If you love your AW don't run Beta

[kybldmstr]

I am making this post simply to share my experience with watchOS 2 beta and the beta experience in general on AW. Beta 1 gave me issues and the install ended up placing my watch into a DFU loop and I needed to get it replaced. On my new watch I decided to try out Beta 2. It worked but there are way too many issues to make my watch even usable.

I love my AW and everything I do with it on a daily basis. The AW is a far different beta experience because of the lack of user accessible DFU mode and restores. iPhones are different. You can completely **** up the software and always know that you can simply downgrade using iTunes. My watch now sits on my dresser not being used awaiting beta 3 to hopefully bring it back to life. I for one will not be installing watchOS 3 betas on my watch next year unless Apple comes out with a new AW that can be plugged into iTunes for restores and downgrades.

Just wanted to share my experience and thoughts. Please no comments about "well you shouldn't install the beta if your not a developer." This post is mainly about my want for a user accessible DFU mode and being able to restore using iTunes.

 

[dilap]

Same problems, told apple, and today UPS picked up my apple watch. Apple set up a repair and it will be downgraded to watchOS 1.0.1. Took a 10 minute chat to support.

 

[Armen]

Apple replaced my AW running WatchOS 2.0 Beta 2 with a new one running 1.0. Was very nice of them to do that even though it was my fault I installed the beta.

 

[kybldmstr]

Same problems, told apple, and today UPS picked up my apple watch. Apple set up a repair and it will be downgraded to watchOS 1.0.1. Took a 10 minute chat to support.

Apple replaced my AW running WatchOS 2.0 Beta 2 with a new one running 1.0. Was very nice of them to do that even though it was my fault I installed the beta.

Interesting. I'll consider doing this then.

 

[DynaFXD]

-snip-
Just wanted to share my experience and thoughts. Please no comments about "well you shouldn't install the beta if your not a developer." This post is mainly about my want for a user accessible DFU mode and being able to restore using iTunes.

Well, you're going to get them. Beta software isn't fully functioning software. It is broken by design as they step through in an orderly manner to get things sorted out. "Beta reports" in these forums are worth the paper they are printed on. If you genuinely want something out of your trials, then go post on an official beta test forum and submit the proper documentation as required by the development program. Posting here is pointless, no one of any merit is going to see them or even care.

 

[kybldmstr]

Well, you're going to get them. Beta software isn't fully functioning software. It is broken by design as they step through in an orderly manner to get things sorted out. "Beta reports" in these forums are worth the paper they are printed on. If you genuinely want something out of your trials, then go post on an official beta test forum and submit the proper documentation as required by the development program. Posting here is pointless, no one of any merit is going to see them or even care.

Please don't explain to me what beta software is, I know. I developed for Apple before and use beta iOS packages to test my apps. And the proper means of informing apple of problems is something that I do. If anything, I made this post in order to sway non-developers to stay away from betas and explain how the watchOS beta is a completely different beast from iOS betas.

 

[gadgetjunkie1]

I agree with the OP, I also upgraded and rendered the watch almost unusable, 4 hours on a full charge, no iMessage and constant freezes... Called apple today, new one scheduled for delivery tomorrow... Thanks to apple care+...

 

[kybldmstr]

I agree with the OP, I also upgraded and rendered the watch almost unusable, 4 hours on a full charge, no iMessage and constant freezes... Called apple today, new one scheduled for delivery tomorrow... Thanks to apple care+...

Thanks, good to hear you're getting a replacement. And yeah I'm not trying to diss non-devs trying out betas. We are curious by nature. I am simply warning people about watchOS because there is no user assessable DFU

 

[Gjwilly]

To the people getting their watches serviced -- did Apple tell you that was the only option or was there the impression that a future beta would fix the issue if you were only willing to wait it out?

 

[dilap]

To the people getting their watches serviced -- did Apple tell you that was the only option or was there the impression that a future beta would fix the issue if you were only willing to wait it out?

Apple didn't say anything about a future fix to me.

 

[randy98mtu]

Beta 2 is slightly better than 1. I'm waiting for 3 (Tuesday?) and then I might try to get a downgrade/replacement.

 

[kybldmstr]

Beta 2 is slightly better than 1. I'm waiting for 3 (Tuesday?) and then I might try to get a downgrade/replacement.

My mail in service box will be here on Monday or Tuesday so I am going to see if Beta 3 fixes anything and then send it in