Apple Seeds Third Beta of watchOS 3.1.1 to Developers - MacRumors
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of watchOS 3.1.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 3.1.1 update to developers for testing purposes, just over a week after seeding the second watchOS 3.1.1 beta and three weeks after releasing watchOS 3.1, the first update to the watchOS 3 operating system.

watchOS 3.1.1 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 must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. watchOS 3.1.1 requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install.

watch-3-1-1-beta
As a minor 3.1.x update, watchOS 3.1.1 seems to focus on under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements, with no outward-facing changes discovered in the first two watchOS 3.1.1 betas. We'll update this post should any new features be discovered in the third watchOS 3.1.1 beta.

watchOS 3 completely overhauls the interface on the Apple Watch, introducing a dedicated app dock, instant launch apps, new watch faces, and new complication options. There are new Activity sharing features, a "Breathe" app guides users through deep breathing sessions to cut down on stress, and an SOS feature can automatically call emergency service.

For more details on what's new in watchOS 3, make sure to check out our watchOS 3 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

honglong1976 Avatar
124 months ago
It's in the iPhone under Alarm called Bedtime. It uploads the data to the health app
It's not really sleep tracking. Just lets you know when you went to bed and woke up with nothing in between.

I am sure Apple could do sleep tracking using the HR and movement data without killing the battery.

I will see what happens in the future!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mlrollin91 Avatar
124 months ago

Ps is it really true that if an Apple beta software defect bricks a developer's watch that the developer has to pay? Seems highly unlikely.
Yes, there are reports around here that if you are no longer under AppleCare and the watch bricks due to a beta software update, you have to pay for the replacement device. Apple doesn't un-brick your current watch, they send you a replacement.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
124 months ago
Right, I realize that one would have to recover by exposing the port and using a cable. It just seems to me that the risk of this issue should be pretty remote by now. Maybe Apple thinks that the cost of paying for bricked watches to be returned and fixed isn't worth the benefit of receiving some non developer beta phase feedback.

Ps is it really true that if an Apple beta software defect bricks a developer's watch that the developer has to pay? Seems highly unlikely.
But that would require them supplying a cable for the hidden port, and then people fiddling around with the hidden port, and also potential water resistance issues if the port is opened and not sealed again properly.

So, basically, still not gonna happen.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
honglong1976 Avatar
124 months ago
To Apple: please add sleep tracking
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)