Apple launches iOS 9 and El Capitan public betas

10 Jul 2015

El Capitan, Yosemite, via Shutterstock

Apple’s newest operating systems, iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan, have been released as public betas, allowing the public to get an early look at the new software and have a guiding role in its development.

The company has been offering betas on its desktop OS since Yosemite, but this is the first time one has been available on its mobile devices.

iOS 9 and El Capitan were announced and showcased last month at Apple’s WWDC. Each brings some exciting new features to OS devices, including the ability to work in split screen and the impressive, in-built News app.

“As a member of the Apple Beta Software Program, you can take part in shaping Apple software by test-driving pre-release versions and letting us know what you think,” says the introduction on Apple’s website.

But that has to come with a warning.

It’s important to remember that betas are betas for a reason – they’re incomplete, and often shakier and buggier than final releases. Beta installation can mess with your device’s functionality, or even cause you to lose data.

Apple acknowledges the risk to devices that comes from installing beta software, reminding members of the Beta Software Programme to always back up their devices before installation.

If your device is really suffering, it will be possible to revert to the previous final-version release (i.e. iOS 8 or Yosemite), but only if you have a ‘hard’ back-up, rather than backing-up to the Cloud.

If none of that deters you, the iOS 9 and El Capitan betas can be downloaded through the Apple website.

For those who are little more cautious, final releases are expected in the Autumn.

El Capitan image, via Shutterstock

Kirsty Tobin was careers editor at Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com