Wesley Hilliard
Apple has released the second developer beta of macOS Big Sur version 11.1 with no known changes beyond the usual bug fixes.
New developer builds of Apple's beta operating systems can be downloaded via the Apple Developer Center for those enrolled into the test program, or via an over-the-air update on devices running the beta software. Public betas typically arrive within a few days of the developer versions, via the Apple Beta Software Program website.
This is the second beta of macOS Big Sur 11.1, the first was released on November 17 with no known new features. Updates could include bug fixes surrounding the M1 transition for processors and some issues users have with rebooting their Mac.
AppleInsider, and Apple itself, strongly suggest users avoid installing betas on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, due to the potential for data loss or other issues. It is instead recommended to install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to ensure there are sufficient backups of important data beforehand.
Find any changes in the new betas? Reach out to us on Twitter at @AppleInsider or @Andrew_OSU, or send Andrew an email at andrew@AppleInsider.com.
Marko Zivkovic
Oliver Haslam
Christine McKee
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8 Comments
I really love Big Sur UX - but there's one bug that annoys the heck out of me - I cannot highlight text with SHIFT in iMessage and the screenshots sometimes fail to be attached when you drag it from he corner to the iMessage.
I've had no issues since upgrading from Mojave, though you do have to leave your machine alone to do its thing, it spends a lot of time without the slider moving and you can think nothing is happening (maybe stuck - it's not !). Oh, and don't install it as a second O/S alongside Mojave, big mistake, causes no-end of issues. This introduced me to the recovery partition (which did not work) and recovery manager over the network (which did not work, application lock, and basically stuffed, so deleted new BS partition and crossed my fingers and upgraded Mojave, which went fine). You cannot any longer pop in the USB stick with the installer on it, format the complete disk in disk utility, and install. Your mac is now linked to the Apple mothership, and the info on the mothership clearly easily can be wrong, at which point the survey says NO (planet with an exclamation mark) and an error. I wonder how long it's been this way ? You live and learn. Time for a nice cold beer I think.
Well, I hope they've fixed these annoying bugs I've raised.
1. My iCloud Drive sometimes decides that it only knows about files I've loaded there myself, and forgets things like the Numbers, Pages and Desktop folders.
2. The Sidebar in Finder windows keeps resetting to defaults.
3. com.apple.quicklook.ThumbnailsA process sucks the life out of my Mac, and I can't see how it's doing anything.
4. Some aliases on my Desktop don't show the icon I've given them, and revert to a standard macOS Finder folder icon.
5. You still can't see the chapters in an audiobook in the Books app until you actually start playing the book.
I wonder if it fixes the problems with upgrading to Big Sur on an older MacBook???