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watchOS 5.1 - I think my watch is bricked

OllyW said:
I think you are making a big assumption there. The bricking is not restricted to watches in the USA and the ECG function will be unavailable elsewhere until it receives the necessary approval.
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I think I saw somewhere that this release does some internal software shuffling in preparation for the ECG function, not necessarily enabling it yet, but then, who knows, Apple isn't exactly "Chatty" about their software, and stuff. :) I just hope it gets fixed, I got lucky, and while I had downloaded the release, I didn't install it, as I charge my watch in the mornings while I'm typing replies to MacRumors forums.. :)
 
OllyW said:
I think you are making a big assumption there. The bricking is not restricted to watches in the USA and the ECG function will be unavailable elsewhere until it receives the necessary approval.
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The app will not be available, but the underlying functionality to the OS was reportedly enabled in 5.1 for Series 4 watches – which are the only ones affected so far.

The OS needs to have the hooks for the app to tap into.

It's easier to restrict user access to the ECG function by allowing them to access the app by region than it would be to provide a different version of the OS by region.
 
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tromboneaholic said:
Interesting wording. It's "Apple Watch customers" experiencing an issue, rather than the watches having an issue. Subtle spin.
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I agree. I usually roll my eyes when people over create drama regarding Apple “gates” or make a bigger deal than necessary on a software glitch that Apple fixes in an update pushed out a few days later.

However, Apple’s official worded response to this is beyond irritating, it’s infuriating. Brand new Series 4 models costing a minimum of $400 US being bricked on a software update (which somehow was overlooked during beta testing) is a serious issue, and not having ample replacements on hand makes this bad situation even worse for paying customers to deal with.

Apple would be wise to quit trying to minimize this as a “small number of Apple Watch customers experiencing an issue” and acknowledge this was a MAJOR screw up on their part. Like I said before, I feel genuinely bad for S4 owners having to deal with this, and I would be seriously pissed.
 
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tromboneaholic said:
The app will not be available, but the underlying functionality to the OS was reportedly enabled in 5.1 for Series 4 watches – which are the only ones affected so far.

The OS needs to have the hooks for the app to tap into.

It's easier to restrict user access to the ECG function by allowing them to access the app by region than it would be to provide a different version of the OS by region.
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They are properly restricted now, they can't use any of the functions. :D
 
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Maybe it's because I didn't install it and thus haven't had a problem or maybe it's the optimistic views I try to keep in mind, but let's hope they learn from this incident. I really feel for those of you impacted by this, I can't imagine the frustration.
 
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staggerlee41 said:
Maybe it's because I didn't install it and thus haven't had a problem or maybe it's the optimistic views I try to keep in mind, but let's hope they learn from this incident. I really feel for those of you impacted by this, I can't imagine the frustration.
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I'm glad I updated without an issue, which is hopefully what happened for most people. I'm also glad I found there was an issue here so I could hold off on updating my wife's watch. If she had an issue, I never would have heard the end of it!
 
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tromboneaholic said:
I'm glad I updated without an issue, which is hopefully what happened for most people. I'm also glad I found there was an issue here so I could hold off on updating my wife's watch. If she had an issue, I never would have heard the end of it!
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You know because if the wife isn't happy, nobody's happy :cool: Glad that some were able to update without incident and HUGE THANKS to those that reported this. Literally saving AW users from the potential risk of bricked watches.
 
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Newtons Apple said:
I agree that it will not be an app.

I hope I did not lead someone into thing it would be an app. It show just be intergrated into the watch OS.
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According to Apple it will be an app. Text below is from Apple website.


With the ECG app, Apple Watch Series 4 is capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. It’s a momentous achievement for a wearable device that can provide critical data for doctors and peace of mind for you.


ECG app coming later this year.
 
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staggerlee41 said:
Maybe it's because I didn't install it and thus haven't had a problem or maybe it's the optimistic views I try to keep in mind, but let's hope they learn from this incident. I really feel for those of you impacted by this, I can't imagine the frustration.
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Yeah, it's annoying especially on such a new device, but I've tried to have some perspective, too. Even though I've had an Apple Watch since they were introduced (currently falling back to using my original one to fill rings), I somehow never thought of the specific process if things went sideways (I always knew there's nothing from an end-user perspective, but assumed that an Apple Store visit could be the fix). I'd hope that this is enough of a pain for Apple that they rethink some of their processes because shipping and (probably) re-flashing a bunch of Watches seems like a lot of work when a lot of us would probably have been okay with bringing them to an Apple Store.
 
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I seriously think the people that got affected and had to send in their watches should be compensated with some itunes store credit or something! I would seriously be very pissed dropping 400+ dollars on a new watch only to have it bricked from Apple within first couple of months.
 
