Apple seeds third ‘bug fix’ betas of next iOS and macOS versions to everyone

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There are new iOS 12 beta versions for developers and the public, as the same is true for macOS Mojave.
New betas are out for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch.
Photo: Apple

Apple just released the third beta versions of iOS 12.1.3 and macOS Mojave 10.14.3 to developers and the public. The same is true for a new tvOS 12.1.2 beta. Only developers got access to the new watchOS 5.1.3 beta introduced today, though.

But don’t get your hopes up for exciting new features.

iOS 12.1.3 beta 3 in a odd way

In early December, Apple introduced the first beta of iOS 12.1.2. Then the company lost a lawsuit in a Chinese court to Qualcomm and was forced to quickly make some changes to iOS to hopefully resolve the patent dispute. Those changes were incorporated in a new version which was dubbed iOS 12.1.2.

None of the bug fixes that had been in iOS 12.1.2 beta 1 were in that version, however. Instead, they were carried forward to iOS 12.1.3.  A second beta of this renamed version came out in mid-December, and today’s iteration is the third round of testing on these changes.

Bug fixes for everyone 

Apple never stops working on its various operating systems but the changes aren’t always major. The new iOS, macOS and watchOS versions are a case in point. None of them include new features, just bug fixes.

And so far there has been no word of any major enhancements coming to iOS 12 or macOS Mojave in the future. At this point, it seems iPhone, iPad and Mac users will have to wait until iOS 13 and macOS 10.15. The iOS update could bring real change to iPad tablets.

How to get iOS 12.1.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.3, watchOS 5.1.3, and tvOS 12.1.2 betas

Registered developers can grab the four new betas directly from Apple’s online developer portal. This requires paying a $100 annual fee to get earlier access to upcoming versions. That said, Apple has recently introduced the public versions just hours after the developer ones, as it did today.

Speaking of the public versions, Anyone who is curious can sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program and download the latest iOS, macOS and tvOS pre-release betas. It’s free and relatively easy. And joining once brings access to betas of three operating systems. The exception is watchOS as it isn’t included in this program.

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