iOS 8.2 Adds Apple Watch Support And Fixes FREAK Flaw

iOS 8.2 is now available to compatible iPhone and iPad models, adding support for the Apple Watch in the former and adding a fix for the recently-discovered FREAK encryption flaw.

A new Apple Watch application is included for the iPhone 5 or later – the only devices that support the new wearable – allowing users to pair the smartwatch with their phone, control app installations and notifications and enables the Activity app to track exercise.

For all supported iOS devices, there are improvements to the HealthKit framework, such as UI enhancements, a choice between metric and imperial measurements, better data visualisation for third party apps and a privacy setting that lets users turn off the tracking of steps, distances and stairs climbed.

iOS 8.2

A number of HealthKit bugs have been stamped out, as has another issue affecting calls made over Bluetooth, while the ‘GMT bug’, which caused calendar events to appear in GMT has been fixed after six months.

The Maps, Mail and Music apps have been stabilised, while Apple has also fixed a number of sync issues and an error which prevented the configuration of an Exchange account behind a third party gateway.

Alongside the FREAK update, the company has also remedied a bug that could allow a remote attacker to restart a device using SMS as well as issues affecting iCloud Keychain and IOSurface.

iOS 8.2 can be downloaded onto the iPhone 4S or later, the fourth generation iPad or later and any model of the iPad Mini as an over the air update.

Apple is currently working on a number of future updates, including iOS 8.3 and 8.4, which could add the firm’s expected music streaming service. Both could be made available as a public beta in a bid to avoid a repeat of the various issues that have impacted iOS 8 since its launch. iOS 9 is expected to appear at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

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