14 DAY TRIAL // Registered iOS developers can download the second beta of iOS 8.2 today, along with a new beta of Xcode 6.2, which includes the WatchKit framework for developing apps for Apple Watch.
iOS 8.2 Beta 2 is labeled as build 12D445d and needs to be treated as a pre-release version of the upcoming iOS 8.2 public update for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Devices updated to iOS 8.2 beta 2 cannot be restored to earlier versions of Apple’s mobile operating system. Xcode has no restrictions, but there are some strict requirements.
What’s new in iOS 8.2 Beta 2 (Build 12D445d)
In usual fashion, Apple offers the new IPSWs with developer-centric release notes. These feature notes and known issues for key components of the software, including CloudKit, app extensions, iCloud, Keyboards, Notification Center, the Phone app, Photos, provisioning profiles, Siri, WatchKit, and Wi-Fi calling.
Mail handoff and AirDrop may stop working after changing iCloud passwords, but there’s a simple workaround for this issue: sign out and back into iCloud, according to people familiar with the seed notes.
An issue causing keyboards to fail to appear in Safari, Maps, or third-party apps has been addressed. Devices with iOS 8.2 beta 2 installed may get into a state where tapping into Messages conversations can take a long time, but rebooting the device will fix the issue.
As far as Notification Center is concerned, an implementation is required to enable background updates, and widgets require additional attention from testers as well.
In the Phone department, Apple offers instructions for activating Wi-Fi Calling functionality for T-Mobile. Siri support for Singapore English was disabled in the previous beta, but now it’s working again. WatchKit has undergone some changes in areas like the WKInterfaceMap API and the WKInterfaceController API.
Xcode 6.2 Beta 2
Xcode 6.2 includes the iOS 8.2 SDK with the WatchKit framework for developing apps for Apple Watch, including design tools for building Watch interfaces, glances, and notifications, debugging and profiling support, and Watch support in iOS Simulator for testing apps, glances, and notifications.
Developers with access to the new resources say that the only change in this beta is that Interface Builder now allows customizing a watch app's layout for specific devices.
Developers with a valid iOS Developer Program account can download iOS 8.2 beta 2 and Xcode 6.2 beta 2 immediately. Xcode includes the Mac SDK for OS X v10.10, meaning developers can use it to code apps for Yosemite. All these resources can be downloaded now on the iOS Dev Center.
