Apple launches new macOS 12 Monterey public beta

Apple today released the third public beta of macOS 12 Monterey beta to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the new macOS Monterey software before its public release. The third beta comes two weeks after Apple released the second public beta of macOS Monterey.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 12 Monterey update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the appropriate profile from Apple’s beta software website.

‌MacOS Monterey‌ introduces some major updates for the macOS operating system. Universal control, for example, allows a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard to be used across multiple Mac or iPad devices, and it is now possible to AirPlay directly on a Mac from an iPhone, ‌iPad or even from another Mac.

Safari has an updated tab bar and support for tab groups to keep tons of tabs organized, and FaceTime now supports spatial audio, portrait mode (Mac M1 only) and voice isolation to suppress background noise. A ‌FaceTime‌ SharePlay feature allows Apple TV users to watch TV, listen to music and share their screens with each other.

Shared with you, another new feature, keeps track of the music, links, podcasts, news, and photos people receive in Messages, highlighting them in relevant apps. Notes has a new Quick Note feature for jotting down thoughts, and the Shortcuts app is now available on the Mac.

A dedicated Focus mode helps people stay focused on their task by removing background distractions as what’s going on, and there’s an updated Maps app with a whole slew of new features. With Live Text, Macs can now detect text in photos or provide details about animals, art, monuments, plants and more in images. The new beta adds support for Live Text for Intel Macs.

Mail Privacy Protection hides IP and prevents tracking through web beacons, and iCloud Private Relay protects Safari browsing. There are many other new features in macOS Monterey‌‌, with a full rundown available in our macOS Monterey‌ summary.