Apple issues second developer betas for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, watchOS 8 [u]

Apple has provided developers with the second beta of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15, for testing the milestone operating system releases on their own hardware.

The latest betas can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center by developers enrolled into the testing program. While normally a public beta variant would follow shortly after the developer counterpart via the Apple Beta Software Program, Apple has warned the first public beta won't be out until July.

Apple issued the first developer betas on June 7, shortly after the WWDC 2021 keynote. It is likely there will be quite a few more beta releases to come ahead of the full public release this fall.

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iOS 15 introduces enhancements to Messages and FaceTime, new Focus modes, on-device Live Text OCR, a digital ID in Wallet, updated Weather and Maps apps, and other changes.

On iPadOS 15, Apple updated the multitasking functionality, as well as adding home screen widget support, system-wide Quick Note, the Translate app, and major changes to Swift Playgrounds to enable app development on iPad as well as App Store submissions.

On watchOS 8, the Fitness app gains Tai Chi and Pilates workouts, the Sleep app tracks respiratory rates, Photos adds a mosaic layout and memories, and Messages introduces cursor control with the Digital Crown and GIF search.

AppleInsider, and Apple itself, strongly recommend users don't install the betas on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, as there is the remote possibility of data loss or other issues. Instead, testers should install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to make sure there are sufficient backups of important data before updating.

Update: Apple has activated SharePlay in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 enabling users to watch video content or listen to music together over FaceTime. Maps also scored a new icon, while Memoji can now be dressed in customizable outfits.

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.

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