Apple is set to announce one of its most awaited announcements this week and that is the release of watchOS 5.1.
According to Forbes, the update was just a simple point release but there were several additional new features. These were aside from the bug fixes intended to come with it. The release of watchOS 5.1 gives Apple Watch Series 4 devices many abilities. It would reportedly obtain the ability to contact emergency services automatically should the device detect a hard fall and the wearer becomes immobile for over a minute.
Therefore, the feature would send a message and inform first responders the Watch had detected a fall and it would immediately share the wearer's location coordinates as possible as it can. On the other hand, the update dealt issues as well that may cause the Walkie-Talkie app's improper installation for some users. The application sends and receives function was previously broken in this update along with the now fixed Activity awards that were not showing up in the proper tab for some users.
However, one matter Apple did not expect during the update's release is a rash of bricked Apple Watches. Reports came flooding the web about bricked devices that failed upon installing the update soon after it was released. The earlier mentioned source says the update seemed to install correctly and has never reported any issues. Unfortunately, upon rebooting the device, the Watch only presented an Apple logo and then hangs.
These reports are not new anymore when it comes to any virtual device after an OS update is released. But the giant tech company defended they already investigated relatively quickly and has expressed their reaction since. At the moment, the exact issue was still unidentifiable and what needs to be fixed is unclear. As of now, Apple has pulled the watchOS 5.1 updates and it is no longer accessible.
The official statement of the company says they have pulled back the software update as a precaution. This is due to the limited number of Apple Watch customers experiencing an issue while installing watchOS 5.1 today. They also instructed customers to contact Applecare, but no action is needed in case the update was installed successfully. "We are working on a fix for an upcoming software update," they added. Information on when the process will be over is yet to be announced.
