Apple has launched the OS X Yosemite Beta program to give Mac users an early look at the new operating system and help iron out any bugs and submit feedback.
It is the first time Apple has allowed the public to use a pre-release operating system.
OS X Yosemite, which will be free when officially released, offers a number of new features including a redesigned interface that looks a lot more like the iPhone and iPad iOS.
There’s also an enhanced Notification Centre for quick access to important information plus Spotlight that is an easy to find what’s on your Mac and what’s on the internet.
Users will also notice changes in the look, feel and speed of the Safari browser with Mail also improved with some new features.
Some of the features Apple highlighted during the OS X Yosemite introduction at the recent Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco won’t be available in this Beta program.
These include Hand Off where you can pick up tasks you were doing on your Mac on an iPhone or iPad and vice versa and the ability to answer calls on your iMac from your iPhone.
The reason they won’ be part of the Beta is because they require iOS 8 – the upcoming new operating system for iPhone and iPad – which won’t be released until just before the release of the new iPhone in a couple of months.
If you want to take part in the OS X Yosemite Beta program you can sign up here.
Once accepted, users receive an email and a link to redeem code that will allow them to download the software from the Mac App Store.
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