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Apple issues fourth beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.1 as new MacBook Pros loom

MacBook Pro render. | Source: Martin Hajek.

Last updated

Apple on Tuesday supplied to developers and public testers a fourth pre-release beta of macOS 10.12.1, a forthcoming maintenance and security update for the Sierra operating system which could ship on next-generation MacBook Pros.

macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 4 is identified as build 16B2548a. Registered machines can access it through the Mac App Store.

The fourth build comes eight days after Apple provided beta 3 of macOS 10.12.1. It's been rumored that new MacBook Pro models, featuring a thinner design and OLED touch bar, will ship with macOS 10.12.1 later this month.

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 also made mention of a so-called "Function Row," which could be referring to the dynamic display expected to be featured above the keyboard.



14 Comments

longpath 20 Years · 401 comments

Eagerly looking forward to the eventual hardware announcement. My 13" MBP is 6 years old and it's definitely time for an upgrade.

alanpgh@gmail.com 17 Years · 48 comments

Looking forward to the release of new MacBook Pros and hopefully new MB Airs.!

LordBermondsey 8 Years · 1 comment

Please, oh great Steve Job's zombie, grant my wish for a replacement to my ancient and long suffering 17" MacBook Pro!

macxpress 16 Years · 5913 comments

Please, oh great Steve Job's zombie, grant my wish for a replacement to my ancient and long suffering 17" MacBook Pro!

Apple will never release a 17" MacBook Pro again. Give it a rest you people. They didn't just drop it because they felt like it. There was obviously a reason.

command_f 14 Years · 428 comments

I fear it's getting a little late for a new MacBook Pro this year. There's been no announcement so any launch would seem to be November at the earliest. That's probably too close to Christmas to be practical. Can anyone remember a previous new device launch in November or December?

I'll just carry on waiting :-(