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Apple Seeds Second Beta of macOS Sierra to Developers

Tuesday July 5, 2016 10:00 am PDT by Juli Clover

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.

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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.

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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

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Top Rated Comments

SoyCapitanSoyCapitan

135 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)

135 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)

135 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)

135 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)

135 months ago

You can now print tracklists on iTunes. Also the album sizes in "Recently Added" is changed again. It's quite big...
apple seeds macos sierra beta 2 image

apple seeds macos sierra beta 2 image

apple seeds macos sierra beta 2 image

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

135 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)

Read All Comments

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