Apple issues third developer beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.1

Apple on Monday provided developers with a third pre-release beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.1, right on schedule with an earlier rumor suggesting new MacBook Pros will ship with the update later this month.

Developers on registered machines can access macOS Sierra 10.12.1 via the Mac App Store. It is identified as build 16B2338c.

The release comes just a few days after it was suggested that macOS Sierra 10.12.1 could play a key role in Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro refresh. Specifically, it was said last week that Apple planned to seed a new beta of macOS 10.12.1 this week in hopes of finalizing it to ship on the new MacBook Pros.

The software on the new MacBook Pro will be essential, because Apple is expected to introduce new ways of interacting with the notebook, headlined by an OLED touch-sensitive menu bar that is rumored to replace the current row of physical function keys.

Code in macOS 10.12 Sierra betas released made mention of a so-called "Function Row," which could be referring to the dynamic display expected to be featured above the keyboard.