Apple PULLS major software update at eleventh hour due to 'critical flaw'

Apple will NOT release the software update as scheduled due to a critical BUG

APPLE has pulled the plug on watchOS 2 – the first major software update for the Apple Watch – after discovering a bug in the software.

 

Apple was scheduled to release the first major update for its wearable operating system – dubbed watchOS – later today in tandem with iOS 9.

But the Cupertino company has pulled the update after discovering a 'critical flaw', reports 9to5Mac.

The US firm has not given any details of when users can expect to see the update.

A spokesperson for the Californian firm told Express.co.uk: "We have discovered a bug in development of watchOS 2 that is taking a bit longer to fix than we expected.

We will not release watchOS 2 today but will shortly

Apple spokesperson

"We will not release watchOS 2 today but will shortly.”

Apple has confirmed iOS 9 is still on-track to roll out worldwide at 6pm GMT today.

watchOS 2, which was first unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference back in June, brings a number of new features to the smartwatch.

The software update will allow third-party apps to live on the Watch for the first time – rather than be sent from the iPhone – which should speed up the device.

The Apple website now lists watchOS 2 as "coming soon"

Information from these apps can also be displayed in a watch face, thanks to support for third-party complications.

These can include headlines, flight information, calendar appointments and even the heart-beat of one of your patients, as Apple demonstrated on-stage at a keynote last week.

On the subject of watch faces, new Apple designs have been bundled with watchOS 2.

Amongst them are photo faces, which support the new Live Photo format introduced with the iPhone 6s and a face with time-lapse videos playing in the background.

The Apple website now lists watchOS 2 as "coming soon."

 

The Cupertino company had a number of issues following the release of iOS 8 last year.

Thousands of customers flocked to try and update their hardware as soon as the Apple software was released – causing delays to the software roll-out.

Virgin Media claims iOS 8 triggered a 10 per cent increase in peak download traffic – making it the busiest day ever on their network.

Apple dropped a number of features which were supposed to be included in its Health app hours before the release of iOS 8.

 

"We discovered a bug that prevents us from making HealthKit apps available on iOS today," the Cupertino firm explained in a statement at the time.

"We're working quickly to have the bug fixed in a software update and have HealthKit apps available by the end of the month."

Apple also had to pull the next update – the infamous 8.0.1 – which removed many iPhone user's ability to make phone-calls.

The Touch ID fingerprint sensor was also unable to work for those who updated their iPhone to the latest update over wifi.

Despite the troubled roll-out, more than half of all iOS devices were running iOS 8 within the first week of its launch.