Beta

Apple will bring back UI navigation with Apple Pencil in the next iOS 9.3 beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 23, 2016

Well, that didn't take long. In response to concerns that it is taking features away from the iPad Pro's Pencil, Apple confirmed in a statement to The Verge that the next iOS 9.3 beta will reinstate the Pencil's ability to be used as a finger replacement for the user interface navigation.

“We will add this functionality back in the next beta of iOS 9.3,” said a company spokesperson. Earlier today, MacRumors discovered that the most recent beta of iOS 9.3 has removed the ability for iPad Pro customers to use the Pencil to navigate the entirety of the iOS user interface.

iOS 9.3 beta 4 and OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan beta 4 now available for public beta-testing

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 23, 2016

A day after it has released a fourth beta of iOS 9.3 and a fourth beta of OS X 10.11.4 to its registered developers, Apple today has made both software updates available to users who are signed up for the Apple Beta Software Program.

Public beta builds of both iOS 9.3 beta 4 and OS X 10.11.4 beta 4 can be downloaded directly on devices that are enrolled in Apple's beta program through the Software Update mechanism.

It seems Apple might intentionally remove important functionality from its stylus

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 23, 2016

The most recent beta of iOS 9.3 has removed the important functionality for the Apple Pencil: the ability to use the stylus accessory as a finger replacement to select options and menus in apps, swipe between apps, tap on buttons and use the Pencil for general navigational purposes throughout iOS.

If Apple does not change its mind and re-add this functionality in a final version of iOS 9.3, people who rely on the Pencil to edit content on their iPad Pro will be forced to use their hand to select tools in apps like Pixelmator, for example, marking a major usability regression.

As first noted by MacRumors, the disturbing feature removal which limits the Pencil's functionality has enraged users who have grown accustomed to using the stylus for navigational purposes.

Apple seeds beta 4 of tvOS 9.2, watchOS 2.2 and OS X 10.11.4 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

In addition to today's new iOS 9.3 beta, Apple on Monday also seeded beta 4 to developers for its tvOS, watchOS and OS X platforms. The betas can be installed from each respective device via an over-the-air update, for those already on the latest beta firmware, or as standalone downloads from Apple's developer center.

Apple seeds iOS 9.3 beta 4 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ February 22, 2016

Apple on Monday released iOS 9.3 beta 4 to developers. The update is available for members of Apple's develop program either via an over-the-air update, for those already on iOS 9.3, or as a standalone download from Apple's developer center.

Today’s release comes two weeks after the previous beta 3, which added a new Wi-Fi Calling option for Verizon customers and a cellular fix for T-Mobile customers, and more than a month after the original 9.3 beta was pushed to developers.

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

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

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.

Latest El Capitan beta has fixed Safari’s mishandling of shortened Twitter “t.co” links

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 10, 2016

An annoying issue pertaining to broken Twitter links, which has persisted in Safari for Mac since November 2015, has been fixed in the third beta of the forthcoming OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan software update, according to user reports on the Apple Support Communities forums.

The “Safari can’t open the page because the server where this page is located is not responding” error page no longer appears when clicking shortened “t.co” Twitter links with the secure HTTPS protocol in Safari and third-party apps like Tweetbot.

tvOS 9.2 beta 3 preview: Search the App Store with Siri, use Dictation to enter text and login credentials

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

It seems like every time there's a new tvOS beta, an interesting new feature is included for us to talk about. With tvOS 9.2 beta 3, that new feature is the ability to use Dictation on text input fields. It also includes the ability to dictate—character by character—usernames and passwords.

Along with the new Dictation feature, comes support for searching the App Store using voice input from the Siri Remote. Have a look at our video preview that showcases each new feature in action.

Apple seeds OS X 10.11.4 beta 3 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ February 8, 2016

In addition to several other releases, Apple on Monday pushed out the third developer beta of OS X 10.11.4. The update is available either via the Updates tab of the Mac App Store for current 10.11.4 testers, or on Apple's developer website as a standalone download.

Today's beta 3 comes two weeks after beta 2 and nearly a month after the original version of 10.11.4 was released. The update is mostly under-the-hood improvements, but it does include a few new features such as support for Live Photos and password-protected Notes.

Apple seeds tvOS 9.2 beta 3 to developers with Dictation support for search and Siri support for App Store search

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Two weeks after it seeded tvOS 9.2 beta 2 to registered developers, the third tvOS 9.2 beta has been released, bringing with it Dictation support for onscreen text entry, as well as Siri support for App Store search.

The tvOS 9.2 update is notable for adding several improvements to the Apple TV. These improvements include a native Podcasts app, Bluetooth keyboard support, an improved App Switcher, iCloud Photo Library, Conference Room Display Mode, and more.

If you're a developer, you can find details about the tvOS beta on Apple's tvOS developer page. The tvOS 9.2 beta 3 release comes with a build number of 13Y5198c. We'll be downloading and installing it to provide an update on what new features this latest beta update might include.

Apple seeds watchOS 2.2 beta 3 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Apple on Monday seeded the third beta for its incoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers. The release is available as an OTA upgrade via the Apple Watch app for those already on 2.2, or as a standalone download from Apple's developer website.

Beta 3 comes two weeks after beta 2, and a month after the original watchOS 2.2 beta was released. The update includes a handful of new features, such as the ability to pair more than one Apple Watch with an iPhone and Maps app improvements.

Apple seeds iOS 9.3 beta 3 with Verizon Wi-Fi Calling and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 8, 2016

Apple on Monday seeded a third beta of iOS 9.3 to its developers. The software is available to members of the Apple Developer Program and can be deployed on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running a prior beta as an over-the-air download in Settings → General → Software Update.

A standalone installer should be available shortly through Apple's portal for developers.

The new beta has a build number of 13E5200d and adds a new Wi-Fi Calling option for Verizon customers. iOS 9.3 beta 3 arrived approximately two weeks following iOS 9.3 beta 2 and a full month since the original 9.3 beta was seeded to developers. We will update the article with a running list of enhancements in the new beta as we encounter them.