Apple Seeds macOS Sierra 10.12.3 Beta 3 to Developers

Apple on Monday seeded the third beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.3 to developers. The third beta comes three weeks after the release of the second beta version of Apple's upcoming Mac operating system.

The first beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.3 – build 16D25a – is available for download via the Apple Developer Center or via the “Update” tab in the Mac App Store. 

Apple’s official release notes merely say the new beta “improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.” No specific changes, bug fixes, or feature additions were discovered in the first two betas, but we'll update this post should any new features be found in the third beta. 

Oftentimes, with bug fixes, it's hard to tell what's included until Apple supplies detailed release notes with a release. The previous update, macOS 10.12.2, introduced several important bug fixes to resolve battery life issues, fix graphics problems, and more. 

Available since September, macOS Sierra is the latest Mac operating system. It includes Siri support, Apple pay for the web, Universal Clipboard, Apple Watch auto unlocking, improved iCloud Drive integration, Picture-in-Picture multitasking, and dozens of smaller features.

Certainly, it won’t be long now until Apple takes the final step and releases macOS Sierra 10.12.3 to the general public. This specific version has been in testing for coming up to a month, and given the relatively small nature of the improvements, it’s likely that a public release is right around the horizon.

As always, the latest macOS Sierra 10.12.3 beta is now live to download and install immediately from the Mac App Store to those who are currently running a previous pre-release seed of macOS 10.12.3.

Apple makes it easy to take screen share with iOS and macOS with new devices

Here is a procedure on how to screen share with iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPods and macOS to help friends and family with new devices without any third-party software.

Mac to Mac Screen Sharing

Providing support to others can be even smoother when you can take control of their device. When you do Mac to Mac screen sharing this is an option, you can also share your screen instead of seeing theirs. To do this, make sure the ‘Screen Sharing’ box is checked in System Preferences → Sharing. Also, if the Apple ID they use for iCloud and Messages on the Mac is different, you’ll need to have both emails on their contact card.

Here are two ways to start screen sharing:

Method 1

1. Do a Spotlight search for ‘Screen Sharing’ and launch it.
2. You’ll then see a dialog box with the option to enter the Apple ID of the person you’d like to screen share with.
3. On the receiving end, they’ll see this invitation.
4. Make sure they select ‘Control My Screen.’ The alternate way to start screen sharing is through Messages on macOS.
5. Click ‘Details’ in the top right corner of the message of the person you’d like to screen share with and select ‘Invite to share my screen’ or ‘Ask to share the screen.’
6. They will receive the same accept or decline notification as above and also accept your ability to control their screen.
7. Once you are connected a FaceTime voice call will also automatically initiate and you’ll see everything on their screen.

Method 2

1.  Open QuickTime Player and start a screen recording (File → New Screen Recording) so they can revisit the guidance anytime they want.
2. When you’re ready to end the session, you can click ‘Screen Sharing’ next to the  in the menu bar and select ‘Quit Screen Sharing.’

Screen Share iOS Devices Using Macs

This is a helpful modified use of a developer feature that Apple has built into QuickTime Player that came along with Yosemite. When you use the Screen Sharing Mac app with this screen casting feature option you can see everything happening on an iOS device as long as both parties have Macs.

Here is the procedure:

1. Start a screen sharing session. Have the person you’re helping plug in their iOS device via USB cable to the Mac that they are screen sharing with. 
2. Launch QuickTime Player and click ‘File’ and ‘New Movie Recording.’
3. Once the movie window opens, select the drop down arrow next to the record icon and click the iOS device you’d like to see, then click record.
4. After you’ve solved all their issues, you can even help them save the footage so they can review it later and remember the solution again in the future.

Source: 9to5Mac

Apple Stops Signing iOS 10.1 and 10.1.1 Following the Release of iOS 10.2

Following the release of iOS 10.2 in December 2016, Apple has stopped signing iOS 10.1 and iOS 10.1.1 for all devices. This means that users are now no longer able to downgrade to the operating system if they are having some sort of issue with the latest iOS 10.2 releases.

Because Apple has stopped signing the two operating systems, users will no longer be able to downgrade to the operating system after updating to iOS 10.2. This means that once you update, you’re permanently committed to the new version.

Generally, Apple stops signing older iOS releases to prevent users from downgrading and being vulnerable to security holes that have since been patched. This primarily affects jailbreak users the most, but there was never a jailbreak available for iOS 10.1 or iOS 10.1.1.

Read more about what is there in Apple iOS 10.2 releases.

Apple has released iOS 10.2 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 10.2 includes several new features like Unicode 9.0 emoji, three new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus wallpapers, a new TV app, additional camera features, new Messages screen effects, and more.

These are the changes discovered during iOS 10.2 beta:

• Three new wallpapers in iOS 10.2 beta (only for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus)
• New widget for Videos app
• New Preserve Camera setting
• New emoji (looks like Unicode 9.0 update/also on macOS 10.12.2, watchOS 3.1.1)
• New ‘Press and Hold to Speak’ menu under Home Button Accessibility settings
• New ‘Celebration’ Messages screen effect
• New ‘Show Star Ratings’ option under Music Settings
• New headphone icon in status bar for Bluetooth audio devices (previously seen with the Beats Solo3)
• TV app now included on iOS 10.2 beta, Videos app still present
• TV widget joins Videos widget
• SOS feature similar to Apple Watch when clicking power button 5x (which may be a requirement in India next year)
• Music now points to relocated shuffle and repeat controls (which have a button look now)
• TV app totally replaces Videos app on beta 3
• Feedback app returns in beta 3
• Previously seen SOS feature now only available in India (due to upcoming requirement)
• New ‘Love’ screen effect joins ‘Celebration’ in Messages

iOS 10.2 introduces new features including the TV app (US Only), a new and unified experience for accessing your TV shows and movies across multiple video apps. Emoji have been beautifully redesigned to reveal even more detail and over 100 new emoji have been added including new faces, food, animals, sports, and professions. This update also includes stability improvements and bug fixes.

Source: 9to5mac