Beta 4 of iOS 11.2.5 and macOS 10.13.3 Available for Testing

Beta 4 of iOS 11.2.5 and macOS 10.13.3 Available for Testing

Apple has released the fourth beta version of iOS 11.2.5, macOS 10.13.3 High Sierra, tvOS 11.2.5, and watchOS 4.2.2 for users enrolled in the beta testing programs. The new software updates appear to primarily focus on bug fixes, security enhancements, and minor feature adjustments, and are unlikely to include any major new features. iOS 11.2.5 apparently includes a capability to allow Siri to play daily news podcasts from Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, and NPR if the device is connected to headphones or a CarPlay unit, a feature which may also be included in the upcoming HomePod speaker system from Apple. This feature is activated by saying Hey Siri, tell me the news in current betas of iOS 11.2.5, and presumably will be included in the final release of the system software as well. For devices enrolled to participate in the Apple system software beta testing programs, iOS 11.2.5 beta 4 is available to download now from the Settings app Software Update function. MacOS High Sierra 10.13.3 beta 4 is available via the Updates tab of the Mac App Store. TvOS 11.2.5 beta 4 and watchOS 4.2.2 beta 4 are available to download via their respective Settings apps as well. Beta system software builds typically show up first for developers, and soon follow to public beta testers. Anyone can choose to participate in the public beta testing program, but beta system software is notoriously buggy and is not recommended for most users to run. Additionally, anyone can choose to participate in the beta program for Apple Developers, though that separate program requires an annual membership fee. The most recently available stable builds of system software include the recently released for iPhone and iPad, for Mac users, tvOS 11.2.1 for Apple TV, and watchOS 4.2.1 for Apple Watch.