Apple Seeds Second Beta of macOS Sierra to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of macOS Sierra, the newest operating system designed for the Mac, to developers. macOS Sierra beta 2 comes three weeks after the software was first unveiled at Apple's 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference.

The update can be downloaded through the software update mechanism in the Mac App Store or through the Apple Developer Center.

macossierraroundup
macOS Sierra is a major update that brings Siri to the Mac for the first time, allowing users to conduct voice searches to quickly find files, look up information, and more. New Continuity features offer an "Auto Unlock" option for unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch and a Universal Clipboard for copying something on one Apple device and pasting it on another.

Deeper iCloud integration makes files stored on the desktop or the Documents folder of a Mac available on all of a user's devices, and Photos features new deep learning algorithms for facial, object, and scene recognition. There's a new Memories feature for displaying photo collections, and Messages has features like rich links, bigger emoji, and "Tapback" response options.


Apple Pay is coming to the web in macOS Sierra, with payments authenticated through an iPhone or Apple Watch, and new features like multiple tabs, Picture in Picture multitasking, and optimized storage are available.

For full details on all of the new features included in macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our macOS Sierra roundup.

Changes in Beta 2

- Auto Unlock via Apple Watch is now available. It requires that your iCloud account have Two-Factor (not Two-Step) Authentication enabled and that your Mac be from 2013 or newer. iOS 10 and watchOS 3 are also required.

Related Forum: macOS Sierra

Top Rated Comments

SoyCapitanSoyCapitan Avatar
102 months ago
Hoping a guru might help out here.

For those not aware, once you allow Apple to iCloud your system, iCloud becomes the "master" of your data. I've been over this in another thread - but basically, this OS sounds like its turning over even MORE of your information over to iCloud, probably enabled by default (I'm guessing).

So this will be the first OS that actually frightens me. Can those testing it let the rest of us know how to prevent mighty iCloud from having more rights to our data than WE do?

Hey (hey) you (you)... get offa iCloud.

It's bad enough that nastiness is tied to every iApp - I seriously don't wish for it to spread its disease across my desktop or anywhere else. No thanks.
The gurus say you have choice over what or if you want to sync your data. The gurus say you can enable or disable cloud use. The gurus say if you do enable cloud syncing your data is so highly encrypted that it pisses off the Feds.

But clickbait sites enjoy a good profitable conspiracy theory about big brother coming to get your selfies.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Coluch Avatar
102 months ago
I'm not paranoid ;) I screwed up and allowed Apple to iCloud my "photo stream". That quickly came to a head as I ran out of "free storage". So I turned it off.

Don't wish to repeat the other thread - but I have no paranoia about others "lurking" through my stuff. My concern is that I no longer OWN MY STUFF. Apple does. Not a copyright - but the right to delete the data I CREATED across all my devices once I turn iCloud OFF. It appears to be very punitive and designed to scare most users into buying more iStorage for fear of losing their "stuff".

Please - take a tour of iCloud.com. Find the "Download All" button. It's not there.

So, you turn off iCloud - Apple gives you 30 days to reclaim any data you've stored on iCloud, which you must recover piecemeal from iCloud.com. FUN!!!!!

I seriously may not upgrade to this OS. And I'm hoping possibly OTHERS might be hesitant to allow their favoritest bestest beloved corporation ever to TAKE OWNERSHIP of THEIR data.

I don't see how I'm being paranoid or crazy or theorizing any conspiracy. iCloud is iCloud. The gurus have confirmed the TOS. Allow it to invade your computer and... good luck with ever wishing to GET OUT.

Repeat. iCloud - All Your File Are Belong to Us. Rinse, wash, repeat again.
Is there another reason you are being so dramatic about this? It is very simple to only enable iCloud to sync things like bookmarks and contacts and such. Lightweight data that will never fill up your free storage allotment.

If you want a backup of your photos, it's up to you if you want to back them up yourself, or to pay for the ease of letting apple do it for you.

Personally, I only sync the minimal amount and manage my own backups.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JGRE Avatar
102 months ago
Thanks - so all of my syncing (messaging, contacts, calendar) will no longer work with this OS because I'll be opting out of iCloud?

iCloud is an insidious lil bugger - turn it on, it grabs everything it can as fast as it can and claims "ownership" - then turn it off and Apple kindly warns you - "Are you sure? Turning off iCloud will remove ALL data stored on iCloud from all of your devices."

Sorry, but this just sounds horrific. I LIKE the syncing part - that's cool. But no thanks on iCloud basically "rooting" all over my stuff, if "rooting" is the right term?

Prior to iCloud, I owned all my stuff. Post-iCloud, Apple owns all my stuff. And, as the reps are kind enough to relate, iCloud is not for "backup".

Apple iCloud - All Your Files Are Belong to Us. Ugh...
Get over yourself, there is nothing wrong with iCloud.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nortonandreev Avatar
102 months ago
You can now print tracklists on iTunes. Also the album sizes in "Recently Added" is changed again. It's quite big...


Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2457282 Avatar
102 months ago
when do the Public betas come out? Sometime this month I know, but when? I am excited to get into the new OSes.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
akac Avatar
102 months ago
I'm being dramatic because - once you turn ON iCloud - it starts claiming everything it can. You then have to jump through every possible hoop to turn it off wherever you might find the "option".
You are aware of the iCloud preference in System Preferences, right? There are no hoops. Its a list of checkboxes. Uncheck whatever you don't want. Turn it on for iMessage, Facetime, turn it off for storage.

You are going quite dramatic without actually knowing what is going on. Its quite simple: Apple added a new option to sync your data to iCloud and make it accessible to the rest of your iPhones/Macs/iPads. Its an option. You can turn it off. You can do so before you've turned on anything else.

So no, Apple does not own your stuff. You do not have lose syncing of messages, calendar, notes, and contacts. None of the dramatic stuff you're yelling about and scaring people who know even less than you do.

We are in Beta 2. Just chill. When the OS comes out, read one of the review guides.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
Provenance Emulator

PlayStation, GameCube, Wii, and SEGA Emulator for iPhone and Apple TV Coming to App Store

Friday April 19, 2024 8:29 am PDT by
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, GameCube, Wii,...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With the New App Store Delta Game Emulator

Wednesday April 17, 2024 12:19 pm PDT by
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...