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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers for testing purposes, four days after releasing the third watchOS 4.1 beta and a month after releasing the new watchOS 4 operating system to the public.

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
watchOS 4.1 brings support for streaming Apple Music content directly to the Apple Watch Series 3 over LTE and it introduces a new Radio app with access to Beats 1 and other Apple Music radio stations.


The Music app on the watch looks the same, offering up access to the Music Library, recently played songs, playlists, and Apple Music mixes, but now all Apple Music content can be streamed over an LTE connection and doesn't need to be downloaded to the device. watchOS 4.1 also adds a new Wi-Fi toggle for turning off Wi-Fi to force the Apple Watch Series 3 to use LTE and it displays the Wi-Fi SSID so users can see the Wi-Fi Network an Apple Watch is connected to.

Support for Apple Music streaming appears to be the main feature in the new watchOS 4.1 update, but Apple is also introducing a range of new Unicode 10 emoji characters that include vomiting face, head exploding, mermaid, zombie, hedgehog, fairy, broccoli, and more.

Apple says the watchOS 4 update addresses a serious vulnerability in the WPA2 Wi-Fi standard that protects many modern Wi-Fi networks.

watchOS 4 is a significant refresh of the watchOS operating system introducing new watch faces, including a personalized Siri face, improvements to the Workout app, support for integration with gym equipment, an Apple News app, a vertical Dock, and a new Flashlight feature in the Control Center.

For more on what's included in watchOS 4, check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

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

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Top Rated Comments

MrGimper Avatar
113 months ago
And remember, don't look at the top strap in the watch pic above.... #OCD
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
themick4u Avatar
113 months ago
Apple, PLEASE Bring back ability to browse & select my music collection playlists stored on my phone remotely! This is a serious flaw for many folks, especially on the series 0
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
113 months ago
Apple, PLEASE Bring back ability to browse & select my music collection playlists stored on my phone remotely! This is a serious flaw for many folks, especially on the series 0
You need to tell Apple via “feedback”, they don’t read this forum.

+1 tho.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nightflight82 Avatar
113 months ago
Apple, PLEASE Bring back ability to browse & select my music collection playlists stored on my phone remotely! This is a serious flaw for many folks, especially on the series 0
+1
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
113 months ago
I’ve been playing around with this beta for a while, it’s amazing and feels like the real starting point for the Apple Watch. Apple Music (plus your complete iTunes library) on the watch is a major major thing. My iPhone battery ran out yesterday and I didn’t have a compatible charging cable with me and the public wireless charging panels are way too slow. Anywho. Got to carry on listening to music and sending messages. Brilliant tech experience.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
When is expected release? I need that Apple Music goodness. Plus, Apple are advertising the LTE AW with Apple Music support...which doesn’t exist yet. Surely that’s breaking a few rules?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)