Apple issues fix for iMac JPEG crashes, updates TestFlight with WatchKit support

Apple on Thursday released a pair of small but important software updates, one dealing with iMac kernel panics triggered when previewing JPEG files and another adding WatchKit compatibility to TestFlight's iOS beta-testing platform.

The first is identified as the iMac Graphics Update and can be downloaded by owners of any 2013 iMac or the 2014 5K model. Apple notes that on systems running OS X 10.10.3, viewing "very large" JPEG files in Finder or Preview can cause a computer to freeze, show a black screen, and restart.

Complaints about the problem emerged last week. At the time, some people said they were experiencing the glitch on more than just iMacs, which could mean that additional updates are forthcoming.

The TestFlight update means that developers working on Apple Watch extensions can include them with iPhone apps being seeded to testers. The first round of Watch orders are shipping on Friday, and in many cases it may be the first opportunity for a developer to test and deploy Watch-ready apps on real hardware instead of Xcode.

Since the Watch was announced last year, only a relative handful of developers have been able to get their hands on working copies. Generally this has involved them being invited to Apple's offices to engage in confidential testing on Apple-controlled units.