Apple on Monday released the eighth beta of iOS 11, watchOS 4, macOS 10.13, and tvOS 11 to registered developers. The new betas come just one week after releasing the seventh betas, and more than two months after introducing the new updates at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
iOS 11 beta 8
The iOS 11 Developer beta 8 is a smaller update with downloads for iPhone 7 and iPad Pro 10.5-inch being at just under 60MB. This usually indicates that the updates in this release will be smaller and will mostly focus on bug fixes. We will update this post if any changes are discovered in this release.
If you’re a registered developer with a device already running a previous iOS 11 beta, you can upgrade to the latest build (15A5368a) over the air using the Software Update mechanism in the Settings app.
macOS 10.13 beta 8
Similarly, macOS High Sierra builds on features first introduced in macOS Sierra, focusing on new storage, video, and graphics technology. It brings a new Apple File System (APFS), High Efficiency Video Codec (HEVC), and an updated version of Metal with support for VR and external GPUs.
The eighth beta of macOS High Sierra can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air using the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
watchOS 4 beta 8
watchOS 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual and is perhaps the most significant new feature in the update. There are also new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app that supports High Intensity Interval Training and new swimming options.
Registered developers with an Apple Watch already running a previous beta version can install beta 8 (build number 15R5371a) over the air using the Software Update option in Settings.
watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers need to wait until the software sees an official release in the fall to try it out. With September approaching, we are nearing the end of the beta testing period.
tvOS 11 beta 8
tvOS 11 brings automatic switching between light/dark mode based on local time, Home screen syncing options that keep multiple Apple TVs in a household in sync, new background modes and notification support, Focus API improvements, custom sound support, network-based pairing and development support, improvements to Mobile Device Management, and more.
The eighth beta of tvOS 11 most likely focuses primarily on bug fixes and other small refinements, as the first seven betas did. Apple’s new tvOS 11 update is available for both registered developers and public beta testers. It will see a public release later this year.
Developers with the appropriate configuration profile on their Apple TV (4th gen) can install today’s beta (build number 15J5374a) by visiting Settings > System > Software Update.
Otherwise, it requires you to hook up your Apple TV to your Mac via a USB-C cable and a quick trip to the Dev Center. tvOS 11 has shown to be a modest update, with just a handful of user-facing improvements.