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Apple today seeded the golden master version of watchOS 6, the software that runs on the Apple Watch. The new update comes two weeks after the ninth beta and over three months after Apple first unveiled the new watchOS update at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

To install the watchOS 6 beta, you'll need the proper configuration profile, which can be obtained through the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the beta can be downloaded using the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. The golden master version of watchOS 6 represents the final version of the software that will be released to the public.

watchOS-6-800x478.jpg

Installing the software requires the Apple Watch to have 50 percent battery. It also needs to be put on a charger and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 6 is a major update that offers up a long list of new features. First and foremost, there's an App Store right on the Apple Watch, so you can find and download new Apple Watch apps on your wrist.

Apple Watch apps no longer need to have an iPhone component, which means developers can create standalone Apple Watch apps for the first time. Apps are able to take advantage of new APIs so you'll be able to do things like follow along with a workout or listen to streaming music from third-party services.

appstoreapplewatch-800x566.jpg

Since Apple Watch apps are now independent of apps on the iPhone, you can now remove some built-in apps from the Apple Watch, a feature that was enabled in beta 3.

There are several new watch faces in watchOS 6, including Numerals Mono and Duo with huge numbers, Modular Compact, a Gradient watch face that shifts over the course of a day, a Solar Dial watch face that visualizes the sun in a 24 hour path around the dial, and the California watch face with a mix of standard numbers and roman numerals.

watchos6ewatchfaces-800x442.jpg

A new Taptic Chimes feature provides a silent touch on the wrist at every hour, and if sound is turned on, you'll hear an audible chime. You can also hold two fingers on the Apple Watch's display to hear the time spoken out loud.

There are new Audiobooks, Voice Memos, and Calculator apps, along with a new Noise app that warns you if you're exposed to sound that's too loud and a new Cycle Tracking app for period tracking. Activity Trends, visible on the iPhone, are also available to chart your fitness progress and make sure your fitness trends are improving.

watchos6apps-800x446.jpg

New complications are available for wind speed, chance of rain, and the new Noise app, plus there's a Voice Memos complication for recording a memo quickly, a cellular strength complication, and a complication for the Calculator that opens up the app.

Siri can now provide full web search results right on the watch when asked a question, and for Mac users, the Apple Watch can now approve Mac security prompts.

When it launches on September 19, watchOS 6 will be available on the Series 3 and Series 4 Apple Watch models. It will come out for Series 1 and Series 2 models later this year. For more on what's new in watchOS 6, make sure to check out our watchOS 6 roundup.

Article Link: Apple Seeds watchOS 6 Golden Master to Developers
 
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I'm running iOS 13 GM, do you still need a dev profile to install watchOS 6?
 
I have the watchOS beta profile installed. I checked for an update and gold master appeared.
 
what are the chances the GM bricks my watch? not a dev but im running 13.1 on my ios stuff.
 
what are the chances the GM bricks my watch? not a dev but im running 13.1 on my ios stuff.
What model do you have? I have a series 4 not had any major issues that affecting anything on any later beta. Installing now but it will take a day to see what’s going on. Highly doubt there will be any issues now...but it’s your choice.
 
Article should be updated to reflect that the GM is only for series 3 and 4.

I checked my series 2, which has a dev profile and beta 9 or whatever installed and it claims it’s up to date.

I think series 2 and older will truly have to wait till the end of the month for wOS 6 GM.
 
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What model do you have? I have a series 4 not had any major issues that affecting anything on any later beta. Installing now but it will take a day to see what’s going on. Highly doubt there will be any issues now...but it’s your choice.

S3
 
how long do you think it'll take to install?
The download is super slow. I keeps going between 2 hours and like 8 hours... Hoping it speeds up and evens out.

Edit: It ended up only taking about half an hour to download.
 
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Has anyone installed on the latest Beta before 13.1? Any success? Thanks

I will update later when I am home.
 
How’s the battery life on series 4? People wrote it was shorter than on watchOS 5.
 
Later release date for S2??? When did they say that? Anyone know more specifically when that will be?
 
Article should be updated to reflect that the GM is only for series 3 and 4.

I checked my series 2, which has a dev profile and beta 9 or whatever installed and it claims it’s up to date.

I think series 2 and older will truly have to wait till the end of the month for wOS 6 GM.
Same here. No dice on S2.
 
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