Apple releases second betas of iOS 11, macOS 10.13, watchOS 4, tvOS 11 to developers

Sixteen days after making the first releases available, Apple on Wednesday released second versions of its upcoming operating system refresh set to arrive this fall, with developers now able to access iOS 11, macOS 10.13 High Sierra, watchOS 4, tvOS 11 and and Xcode 9.

The second iOS 11 beta, carrying build number 15A5304i, arrives with a host of improvements and bug fixes addressed during the more than week-long interval since the first test version dropped on June 5.

As expected, Apple's next-generation mobile operating system appears to carry the most changes, with upgrades to Siri, Apple Pay, Photos and a general user interface revamp. Of note, Apple has fully activated "Do Not Disturb While Driving," a feature previewed at Worldwide Developers Conference that could lower the number of automobile crashes due to in-car device use.

In addition, Apple fixed 3D Touch functionality as it applies to data detectors (phone numbers, dates, addresses and other assets), while addressing a number of issues with third-party apps.

With the new beta, Android Migration now works as intended, Bluetooth communication is more reliable and apps over 100MB can be downloaded over cellular. Apple also fixed a bevy of first-party app bugs and a Control Center quirk that in some cases prohibited Bluetooth radio control.

The macOS High Sierra update, dubbed build 17A291j, contains a number of refinements and other improvements like Apple File System integration, migration from H.264 to H.265, and Metal 2. The update resolves an issue that prevented enabling FileVault on APFS volumes, and Apple incorporated improvements to Messages, OpenCL, FileVault and other apps and services.

Developers evaluating watchOS 4 build 15R5307f gain access to the set of animated "Toy Story" watch faces Apple demoed onstage at WWDC. The update also fixes issues related to haptic feedback, music playback, location-based HomeKit triggers and Siri usability.

Finally, tvOS 11 beta 2 build 15J5310e addresses a host of home screen problems like text clipping and app icons. Issues that cropped with individual apps, like Music, have been resolved, while developers can more easily connect to an Apple TV for QuickTime screen recording.

TestFlight implementation has been streamlined across all platforms.

Registered devices can get the new beta releases through the Software Update feature, while stand-alone images are available through Apple's Developers portal.

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11 Comments

palegolas 1362 comments · 19 Years

About 7 years ago

I'm incredibly curious of the h.265 HEVC performance. Especially the encoder. I guess the encoder is not part of this update, but something for the future versions of Compressor and Final Cut Pro? Any insight would be great.

Mike Wuerthele 6901 comments · 8 Years

palegolas said:

I'm incredibly curious of the h.265 HEVC performance. Especially the encoder. I guess the encoder is not part of this update, but something for the future versions of Compressor and Final Cut Pro? Any insight would be great.

I don't believe there will be an encoder. There doesn't appear to be any plans for a hardware-accelerated encoder in High Sierra. Only a decoder.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

Mike Wuerthele said:

palegolas said:

I'm incredibly curious of the h.265 HEVC performance. Especially the encoder. I guess the encoder is not part of this update, but something for the future versions of Compressor and Final Cut Pro? Any insight would be great.

I don't believe there will be an encoder. There doesn't appear to be any plans for a hardware-accelerated encoder in High Sierra. Only a decoder.

But the Intel chips do support it, and even in iOS they've offered HEVC en/decoding for FaceTime when both devices are iPhone 6 series or better -and-when both are using a cellular network. I'm hoping it comes as part of iTunes 13 so that you can convert to HEVC video the way that you can convert audio in iTunes (as well as images in Preview).

But maybe that's not part of the licensing deal they made with MPEG, but hopefully it at least opens up the HW encoding for Handbrake and apps like iVI which uses Handbrake's open source core already.

osmartormenajr 286 comments · 11 Years

It just occurred to me that Apple kind of made a big deal about "Do not disturb while driving" thing during the keynote presentation. Wasn't it just months ago that someone tried to sue Apple because some idiot caused an accident using his iPhone while driving?

While I'm all for the initiative, jerks will be jerks, and just press the "passenger" button.

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

Mike Wuerthele said:

palegolas said:

I'm incredibly curious of the h.265 HEVC performance. Especially the encoder. I guess the encoder is not part of this update, but something for the future versions of Compressor and Final Cut Pro? Any insight would be great.

I don't believe there will be an encoder. There doesn't appear to be any plans for a hardware-accelerated encoder in High Sierra. Only a decoder.

EDIT sorry this should have been a reply to Soli

The wee QuickTime app in High Sierra can encode in H265 but no hardware help on anything I have. I thought thew new generation Mac did or would? Maybe I misread that. I can open any HD or above and transcode too. It just takes forever on a Mac Pro 6 core. Once done only VLC can play back, not even the QT player can in my tests. Installing beta 2 now.