Apple Launches Initial Public Beta of iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, Plus First Developer Build of MacOS Tahoe 26.2

Apple has officially launched a substantial batch of initial public beta versions for its upcoming software updates, which are anticipated to be released in December. Notably, the macOS Tahoe 26.2 has just unveiled its inaugural developer build, aiming to set the stage for future advancements.

New Public Beta Builds Released for iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and tvOS 26.2

The introduction of the macOS Tahoe 26.2 developer build marks an exciting milestone, currently accessible only to developers, though a public beta is expected to follow soon.

Highlights of iOS 26.2 Public Beta 1

The iOS 26.2 public beta 1 introduces several noteworthy features, particularly enhancing the Podcast app:

Automatic creation of podcast episode chapters for seamless navigation.
Enhanced Apple Podcasts functionality allows users to view and follow related podcasts directly from the player and transcript.
A ‘From This Episode’ feature provides easy access to shared links on the episode page.

Enhancements in the Apple News App

Apple News is set to receive four new sections, expanding content variety:

Sports
Puzzles
Politics
Food

New Customization Features

The update introduces a Liquid Glass slider for the lock screen clock, allowing users to customize the clock’s opacity to their preference. Additionally, alarms can now be created within the Reminders app. When triggered, these alarms offer a snooze option alongside a “slide to stop”feature, which can be replaced with a “mark as complete”option.

Live Translation Support for AirPods

Apple is enhancing the AirPods experience with the introduction of the Live Translation feature in the EU through iOS 26.2, supporting various languages:

English (U. S.)
English (U. K.)
French (France)
German (Germany)
Portuguese (Brazil)
Spanish (Spain)
Chinese – Simplified (China)
Chinese – Traditional (China)
Japanese
Korean
Italian

Revised Sleep Score Tracking

In another update, the way the Sleep Score tracks your rest has been overhauled. The highest category now reads ‘Very High, ’ replacing the previous ‘Excellent’ term, along with adjusted thresholds for other rankings.

What’s New in iPadOS 26.2

Similar enhancements from the iOS 26.2 public beta are also reflected in iPadOS 26.2 public beta 1, which includes two new features:

The Freeform app now allows the use of tables.
Apple Music lyrics can be accessed offline.

Additional Updates Across Apple Platforms

In addition to these updates, Apple has also released the initial public beta builds for watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and tvOS 26.2, promising a more comprehensive suite of software enhancements for users.

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