Apple rolls out second beta of MacOS Sierra, iOS 10, and WatchOS 3

By Christian de Looper Published July 5, 2016

It looks like Apple is making some headway on the software front. Just three weeks after rolling out the first developers betas for MacOS Sierra, iOS 10, and WatchOS 3, the second beta is now rolling out.

Updates to the three operating systems were first announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June, and a number of new features were shown off, especially, it seems, for iOS 10.

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So what’s new? Well, let’s start with iOS 10. The second beta of Apple’s operating system for the iPhone and iPad brings the addition of the Messages App Store, which is now live with a number of stick packs available to download. 3D Touch shortcuts for the flashlight and Control Center now also have their own icons, and Apple’s new organ donor signup feature is included in the Health app.

When is comes to MacOS Sierra, the new beta brings Auto Unlock in the System Preferences. This allows users to unlock their computers simply by having the Apple Watch.

Last but not least is the second beta of WatchOS 3, which brings the Emergency SOS feature shown off at WWDC. This basically allows you to press and hold the side button, which will show an Emergency SOS option. If you hold the side button for six seconds, the feature will automatically activate and alert emergency services. To cancel the call, you can press down on the display and then select cancel.

When released to the public, the new operating systems promise to bring a slew of great features to users. iOS 10, for example will more deeply integrate with 3D Touch, and will have a smarter Siri that will be able to integrate with third-party apps. WatchOS 3, the operating system for the Apple Watch, will bring a smoother user experience and access to quick settings.

The three operating systems will roll out to consumers in the fall alongside Apple’s new devices, expected to be announced sometime in September or October. In the meantime, if you signed up for Apple’s developer beta, look out for an over-the-air update. It can also be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center.

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Christian de Looper

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Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…

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