, playlists, and Apple Music mixes, but now all Apple Music content can be streamed over an LTE connection and doesn't need to be downloaded to the device. watchOS 4.1 also adds a new Wi-Fi toggle for turning off Wi-Fi to force the Apple Watch Series 3 to use LTE and it displays the Wi-Fi SSID so users can see the Wi-Fi Network an Apple Watch is connected to.

Support for Apple Music streaming appears to be the main feature in the new watchOS 4.1 update, but Apple is also introducing a range of new Unicode 10 emoji characters that include vomiting face, head exploding, mermaid, zombie, hedgehog, fairy, broccoli, and more.

watchOS 4 is a significant refresh of the watchOS operating system introducing new watch faces, including a personalized Siri face, improvements to the Workout app, support for integration with gym equipment, an Apple News app, a vertical Dock, and a new Flashlight feature in the Control Center.

For more on what's included in watchOS 4, check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Third Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers

 

[puckhead193]

waiting for this to launch officially so i can try out the cellular feature on my S3. I didn't want to waste a month of service.

 

[gsmornot]

waiting for this to launch officially so i can try out the cellular feature on my S3. I didn't want to waste a month of service.

You will enjoy it if you're like me. I just spent the week out of town and left my phone in the room everyday. Took/made a few phone calls, listened to music for hours, messages, etc. Fantastic.

 

[Futhark]

Really needing to upgrade my Series 0 as you can really notice the slow down since WatchOS 4

 

[rwilliams]

You will enjoy it if you're like me. I just spent the week out of town and left my phone in the room everyday. Took/made a few phone calls, listened to music for hours, messages, etc. Fantastic.

Generally speaking, what was your battery life like? Did you need to charge during the day due to LTE usage?

 

[kycophpd]

I have noticed LTE to be a drain but mainly when doing something like a workout. I can get thru a day with moderate use and one 45 minute workout. But it is usually at 15% or lower when I throw it on charge.

 

[gsmornot]

Generally speaking, what was your battery life like? Did you need to charge during the day due to LTE usage?

Still charging only once per day about the usual time. My series 0 would end the day @15% left, my series 3 using it without the phone I am @30% left. With phone I am somewhere north of 50% by days end so battery is way better than it used to be. I had one day where I listened to music @ 5 hours and took two 5 minute phone calls and had 32% at 7PM but that is really not too bad at all. Most days start between 6 and 7AM.

 

[Scubadiver]

I have yet to see the display of the WiFi network's name.

 

[ZebraDude]

I have yet to see the display of the WiFi network's name.

it only displays on the Series 3 LTE model

 

[Solver]

it only displays on the Series 3 LTE model

I wonder why that is? It seems that all Apple watch users would want to see what WiFi network they’re connected to.

 

[thenickberry]

Does anyone know which band is in the main photo?

 

[Scubadiver]

it only displays on the Series 3 LTE model

That's what I have.

 

[ZebraDude]

That's what I have.

it only works when you are not connected to your iPhone.

 

[0098386]

I’ve been so happy with the 4.1 beta so far. It’s incredible using such big features like having my entire iTunes library available on my watch! What a brilliant device. I even changed my cellular provider to make the most of my watch (sorry o2!)

 

[MrGimper]

Does anyone know which band is in the main photo?

It's not an official Apple band, looks a bit cheap and nasty. Annnnd, the fact that the top strap isn't in the centre of the connector in the pic puts my OCD into overdrive every time I see it

 

[Kiro]

It's not an official Apple band, looks a bit cheap and nasty. Annnnd, the fact that the top strap isn't in the centre of the connector in the pic puts my OCD into overdrive every time I see it

Damn you Now, I've seen it and it can't be unseen
Never noticed it before and now I always look at the strap that isn't centred...

 

[ZebraDude]

I wonder why that is? It seems that all Apple watch users would want to see what WiFi network they’re connected to.

The one thing about Apple is they have the heart of a minimalist (Steve Jobs) vision. They only gave the Apple Watch LTE this ability to allow for you to disconnect from WiFi networks that required user input that is unavailable from the Apple Watch. This is a fix for one problem not a feature to roll out for all watches. I would have liked this on all watches as well..