Apple releases second betas of iOS 8 & OS X Yosemite with bug fixes, improvements

Apple on Tuesday supplied developers with its second beta release of iOS 8, packing in bug fixes and improvements in the pre-release software scheduled to ship to users this fall. Updates for OS X Yosemite, Apple TV, and Xcode 6 were also provided.

iOS 8.0 beta 2 can now be downloaded through the Software Update section of the native Settings application. Apple has warned that it should only be deployed on devices dedicated for beta software development.

Also on Tuesday, developers were provided a fresh second beta of OS X Yosemite, Apple's next-generation Mac operating system. The second beta is identified as Build 14A261i.

The Apple TV set-top box also received a new beta, as did Xcode 6, Apple's integrated development environment used to create applications for both iOS and OS X.

The first betas of each were supplied to developers earlier this month after they were officially unveiled at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Customization is one of the key focuses for the next-generation mobile operating system, as users will be able to install their own keyboards and Notification Center widgets in iOS 8.

Apple also plans to open up Touch ID, the fingerprint scanning solution currently found on the iPhone 5s, to third-party developers, allowing applications to tap into advanced security functions. iOS 8 also has support for system-wide extensions that will allow developers to create their own sandboxed plugins for apps like Safari, the native Camera app and more.

And Apple has focused on what it calls "continuity" between OS X and iOS with its next major updates, as users will be able to seamlessly hand off content from their iPhone or their iPad to their Mac when within range. In addition, users will be able to answer and place calls or respond to text messages through Bluetooth connectivity to an iPhone.

For more on iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, see AppleInsider's ongoing series of first look videos.