Public Beta

Latest iOS 10.1 and macOS Sierra betas now available to public beta testers

Apple today released a second beta of an upcoming iOS 10.1 software update and a third beta of an upcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.1 software update to non-developers who are enrolled in the official Apple Beta Software Program.

Both macOS Sierra and iOS 10.1 public betas can be downloaded over-the-air through Apple's Software Update mechanism on devices enrolled in the beta program. iOS devices must have the proper certificate installed to run public betas.

Tweetbot creators invite you to beta-test Pastebot clipboard manager for the Mac

Tapbots, the makers of Tweetbot, the popular Twitter client for iOS and macOS, today released the first public beta of Pastebot for Mac. Fans of Tapbots' work will remember Pastebot for iPhone, which allowed you to copy and paste text between iOS devices and Macs.

I've used past tense because Pastebot for iOS is no more: the app was discontinued more than two years ago as developers reshuffled their roadmap. Well, Pastebot for Mac is the successor to the phased-out iOS app and you can now take it for a spin.

Apple issues iOS 10 beta 8 to developers & beta 7 to public beta testers

Apple today released an eighth beta of iOS 10 (build number “14A5346a”) to members of the Apple Developer Program and the seventh beta of iOS 10 to public beta testers who are signed on the Apple Beta Software Program. It's worth repeating that iOS 10 beta 8 for developers and iOS 10 beta 7 for public beta testers contain the same features.

The devices on a prior beta can be updated in Settings → General → Software Update, but some users are reporting issues trying to update to beta 8.

You’ll be surprised to learn why Apple provides public iOS betas

Fast Company today published a wide ranging interview with Apple's boss Tim Cook, software boss Craig Federighi and Eddy Cue, who is in charge of Internet software and services, that touches upon a number of interesting topics, including competition, iPhone sales slowdown, why public iOS betas exist (the real reason is now what you think) and more.

Cook also comments on the gloom-and-doom sentiment that has always surrounded Apple while admitting that the company does make mistakes along the way, and more.

macOS Sierra Public Beta 3 just dropped

If you're signed on the Apple Beta Software Program, you can now install the latest beta of macOS Sierra on your Mac even if you're not a developer as macOS Sierra Public Beta 3 just went live minutes after the Cupertino firm posted the third public beta of iOS 10.

macOS Sierra Public Beta 3 contains the same features as the developer-only macOS Sierra beta 4. Developer-only fourth betas of iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS 3 and tvOS 10 were pushed yesterday.

iOS 10 Public Beta 3 is now available

Just 24 hours following the fourth developer-only betas of iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10 and watchOS 3, Apple on Tuesday morning has made the latest beta of iOS 10 available to public beta testers who are singed on the Apple Beta Software Program. If your device is registered for public betas, runs a prior iOS 10 beta and has a proper configuration profile installed, iOS 10 Public Beta 3 should appear in Settings → General → Software Update.

iOS 10 Public Beta 3 and developer-only iOS 10 beta 4 contain the same features.

Apple seeds first betas of iOS 9.3.3 and OS X 10.11.6 to public testers

Following Monday's developer release of the first iOS 9.3.3 beta, Apple has made the software available to public testers. This means that folks in the Beta Software Program can now install iOS 9.3.3 on compatible devices via the over-the-air update mechanism.

The update comes just one week after iOS 9.3.2 was released to the public, which brought about a Bluetooth fix for iPhone SE models and other improvements. As we said yesterday, it appears that iOS 9.3.3 has also been earmarked for under-the-hood bug fixes.

Second betas of iOS 9.3.2 and OS X 10.11.5 now available to public testers

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS and OS X updates to public testers. Folks in the Beta Software Program can now install iOS 9.3.2 via OTA on their iOS devices, and OS X 10.11.5 via the App Store Software Update mechanism.

These are the same betas that Apple pushed out to developers yesterday, along with updates for watchOS and tvOS. They arrive about a month after the public releases of iOS 9.3 and OS X 10.11.4, which brought about several user-facing changes.

First betas of iOS 9.3.2 and OS X 10.11.5 now available to public testers

Apple today seed the first betas of upcoming iOS and OS X updates to public testers. Folks in the Beta Software Program can now install iOS 9.3.2 via OTA on their iOS devices, and OS X 10.11.5 via the App Store Software Update mechanism.

These are the same betas that Apple pushed out to developers yesterday, along with updates for watchOS and tvOS. They arrive two weeks after the public releases of iOS 9.3 and OS X 10.11.4, which brought about several user-facing changes.

Apple seeds beta 3 of OS X 10.11.4 and iOS 9.3 to public testers

Two days after seeding iOS 9 beta 3 and OS X 10.11.4 beta 3 to developers, Apple has made the updates available to public testers. Folks who are registered in the company's Beta Software Program can now install the new firmware on their various devices.

As usual, the new iOS 9.3 beta is available over-the-air via the Settings app to those already running 9.3, and the new El Capitan 10.11.4 beta can be found in the Updates tab of the Mac App Store. You just need to make sure your Mac or device is enrolled.

Apple releases iOS 9.3 for public beta testers

A few days after seeding iOS 9.3 beta 1 to developers, Apple has released iOS 9.3 Public Beta 1 to beta testers as a part of its public beta program. As we mentioned in our in-depth preview of iOS 9.3 beta 1, this release is filled to the brim with new features like the f.lux-inspired Night Shift mode, additional 3D Touch Quick Actions, and much more.

If you’re already a member of Apple's public beta program, or if you’d like to join, simply head over to Apple’s beta website using your iOS device to get going. Remember, you'll need to log in to the public beta website and enroll your device if you have not done so already.