Apple ships macOS Big Sur Public Beta, updates other public betas

New Dock icons are more than you think

Do you have a non-mission critical Mac lying around that you want to run Apple’s forthcoming Big Sur macOS 11 on?

Now’s your chance, as the company has at last published the Public Beta version of the OS. It has also released brand new public trials of iOS, iPad OS, tvOS and watchOS – though installing any beta has its risks.

The Apple Public Beta Software Program

To download these betas you’ll need to join the Apple Public Beta Software Program here.

Once you’ve done so you’ll be able to download a special profile to the device you want to test the system(s) on, after which you’ll be able to download and install the relevant OS onto your device.

For iPhone users, the big news in this new beta is the introduction of the Exposure Notifications Settings page.

This explains what the Apple/Google-developed system is for, how it works and reassures users as to the privacy of the tech titan’s contact tracing systems, recently praised by Human Rights Watch for putting user rights above the needs of repressive surveillance hungry governments.

You’ll also find a new TV widget, which is capable of appearing in small medium or large on your iOS device. Stability and 3D Touch functionality also appear in the release.

Go grab the betas here.

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