Apple Releases OS Yosemite Public Beta 2, iTunes 12 Beta

Mac owners participating in the public beta of OS X Yosemite were treated to a nice surprise Friday morning when Apple released an update for them, along with a beta version of iTunes 12. This is the first update to the public beta, and it brings this version of OS X Yosemite closer in line with the private version developers are using.

OS X Yosemite public beta 2 availableYosemite Public Beta 2 enables iMessage screen sharing, updated icons for several apps as well as system settings, and includes under-the-hood changes as the operating system gets closer to its official launch. iTunes 12 includes an updated interface, family sharing support, and new content organization features.

OS X Yosemite Public Beta 2 is a 1.7GB download available via the Software Update app available to participants in the public beta program. The beta is free, and the official version will be a free download, too, when it ships this fall.

OS X Yosemite is still very much a beta operating system, so be sure to back up important data before installing, and don't use it as your primary operating system because some features aren't enabled yet, and there's always the chance of crashes and data loss.