Apple is testing its new operating system, the Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, and it is looking to enlist users to act as guinea pigs.
For the first time in years, the company is giving people the chance to take part in a beta testing initiative, giving users a rare glimpse into its software envelopment process.
According to an announcement from the company, the OS X Beta program, which will start this fall, is limited to the first one million people who sign up to receive the pre-release software.
To join, users would simply have to register using their Apple IDs. Once the beta software is ready for dissemination, Apple will send out a redemption code that would allow testers to download the OS X Yosemite software from the App Store. Apple was explicit in warning users of possible problems, even going so far as telling users to install the new operating system on an extra computer. The beta is only available for computers that run on OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later, so some older Macs would definitely be left out, even though the company is offering beta testers free downloads of Mavericks from the App Store. The OS also requires at least 8 GB of free disk space and 2 GB of memory.
"We recommend installing OS X Yosemite Beta on a secondary Mac, since it may contain errors or inaccuracies. Please be sure to back up your Mac using Time Machine before you install the beta. This is beta software that is still in development, which means some applications and services may not work as expected," the company said.
With such a warning, it seems likely that Apple would end up getting a high volume of comments from beta testers. To help users report issues faster, it has established a built-in Feedback Assistant application within the operating system.
OS X Yosemite is expected to be released in the fall. The software is expected to have a redesigned interface with translucent toolbars and sidebars, streamlined stoplights and new-look stock apps such as Safari, Mail and Messages. The beta version won't have the increased integration with iOS 8 that is expected in the final version, so test users would miss out on the software's best feature. Apple warned beta testers that they would receive updates less frequently than developers. However, the test software can be upgraded to the official version once it is released.
