Apple today released the third public beta of macOS Sierra, the newest operating system designed for the Mac. Today's beta 3 update comes two weeks after the release of the second macOS Sierra public beta and just a day after the launch of the fourth developer beta. The third public beta and the fourth developer beta offer the same features, including more diverse emoji and a redesigned look for many existing emoji.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will receive the macOS Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
Those who want to be a part of Apple's beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and OS X betas.
macOS Sierra is a major update that brings Siri to the Mac, allowing users to conduct voice searches to find files, look up information, and more. New Continuity features include an "Auto Unlock" option for unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch, and a Universal Clipboard for copy paste that works across multiple devices.
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. The Messages app includes rich links, bigger emoji, and "Tapback" response options, and the macOS Sierra update will also bring Apple Pay to the web.
For full details on all of the new features included in macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our macOS Sierra roundup.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Anyone who can tell me what's new in this build? Again, apart from the changed emojis of course.
I converted to the apple ecosystem in 2012 (current: ipad air2, 15" MBP MY'14, iPhone 6SPlus, 5s), and have been extremely happy but like many, that love is fading. Apple is stagnant on both hardware and software and is allowing the competition to catch up and in some cases surpass them. Sierra has been a disappointment for me. As was Yosemite, which El Captain, made usable again. It would have been more worth while if the new apple file system was in place as default with a matching time machine update that was more modern. I was also hoping for a smoother UI experience now that metal should be more mature. Unless that is yet another apple technology they highlight then stop working on... Still small animation glitches on my MY'14 MBP which I'm frankly getting tired of.
As far as Mac software goes, what exactly has surpassed it, or even caught up to it? Why is Sierra a disappointment for you? You're complaining about a beta, you know that right? If you're going to complain (versus inform) about glitches in a beta - even a public one - then you really can't expect others to take that seriously. Apple has already said that the AFS will not be on by default even in the main release as it's still in development. As far as Metal goes, that's supposed to be used for gaming. Apple still works on it but it's clear that its adoption on macOS is probably never going to reach widespread adoption whereas Metal on iOS is getting adoption. We don't know if Sierra removed your VPN stuff or if that's not ready yet and therefore not in place for this build - the removal is not in the official documentation from what I've seen. You keep saying Sierra this, Sierra that, but what you really mean is that a beta broke your stuff, which is expected and explicitly warned about.I use siri on my iphone, but so far I rarely use it on the mac. I prefer Launchbar on the mac for most things file workflow/file related. Siri just doesn't fit into my workflow currently but it my have a place.
Sierra also removed PPTP which breaks my VPN, also removed the ability to enter a VPN hostname (only IP address.. wtf). Sierra also broke some of the plugins I use in Lightroom making it unusable for a daily driver.
Unless, the next 15" MBP is really something special, and the supposed redesigned iphone 8 is equally awesome, I'll probably leave the apple ecosystem when it comes time to replace my laptop. Windows 10 anniversary is getting better , and adds continuity with Android (Thanks Apple) which would be a must-have for me at this point. Despite the new name, I find this release very "style over substance" release that offers very little. The next 15 months will be very interesting for Apple.
Sounds like someone should start a similar thread in the macOS section and people should contribute to it, as it's done in the iOS section.
To minimise repetition, such topics are typically closed or merged. (Yesterday I asked for one of my topics to be merged.)Macrumours lacks details
I wish you guys would let us know what changed...
So what has changed? Do you even know Macrumours?
The dearth of available information is typically because Apple does not make that information available, not even to developers. Space: macOS 10.12 | Apple Developer Forums ('https://forums.developer.apple.com/community/beta/macos-1012') and so on.if the current Sierra Beta is compatible with
Please subscribe to the topic that was pinned by MacRumors: macOS Sierra 10.12: Compatible Apps ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-sierra-10-12-compatible-apps.1977335/')Why can't this technically support …
Please subscribe to the topic that was pinned by MacRumors: MacOS 10.12 Sierra Unsupported Macs Thread ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-10-12-sierra-unsupported-macs-thread.1977128/')the issue with using WD my cloud as a time machine
[USER=623697]@Jamie-30[/USER] to minimise repetition, please consider encouraging readers to continue under your earlier topic Time Machine WD My Cloud issues ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/time-machine-wd-my-cloud-issues.1983645/').Why can't this technically support iMac early 2008?
It probably can run. I have a Mac Pro 2,1 running El Cap, however, many functions don't work because I have old bluetooth, etc. When Apple decides to exclude certain models, it is usually because something they think is a key part of the experience won't work with that model.I would expect that people will figure out ways to hack your computer to run Sierra, just like the have done with the old Mac Pros.
What I don't understand, is that despite being MACrumors and not iPhonerumors, people almost never talk about what's new in betas of OS X/macOS. I basically know everything that's new in iOS 10 beta 4, thanks to the 'iOS 10 Beta 4 Bug Fixes and Changes' topic. But, apart from the changed emojis, I haven't read about anything else that's new in the new macOS Sierra beta. And since macOS is 'heavier' than iOS, I don't feel like searching through the whole OS to find that out.
Completely agreed. It really bugs me that on all the iOS updates so far (developers and PB alike), all updates were shown in the article, but macOS didn't have anything listed. Despite what some people may think, macOS is still important.Anyone who can tell me what's new in this build? Again, apart from the changed emojis of course.