you beta watchout?!....watchOS beta 6 allows for Apple Watch over-the-air software update.....

[NewtonMP2100]

....but you will still need an iPhone for initial set-up of Apple Watch....for now.......


Apple Watch Gets Over-the-Air Software Update Mechanism, But iPhone Still Required For Now

.....Apple appears to be in the process of decoupling the iPhone from the watchOS update process on the Apple Watch.

In the first beta of watchOS 6, the Apple Watch gained its own over-the-air software update mechanism under Settings > General > Software Update. As on the iPhone, the mechanism checks for any available watchOS update and, if prompted, downloads the update directly to the Apple Watch.

The mechanism became functional on Monday when Apple seeded the second beta of watchOS 6 to developers.

As noted by Jeremy Horwitz, however, users still must review and accept the watchOS terms and conditions using an iPhone. Hopefully this is a temporary step that Apple removes before watchOS 6 is publicly released in September.

Sure seems like the stage is being set for direct-to-Apple Watch software updates in watchOS 6, though it hasn’t been fully freed quite yet from the need to approve things on the iPhone. pic.twitter.com/pf3wBC3vU5
— Jeremy Horwitz (@horwitz) June 17, 2019

Updating an Apple Watch's software previously required using the Apple Watch app on an iPhone for the entire process.

This change is in line with the Apple Watch gradually becoming more independent from the iPhone. In 2017, for example, Apple Watch Series 3 models launched with cellular capabilities for making phone calls and more without an iPhone. And in watchOS 6, the Apple Watch received its own on-wrist App Store.


eventually.....you won't need an iPhone for set-up...........?!

[sekker]

It's about time!

[graylocks]

in case you don't frequent the AW Reddit forum, do not upgrade to the OS 6 watch beta if you don't have the OS 13 phone beta. OS 6 requires OS 13. it will brick your watch if you don't have it and the only fix is to send it to apple to downgrade it.

can't believe how many idiots have just willy nilly upgraded their apple watches to the beta.

[RAMd®d]

I upgraded my Watch to a wOS beta some time ago, and there was a warning to first upgrade to the then current iOS beta.

I had been doing some iOS beta updates, so I tried the Watch too. It was fun to be on the bleeding edge, but I got tired of the constant beta updates, and got a little nervous about the bricked Watch reports.

So I stopped doing betas and am comfortable waiting for the public/GM release.

[graylocks]

RAMd®d wrote:
I upgraded my Watch to a wOS beta some time ago, and there was a warning to first upgrade to the then current iOS beta.

if such a warning still exist a whole lot of folks are thinking it means Only Kidding.