Skip to main content

Apple rolls out second beta of MacOS Sierra, iOS 10, and WatchOS 3

Apple WatchOS 3 Beta
Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends
It looks like Apple is making some headway on the software front. Just three weeks after rolling out the first developers betas for MacOS Sierra, iOS 10, and WatchOS 3, the second beta is now rolling out.

Updates to the three operating systems were first announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June, and a number of new features were shown off, especially, it seems, for iOS 10.

Recommended Videos

So what’s new? Well, let’s start with iOS 10. The second beta of Apple’s operating system for the iPhone and iPad brings the addition of the Messages App Store, which is now live with a number of stick packs available to download. 3D Touch shortcuts for the flashlight and Control Center now also have their own icons, and Apple’s new organ donor signup feature is included in the Health app.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

When is comes to MacOS Sierra, the new beta brings Auto Unlock in the System Preferences. This allows users to unlock their computers simply by having the Apple Watch.

Last but not least is the second beta of WatchOS 3, which brings the Emergency SOS feature shown off at WWDC. This basically allows you to press and hold the side button, which will show an Emergency SOS option. If you hold the side button for six seconds, the feature will automatically activate and alert emergency services. To cancel the call, you can press down on the display and then select cancel.

When released to the public, the new operating systems promise to bring a slew of great features to users. iOS 10, for example will more deeply integrate with 3D Touch, and will have a smarter Siri that will be able to integrate with third-party apps. WatchOS 3, the operating system for the Apple Watch, will bring a smoother user experience and access to quick settings.

The three operating systems will roll out to consumers in the fall alongside Apple’s new devices, expected to be announced sometime in September or October. In the meantime, if you signed up for Apple’s developer beta, look out for an over-the-air update. It can also be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Apple just released iOS 17.4. Here’s how it’s going to change your iPhone
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro showing the screens.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you have an iPhone, you'll want to check it right now for a big update. The iOS 17.4 update is officially rolling out right now and it includes some fairly significant new features.

Read more
Apple Sports app looks to rule live scores and stats on iOS
The Apple Sports app on an iPhone.

As if what it's done with MLS Season Pass wasn't proof enough that Apple is serious about sports, today we have another example. Enter Apple Sports, a new app for iPhone that aims to be the only app you'll need for live sports scores, real-time stats, and more.

Apple Sports is available today in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Inside it you'll find the likes of MLS, NBA, college basketball, Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga MX, Ligue 1, and Serie A — and that's just for starters. We're still in the offseason for sports like Major League Baseball, the NFL and college football, and the National Women's Soccer League and WNBA, but you'll see them all in Apple Sports once games begin.

Read more
The OnePlus 13 is coming on January 7 — along with a surprise
The OnePlus logo on the back of the OnePlus Open Apex Edition.

It's official: the OnePlus 13 will launch on January 7, 2025. Preempting the anticipated event by several weeks, OnePlus has officially confirmed the date we’ll see its next major smartphone release outside of China. Additionally, it has revealed some key features and news of a surprise new launch to go along with the phone.

OnePlus will release the OnePlus 13 in three different colors — Black Eclipse, Arctic Dawn, and Midnight Ocean. It’s the latter that is likely to be the model to have, as it is wrapped in a material called micro-fiber vegan leather, which is apparently corrosion and scratch-resistant but still luxurious to the touch. For the Arctic Dawn phone, the glass will have a special coating to give it a silky-smooth finish. It’s likely these are the same colors offered in China, where the phone has already been announced, just with different names.

Read more