By Filip Truta
Registered Apple
developers can download a new beta of OS X 10.10.2 and test out key
focus areas like Wi-Fi, Mail, and VoiceOver, according to a memo on the
company’s developer portal.
OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 build
14C81f is the third beta in this development cycle which seems to be
adding new focus areas with the release of every build. The first beta
had no listed focus, while the second one mentioned Wi-Fi as the primary
testing target.
Two new areas that need testing
With the release
of OS X 10.10.2 build 14C81f, Apple is asking testers to focus their
efforts on two additional areas of the operating system, besides Wi-Fi.
These are Mail and VoiceOver. A total of three focus areas are currently
listed, while the next beta could include even more.
There are no widespread reports about Mail or VoiceOver suffering from
bugs, but one thing we can confirm is that Mail in Yosemite is
considerably slower than in previous versions of Apple’s desktop
operating system. This may have to do with the new Mail features
delivered in Yosemite this year, including the Markup function, which
pops up annotation tools for images attached to the email.
In our testing, we’ve observed that Markup takes a fair amount of time
to load, and on occasion, it can even crash the application altogether.
In fact, Mail in Yosemite is prone to crashing even without Markup
enabled.
As far as VoiceOver is concerned, Apple could be addressing minor bugs
that only a small number of users out there will know about. Despite
being a popular accessibility feature, it only targets a fraction of the
install base (for obvious reasons).
How to download and install
Most
Apple developers will know this by now, but if you’re new to these
betas and OS X seeding in general, you’ll need to visit the
Mac Dev Center
with your credentials in hand, download the OS X Software Update Seed
Configuration Utility, and proceed to use it to obtain OS X 10.10.2
build 14C81f, as instructed in the seed notes (also available for
download on the Mac Dev Center).
These builds are offered for testing and development purposes, and
should not be used on production machines. You should not rely on the
software to handle important files and personal information as the buggy
nature of these betas can lead to security issues.
The Cupertino company also put forth a new Xcode beta this week.
Developers can use it to code apps for OS X, iOS, and even the upcoming
Apple Watch.
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