Apple Launches iOS 9 And OS X El Capitan Public Betas

Public beta versions of iOS 9 and Mac OS X El Capitan are now available to download, with Apple inviting iPhone, iPad and Mac users to make the next versions of its mobile and desktop operating systems the “best ever”.

Users are invited to register with the ‘Apple Beta Software Program’ and enrol their Mac or iOS device so they can receive the betas and any future updates.

iOS 9 public beta

Each public beta comes with a ‘feedback assistant’ application so users can submit any issues or comments. The Mac app is located in the Dock and the iOS app is on the second page of the home screen.

Both operating systems were unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) last month. OS X El Capitan promises to ‘refine’ the radical changes introduced in the previous iteration, OS X Yosemite, with an emphasis on speed and performance.

iOS 9 will include more powerful Spotlight search, a more intelligent Siri and enhanced iPad capabilities, particularly in the area of multi-tasking.

Until earlier this year, Apple had never made a version of iOS available as a public beta, but had a change of heart following the success of the Yosemite beta and hoped it would do much to reduce demand for unauthorised sales of beta downloads from developer accounts. iOS 8.3 was the first version to be tested in such a way.

Both El Capitan and iOS 9 are set to be made commercially available later this year.

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