Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.1 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the first watchOS 5.1 beta and a little over two weeks after releasing the new watchOS 5 operating system.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.
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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 5.1 includes support for Group FaceTime, with Group FaceTime calls able to be answered in an audio-only capacity on the Apple Watch. Group FaceTime allows you to chat with up to 32 people at one time.
The watchOS 5.1 update also brings a full-screen new "Color" watch face option for the Apple Watch Series 4, with users able to choose between multiple shades. There's also a filled-in circular color option for older Apple Watch models that joins the standard Color clock face.
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Should additional new features be found in the second beta of watchOS 5.1, we'll update this post.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Even if they’re just icons to launch the apps, “Messages” and “Now Playing” (among other native complications) are indispensable for me on my watch face.
Why does Apple limit which complications I can put on which faces? I am far from alone in this disappointment.
I don't understand why the new infograph watch faces on my Series 4 allow you to have shortcuts to Music, Exercise, Weather, Walkie Talkie, etc but don't let you shortcut to Messages, Radio, Apple TV Remote, HomeKit, etc. It's bizarre. A lot of third party apps don't work with them either, but for some reason work with the older faces.
The specific reason is that those complications on the new watch faces are actually DIFFERENT than the ones available before S4 and watchOS 5. Third party developers have to port their old ones to that new format. Some have, some will do it eventually.The issue is, when will Apple? watchOS 5.1? watchOS5.2? watchOS 6?
It's very frustrating that they did not do it out of the gate.
Messages complication on infograph face or gtfo
I’m not sure I would state it in quite the same manner, but I do agree! :-)