Apple pulls release of flawed Apple Watch operating system hours before global release

APPLE has pulled the global release of the new operating system for the Apple Watch just hours before its release.

APPLE has delayed the release of its major software update for the Apple Watch just hours before it was due for global release with reports of a software bug killing the watch’s battery life.

Apple was due to release watchOS 2 for the Apple Watch as part of iOS9, the mobile operating system that is being rolled out around the world today.

But just hours before the iOS9 update went live, Apple pulled the watch software update. The last-minute decision followed reports from app developers testing almost-finished released versions of the software that the operating system update was causing dramatic battery drain.

One software developer, Kharis O’Connell, described the final beta version of operating system called “abysmal” and “defo (sic) not ready for prime time).

Although after he repaired it to his iPhone, he remarked there was “crazy good battery” life in a tale of two extremes.

O’Connel is an app developer for Vancouver-based CommandWear, which makes a communication app for emergency first responders.

Apple released a statement at 1am AEST about the delayed software release: “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 announced the release of the new operating system back at its WWDC conference in June. The update also featured prominently in the “monster” Apple event of last week in which the Cupertino-based technology giant announced two new iPhones, a new giant iPad and a revamped iPad Pro.

During the event in San Francisco last week, Apple announced the Watch update would be available on September 16. By 4pm Wednesday AEST, the watchOS 2 page on the Apple website was updated to say “coming soon”.

The announcement of the delay for the software was issued just hours after Apple CEO Tim Cook made a high-profile appearnas on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Some software developers, who claimed to be testing final beta versions of the operating system, took to social media to complain the update was draining the battery of their Apple Watch.

Absolutely ABYSMAL battery life on #WatchOS2 GM. Worse than any previous beta - and defo not ready for prime time.

— Kharis O'Connell (@rmtwrkr) September 10, 2015

I am pretty sure watchOS2 GM is killing my battery. 10% at 3pm?

— Matt Nydam (@MattNydam) September 16, 2015

Battery life on watchOS 2 GM seems to be a lot worse than the beta. #WatchOS2 #developer

— George Jones (@penguingeorge) September 15, 2015

Glad to see unpairing/repairing the Apple Watch resolved the WatchOS2 GM battery issues. Beta quirk I guess.

— Mike Kresic (@kresic) September 12, 2015

#WatchOS2 GM chewed up 33% of battery in only 2.5 hours this morning with no actual use of watch. Regressed to b1 efficiency.

— Dazzzz (@Dazzzz) September 10, 2015

I knew WatchOS2.0 was beta software and buggy. Didn't expect it to be this bad. This is just after lunch to... - http://t.co/JwQMuvPHJf

— Boris VvZ (@Boris) August 30, 2015

Anyone else running watchOS2 notice battery life drop to about 4 hours with the last release?

— Ryan M. Adzima (@radzima) September 11, 2015

30% of my Apple Watch battery has drained in the last 2 hours. I'm running Watch OS2 GM! This isn't ready for prime time! #AppleWatch

— Larry Wanger (@larryw) September 10, 2015

The software update, which comes less than five months after the release of the Apple Watch in April, contains key features that improve the functionality of the Watch.

One feature allows third-party app developers to get access to the Watch hardware including the heartrate sensor, accelerometer, microphone, Digital Crown and Taptic Engine.

Under watchOS 2, developers can also add information to the “complications” on the Apple Watch displays.

One of the criticisms of the Apple Watch when it was released was that the smartwatch needs to be charged daily.

The last-minute delay of the release of the Watch operating system update will join Bendgate, Antennagate and Apple Maps as high profile problems around the release of Apple products.