Apple Releases OS X Yosemite Developer Preview 4, Public Beta Coming Later This Month - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases OS X Yosemite Developer Preview 4, Public Beta Coming Later This Month

Alongside iOS 8 beta 4, Apple today released a new version of OS X Yosemite to developers, two weeks after releasing the third Developer Preview and over a month and a half after introducing the new operating system at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

The update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store or through the Mac Developer Center. Apple has also released iTunes 12.0, Yosemite Recovery Update 1.0, OS X Server 4.0 Developer Preview, and Apple Configurator 1.7 beta. iTunes 12 includes an "elegant new design" and introduces support for Family Sharing, a feature first announced during WWDC. The update also includes improved playlists and a redesigned Info Window.

yosemitebeta
OS X Yosemite brings a flatter, more modern look to OS X, with an emphasis on translucency and redesigned dock, windows, and more. It also includes a multitude of new features, such as improved integration with iOS 8 through Continuity, a new "Today" view in Notification Center that offers integration with third-party apps, a retooled Spotlight search with new data sources, and several new features for apps like Mail, Safari, and Messages.

Yosemite is currently only available to developers, but Apple plans to offer a beta version of the software to Mac users at some point during the summer, possibly as early as this month. A source that spoke to 9to5Mac suggests the beta is coming in late July, though it could be pushed back until early August if Yosemite is not ready in time.

New Features:

iTunes 12 - The newest Yosemite beta includes a revamped version of iTunes with a simple, streamlined design and support for Family Sharing.

itunes12
iTunes 12 icon - The icon for iTunes has also changed with the new iTunes 12 beta.

itunesicon
Calculator - The Calculator app in OS X Yosemite has been redesigned.

calculatorapp
Dark Mode Settings - Dark Mode settings have been tweaked slightly and there's a new checkbox to turn the feature on and off for the dock and menu bar.

Related Forum: OS X Yosemite

Popular Stories

iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:29 am PDT by
If you pay for extra iCloud storage on your iPhone, beyond the 5GB included for free, you might receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. First, Apple said there will be daily usage limits for some of the new and enhanced Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27, including image generation. However, the company noted that "increased access" is available with "most" iCloud+ storage ...
WWDC26 MR Live Coverage Article

WWDC 2026 Apple Event Live Keynote Coverage: iOS 27, Revamped Siri, and More

Monday June 8, 2026 9:15 am PDT by
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day. We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements today, headlined by a reset on Apple's push into AI that should see a significant overhaul...
macOS Golden Gate Mac

Apple Announces macOS 27 Golden Gate With New Siri and 'Tons' of Refinements

Monday June 8, 2026 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today announced that macOS 27 is named macOS Golden Gate. Much like Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009, Apple said it focused on improving macOS's performance and dozens of underlying technologies this year. Apple says macOS Golden Gate offers quicker AirDrop transfers, faster network file browsing, improved syncing in the Messages app, better Spotlight search suggestions, and other...

Top Rated Comments

benthewraith Avatar
155 months ago
Here's just a little of the "elegant new design"

That's pretty hideous.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
155 months ago
What's your first impression on iTunes 12 ? The current iTunes is pretty slow so I was hoping 12 isn't. Even though it's a beta version it might be better/faster.

I doubt it. It looks like the same old iTunes to me, just with a new skin.

iTunes needs a Pages/Keynote/Numbers-style "start from scratch." Frankly, iTunes needs it more than iWork needed it.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
155 months ago
Yosemite is gorgeous. I love where Apple is going with this...very nice ;)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pacmania1982 Avatar
155 months ago
'Elegant new design'...its BLOODY AWFUL looking!

And before you go on, yes I know its beta. I do like the look of Yosemite but yuck!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PsykX Avatar
155 months ago
Pretty disappointed we are not seeing the Public Beta today, I thought it was about the right time.
No, it's not the right time.

Public betas have to be released when the product is in its final state and there's no possibility that major bugs tarnish the reputation of the company. Apple is known for their quality so much that each time I tell someone that my iOS 8 beta has a bug and cannot do this and that, people go like "that's the problem with Apple" and I can't make them understand that this is a private beta. Imagine a public...

--

Any word on Xcode 6 DP4 ? I just lost my Developer membership 6 days ago, which means I can install Yosemite DP4 and iOS 8 Seed 4 legitimately through Software Updates, but I got no chance about Xcode.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
155 months ago
I have to laugh when people ask for impressions on something that was just released within the half hour. How can someone provide a decent impression on something that fast?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)