A roundup of this week’s updates from Cupertino, California

Jan 17, 2015 13:34 GMT  ·  By

It hasn’t been a very exciting week in terms of new software releases from Apple, but at least the developer community has new stuff to play with this week, while end users are being treated to rumors that might see an update or two roll out in the coming days.

Apple has made new progress on both the mobile and desktop fronts this week, rolling out new betas of iOS and OS X, with an accompanying Xcode build meant to assists watch-app development.

iOS 8.2 Build 12D5461b

On Monday, Apple greeted developers with a fresh beta of iOS 8.2, which notably includes the WatchKit framework and associated tools designed to assist watch-app development.

According to the official release notes, iOS 8.2 Beta 4 (build 12D5461b) contains “bug fixes and improvements” and weighs in at 290MB on iPhones. Apple recommends that registrants to the iOS Developer Program deploy this beta version of iOS solely on devices dedicated for development.

iOS 8.2 will be released in the following months with new features, including an Apple Watch companion app, as well as the usual round of tweaks and fixes.

OS X 10.10.2 adds Bluetooth focus

For the past two months, Apple has been testing Wi-Fi, Mail, and VoiceOver as the key areas in need of fixing in the next update for Yosemite users. This week, Apple squeezed in a new focus area in a fresh beta of OS X 10.10.2, hinting at improvements in wireless connectivity between Macs and other devices: Bluetooth.

The release notes offered alongside the beta, labeled as build 14C99d, fail to explain why Bluetooth is suddenly in the spotlight as part of Apple’s regular testing. One theory we put forth this week was that Bluetooth might need some tweaks carried out in time for the Apple Watch debut.

New Xcode with WatchKit framework and fixes

In the usual fashion, Apple this week released a new Xcode build to complement the new OS X and iOS betas. Xcode 6.2 beta 4 continues its focus on watch apps via the WatchKit framework. This includes design tools for building Watch interfaces, glances, and notifications, debugging and profiling support, and support in iOS Simulator for testing Apple Watch software.

The usual round of fixes and tweaks can also be found in the new beta. Xcode 6.2 will soon be promoted to Stable/Final status, and will be released as a free download for all users (including non-developers) through the Mac App Store.

iOS 8.1.3 incoming

A last-minute effort heralding a potential new firmware release for iPhone and iPad users, iOS 8.1.3 was handed to retail employees this week. A maintenance update expected to roll out publicly in the coming days, the new firmware will reportedly pack minor fixes and under-the-hood enhancements.