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ecschwarz said:
Yeah, it's annoying especially on such a new device, but I've tried to have some perspective, too. Even though I've had an Apple Watch since they were introduced (currently falling back to using my original one to fill rings), I somehow never thought of the specific process if things went sideways (I always knew there's nothing from an end-user perspective, but assumed that an Apple Store visit could be the fix). I'd hope that this is enough of a pain for Apple that they rethink some of their processes because shipping and (probably) re-flashing a bunch of Watches seems like a lot of work when a lot of us would probably have been okay with bringing them to an Apple Store.
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The 4K Apple TV dropped the USB-C port, and HomePod never had a port. Apple is going to have to address the update process itself if they continue the trend of products with no user ports to restore the device after a failure.

Interestingly, the HomePod 12.1 update seems to have rolled out to HomePods running 11.x but not units running 12.0 yesterday. People are wondering if there is an issue with HomePod 12 not accepting updates, how users will be able to get around this without returning the devices to Apple.
 
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watchOS 5.1 is now available again on my iPhone for my Series 4


Oops, the update switched on and off and on and off, now not available again!

Sorry!


next update- switched back and forth another 3 times. Says it's available, then not. I guess i should just reboot the watch and the phone and start over again!

next next update- rebooted both devices and now 5.0.1 is the latest. Strange that it kept showing the update and then saying I was on the latest, and then offering to Install 5.1. Perhaps it was confused as I had downloaded the 5.1 yesterday but didn't install it before 5.1 was pulled. Yesterday it flashed a 5.1 available before switching back to "up to date", but today it actually offered the install button again for 5.1 but the verification step failed while blaming the phone's internet connection, but then offering to install it again. The reboots apparently cleared all that stuff out.
 
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jphall said:
watchOS 5.1 is now available again on my iPhone for my Series 4


Oops, the update switched on and off and on and off, now not available again!

Sorry!


next update- switched back and forth another 3 times. Says it's available, then not. I guess i should just reboot the watch and the phone and start over again!
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When Apple pulls an update, sometimes the notification for the update is still cached on servers, but when your device looks for the actual update it's not there.
 
jphall said:
watchOS 5.1 is now available again on my iPhone for my Series 4


Oops, the update switched on and off and on and off, now not available again!

Sorry!


next update- switched back and forth another 3 times. Says it's available, then not. I guess i should just reboot the watch and the phone and start over again!
Click to expand...


I think I'm going to wait a while before I update my watch at this point...
 
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tromboneaholic said:
The 4K Apple TV dropped the USB-C port, and HomePod never had a port. Apple is going to have to address the update process itself if they continue the trend of products with no user ports to restore the device after a failure.
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I didn't pay much attention to the 4K Apple TV losing its port (I have the 4th generation ones), but you're absolutely right. While Apple Stores are often pretty crowded, the shipping things back and forth takes time and probably annoys customers more than making an appointment and having it handled locally. I understand there's plenty of areas not serviced by an Apple Store (or AASP for that matter), but at least give options.
 
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tromboneaholic said:
When Apple pulls an update, sometimes the notification for the update is still cached on servers, but when your device looks for the actual update it's not there.
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I'm pretty sure it was confused by 5.1 having been downloaded to the phone yesterday. But the Install thing came up like previous updated updaters when the previous updater was pulled. I do think I missed the new download step though. I'm an excitable boy, they all said.
 
joeob said:
I have owned the watch exactly 40 days today. The store London store staff didn’t even hesitate when I told them that. Perhaps call ahead. It’s basicslly up to “managers discretion”. If they have stock you might be in luck.
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Yup I just got a super express replacement done (i.e. they swapped it out in store and the manager overrode the 14 day policy lol)

Now I just need to swap over my AC+ and refrain from updating watchOS LOL
 
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UGH..... so to me and express replacement is apple sends me my device either that day or the next day depending on when I call support... and they send said device overnight.

I just called back support since my email says they'll be sending me my replacement watch "in a few days".... ya.... well.... it might be sent out tomorrow or Friday and I might have it monday or tuesday.

and I agree that some sort of compensation should be given. (i.e. some iTunes/app store credit would make the customer a bit less pissed and wouldn't cost apple anything)
 
I'm bricked too. Series 4 GPS paired to XS Max. Did an online chat, and they had to have an advisor call me. After detailing again what was going on, got transferred to a senior advisor. Then, after performing all of the steps that I had already performed on both the phone and watch, I was told that the watch needed to be returned and replaced. The only option was for them to send me a box, and then send a new watch once they received the old one. Turnaround time for this process would be at least a week or more with the weekend approaching. They would not send me a new one immediately, and they would not allow me to get one from the store as a replacement, even if I paid for it myself upfront. So, I'm heading to the Apple store today and buying the most expensive model available while I wait, and will return it when the replacement arrives. Yes, it's petty and Apple probably doesn't care, but it will make me feel better and prevent me from having to go a week or so with no watch at all.
 
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