Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of New watchOS 4 Operating System to Developers

Apple today seeded the eighth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers, one week after seeding the seventh beta and more than two months after introducing the watchOS 4 update at its 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.

watchos 4 beta
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 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual and is perhaps the most significant new feature in the update. There are also new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app that supports High Intensity Interval Training and new swimming options.


GymKit, a new technology platform, will let the Apple Watch interface with gym equipment for workout data sharing purposes, and the Activity app will offer up intelligent coaching and tailored workout encouragement along with new monthly activity challenges.

Many other small tweaks and changes have been introduced, all of which are outlined in our dedicated watchOS 4 roundup.

watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers need to wait until the software sees an official release in the fall to try it out. With September approaching, we are nearing the end of the beta testing period.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

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Top Rated Comments

kissmo Avatar
99 months ago
Did they Add other faces??
I cannot wait to go on a customer business meeting and have Buzz showing up whenever I move my wrist!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
99 months ago
I cannot wait to go on a customer business meeting and have Buzz showing up whenever I move my wrist!
If you feel that such watch faces are not appropriate to your business environment, they why on earth would you have switched to that watch face? The watch doesn't randomly change to different faces.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
99 months ago
How's the battery life? ;)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
99 months ago
Installed fine. None of the new workouts found on iOS 11 beta, which makes me think that these workouts will be exclusive to Apple Watch 3.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Maxroxs Avatar
99 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/28/apple-seeds-watchos-4-beta-8-to-developers/')


Apple today seeded the eighth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers, one week after seeding the seventh beta ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/21/apple-seeds-watchos-4-beta-7-to-developers/') and more than two months after introducing the watchOS 4 update at its 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta 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 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 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual and is perhaps the most significant new feature in the update. There are also new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app that supports High Intensity Interval Training and new swimming options.


Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ('//www.youtube.com/user/macrumors?sub_confirmation=1') for more videos.

GymKit, a new technology platform, will let the Apple Watch interface with gym equipment for workout data sharing purposes, and the Activity app will offer up intelligent coaching and tailored workout encouragement along with new monthly activity challenges.

Many other small tweaks and changes have been introduced, all of which are outlined in our dedicated watchOS 4 roundup ('https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/watchos-4/').

watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers need to wait until the software sees an official release in the fall to try it out. With September approaching, we are nearing the end of the beta testing period.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of New watchOS 4 Operating System to Developers ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/28/apple-seeds-watchos-4-beta-8-to-developers/')
[doublepost=1503986684][/doublepost]My battery has vastly improved today. I was getting around 7-9 hours in a full charge up until this update, now I’m 12 hours in and only 27% off my full charge.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhfenton Avatar
99 months ago
The battery life continues to improve for workouts. Last night, I ran 5 miles / 42 minutes and used only 17% battery (97%->80%) for GPS+AirPods+Polar H10-iPhone. That's definitely acceptable to me. It would allow for a 2h30m long run without my iPhone with plenty of margin for error.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)