iOS 8.2 beta download just went live for supported iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. iOS 8.2 beta 1 release comes only a day after Apple released public final version of iOS 8.1.1.
With the beta seed of iOS 8.2, Apple is making it clear that the Apple Watch is right on the horizon, and is being prepped for consumer release. While Tim Cook did clearly mention at the iPhone 6 / Apple Watch event that the Cupertino company’s smartwatch will be available in early 2015, it’s the developers which the tech giant eagerly wants onboard to take things to the next level, and the release of iOS 8.2 is testament to that.
According to the release notes, iOS 8.2 is strictly focused towards developers so they get their apps ready for Apple Watch, so they work in conjunction with their iPhone counterparts. Apart from being a developer-sided release, there’s apparently nothing new on the consumer end, so don’t expect fancy new functionality or a speed boost, just yet.
According to the release notes:
iOS 8.2 lets you give Apple Watch users access to data and functionality related to your iOS app. The primary interface you can create is a Watch app, which gives users quick, focused ways to access their content without opening your iOS app on their iPhone.
Apart from iOS 8.2, Apple has also released WatchKit for developers, which is the starting point for all the Apple Watch apps. It’s evident that iOS 8.2 will be a requirement for iPhones when Apple Watch is released early next year, providing necessary APIs and interfaces required for the smartwatch to work properly with other iOS devices.
Carrying a build number of 12D436, iOS 8.2 beta is available for every iOS device that supports and can run iOS 8 and up. If you’re a developer, head over to the iOS Dev Center to download all the necessary bits to get started with the Apple Watch development. But keep one thing in mind, as with every pre-release software from Apple, you will need to be a member of the company’s developer program to take advantage of the whole thing, which costs just $99 per year.
You may also like to check out:
- Download iOS 8.1.1 Final For iPhone, iPad, iPod touch [Direct Download Links]
- iOS 8.1.1 Jailbreak Status Update
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