Beta

Apple seeds first iOS 10.2 beta to developers with new emoji and wallpapers

Apple on Monday seeded the first iOS 10.2 beta to developers. Folks enrolled in Apple's developer program can install the update via the over-the-air mechanism in the Settings app, or from the dev center.

The move comes one week after 10.1 was released to the public, and just hours after Apple rolled out iOS 10.1.1 with bug fixes for Health data. It appears 10.2 will also bring about bug fixes and improvements.

Instagram is testing live video broadcasts in its Stories feature

According to Russian news outlet Tjournal.ru a few days ago, the popular photo-sharing service Instagram is testing live video functionality in its recently-launched Stories feature which permits users to create slideshows from their photos that automatically disappear after 24 hours.

Facebook added live video to its mobile app in August 2015. Facebook Messenger gained the ability to share live video with contacts while chatting in September 2016.

Apple seeds tvOS 10.0.1 beta 4 for Apple TV to developers

Following fifth betas of iOS 10.1 and macOS Sierra 10.12.1 that were seeded yesterday to the registered developers and public beta testers, Apple today released a fourth beta of the upcoming tvOS 10.0.1 software update. tvOS 10.0.1 beta 4 (build “14U71”), a developer-only release, is available as an over-the-air update via the Software Update mechanism on fourth-generation Apple TVs with an appropriate configuration profile.

macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 5 released to developers and public beta testers

Aside from releasing a fifth beta of iOS 10.1 with Portrait mode and other changes, Apple also seeded a fifth beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.1 to its registered developers and public beta testers. The new beta arrived eight days following the previous macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 4 release.

macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 5 (build “16B2553a”) does not introduce any new outward-facing user features. The Mac software update could release for public consumption after Apple's anticipated October 27 Mac event.

Apple seeds iOS 10.1 beta 5 for iPhone 7/Plus to developers and public beta testers

Apple on Wednesday morning released a fifth beta of iOS 10.1 for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus only. The latest beta came out two days after the release of iOS 10.1 beta 4 on Monday.

iOS 10.1 beta 5 is available as an over-the-air download on an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus with a prior beta. Today's iPhone 7-focused release likely contains a cellular connectivity bug that Apple patched with an emergency update on October 17. macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 5 also released today.

Apple seeds iOS 10.1 beta 4 to developers and public beta testers

Apple today released a fourth beta of iOS 10.1 to its registered developers and public beta testers. Coming just a week after the previous beta, iOS 10.1 beta 4 has an interesting build number of “14B72 | 14B72b”. Today's release does not, however, appear to contain any outward-facing user features. We'll make sure to update the article with any new information as it becomes available.

watchOS 3.1 beta 3 now available for developers

Apple on Wednesday made watchOS 3.1 beta 3 available to developers. The release notes don't seem to indicate any new features have been added, but rather that Apple is now focusing on bug fixes and stability improvements, which is to be expected at this point in time.

Apple seeds macOS 10.12.1 beta 4 to developers and public beta testers

Apple on Tuesday released a fourth beta of what would become the first major software update to macOS Sierra following its public release last month. macOS 10.12.1 beta 4 (build 16B2548a) is now available to members of Apple Develop Program and public beta testers on Apple Beta Software Program.

The latest build is available as an over-the-air update via the Mac App Store and the Software Update mechanism on Macs that run a prior beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.1.

Apple seeds beta 3 of iOS 10.1, tvOS 10.0.1 to developers

Apple on Monday seeded the third beta of iOS 10.1 to developers. Registered developers can grab the new software via the over-the-air update mechanism in the iOS Settings app, or via Apple’s online developer portal.

By far the most significant change in iOS 10.1 is the addition of Portrait camera mode— an iPhone 7 Plus-exclusive software feature that creates a ‘bokeh’ effect, which Apple demonstrated at last month’s event.

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.

You can reduce motion and keep iMessage effects in iOS 10.1 beta

A handy improvement has been discovered in the first two betas of iOS 10.1: the ability to reduce motion while retaining the various iOS 10 iMessage features. It seems Apple has heard the complaints of users (me included) who like to turn off Parallax and other UI animations, but still want to be able to enjoy the new Messages app.