Apple announces OS X Beta Seed Program, opens beta testing to everyone

[Himanshu Arora]

Apple on Tuesday opened up OS X beta versions to the public in general. The Cupertino-based company announced the OS X Beta Seed Program, which allows anyone with an active Apple ID to download and install a beta version of OS X 10.9.3, the upcoming update to the company's operating system.

Unlike registered developers, who pay $99 annually to access pre-release versions of Apple's desktop operating system, among other benefits, this program doesn't require participants to shell out anything.

Apart from the fact that the program is available to users who are 18 or older, there aren't any other eligibility requirements to enter. Also, just like registered developers, participants would have to agree to a confidentiality agreement that requires them not to blog, post screen shots, tweet, or publicly post information about the pre-release Apple software.

"[T]he pre-release software is Apple confidential information. For example, don't install the pre-release Apple software on any systems you don't directly control or that you share with others, don't blog, post screen shots, tweet, or publicly post information about the pre-release Apple software, and don't discuss the pre-release Apple software with or demonstrate it to others who are not in the OS X Beta Seed Program," the FAQ explains.

A Feedback Assistant, installed in the Dock of the OS X 10.9.3 beta, would send feedback and diagnostic files to Apple to help it resolve any quality and usability issues before general launch.

You'll have to install a special utility software that comes with the program for the pre-release versions of OS X to be visible in your Mac App Store’s Updates tab. Also, installing the beta seed does not void your hardware warranty, the company assures.

Interested in participating in the program? Head over to Apple's OS X Beta Seed Program sign in page for the registration and download process.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/56496-apple-announces-os-x-beta-seed-program-opens-beta-testing-to-everyone.html

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Yeah? I wonder how many people who download it just out of curiosity will breach Apples NDA... probably 99.9%.

 

[Jad Chaar]

Yeah? I wonder how many people who download it just out of curiosity will breach Apples NDA... probably 99.9%.

Yeah I really dont understand how they can enforce that NDA after opening it up to the public.

I would download it but this is my main computer and I dont want to run beta software on it .

 

[Guest]

Opens up Beta testing for everyone...


...tells them they can't disclose information about it.


/fail

 

[SNGX1275]

I don't think they intend to try to enforce it. I'm sure if some blogger is drawing unwanted attention to some features/bugs and generating a lot of traffic out of it then Apple may send a C&D. For the common person, word of mouth type stuff I'm sure Apple isn't going to attempt to police that, and I'm sure they knew this before making it public. This just gives Apple the option if someone gets out of hand.

There aren't a whole lot of OS X users anyway, and even fewer that are going to sign up for this. Plus this seems to be for 'beta' releases, there are still other releases that are more exclusive (not public) that is where the real NDA and enforcement is.

 

[FLWrd]

I waited to install 10.9 until most of the bugs seemed resolved. I'm surely not going to install a beta version. Updating already takes some time, but reverting is of course even worse. Still, there can be a few sysadmins and similar people that can muck about it with it.

 

[SNGX1275]

I began the install last night just before I went to bed. Will try it this evening and see how it goes. Made a full time machine backup of my system before enrolling in the program, so if all goes to hell I'm not out anything but restoration time.