Big Sur possible release date

[MacGizmo]

Well now this is interesting: Apple just seeded the first beta of Big Sur 11.0.1.

Probably because Apple went Gold Master with 11.0 a few days ago and they're now working on future updates. Just because it went GM doesn't mean they'll actually release it.

In fact, I suspect they will not release a GM to the public at all because the GM would expose anything related to any hardware they plan to announce at the rumored upcoming event on November 17th.

I could be wrong, but at this late stage of the game, I don't even see a reason to release the GM when the ship date of the new Mac(s) with Apple Silicon is approaching which will require Big Sur.

That theory goes out the window, of course, if Apple holds the event on November 17th to say you can order your MacBook with Apple Silicon for shipping on December 14th - In which case the release of Big Sur gets pushed back to some time shortly before December 14th.

 

[lestmak]

First, kind of strange the way designated this beta release. One would think it would be classified as Beta 11. But V11.0.1? Does not make much sense.

Also, did not follow the iOS releases, but was the 14.0 "release" a beta?

Finally, this is the latest a mac OS has been "delayed", at least from what I can remember. Is Big Sur much more complex/troublesome than Apple realized, or are they deliberately timing its release to be shortly after the November 9th Silicon event, or is it both? No matter what, it would be wise to proceed with some caution before moving/upgrading to Big Sur.

v11.0.1 suggests that there may already be a 11.0 GM that is already going to be pre-installed on the new silicon Macs... And now they are moving onto the next bug-fix version.

iOS 14.0 had public betas, but pretty much immediately on its release, the 14.2 developer beta was released followed quickly by the public beta. The skip was a surprise to everyone, but it seems that 14.0 might have been already done, but release was waiting on announcement of the new iPhone (possibly delayed in supply chain). iOS 14.1 has of course since been released.

Anyway, I'm speculating in all of this. I doubt now that you'll see a Big Sur full release before the next Mac announcement. But, aside from some smaller issues, I note that the latest Big Sur Public Beta is now pretty stable.

 

[macdos]

Apple doesn't need to expose anything related to new hardware in 11.0, they can introduce all that in 11.0.1. If there were anything of that sort, it would already be present in the betas, and so leaked to the public.

Given that 11.0.1 is already in beta, 11.0 will be released within short. I say Friday.

 

[Daniela Narducci]

Apple doesn't need to expose anything related to new hardware in 11.0, they can introduce all that in 11.0.1. If there were anything of that sort, it would already be present in the betas, and so leaked to the public.

Given that 11.0.1 is already in beta, 11.0 will be released within short. I say Friday.

I think they will release it next Tuesday or Wednesday. Just a guess. But i think that they will launch the new hardware with already the 11.0.1 equipped, so i think that the release of 11.0 should be almost ready for launch.

 

[IowaLynn]

Sometimes Apple messed up like with OS X more than once, shipped an older version than what was in the last month's FC/GM. 10.4 had a serious issue that got fixed only in 10.4.2 but they need to get Tiger out the door - and new DVD with 10.4.3 came out later still.

Never trust software when the version ends in "dot zero." It's often .2 when things are better and also time for there to test and be ready - because testing and committing code tie and people during beta cycle can be a fools errand.

Some here are waiting until MicroMat has their utility ready, and their own testing input can reveal deeper bugs that were missed, confirming issues SuperDuper and CCC have run up against.

 

[honestone33]

Apple doesn't need to expose anything related to new hardware in 11.0, they can introduce all that in 11.0.1. If there were anything of that sort, it would already be present in the betas, and so leaked to the public.

Given that 11.0.1 is already in beta, 11.0 will be released within short. I say Friday.

That's tomorrow. I don't think so, as that is too soon. Also, need to see definitive feedback on the most recent beta release before trying to make a prediction. It seems, though, that some folks have installed it, and it seems fine.

 

[honestone33]

Apple doesn't need to expose anything related to new hardware in 11.0, they can introduce all that in 11.0.1. If there were anything of that sort, it would already be present in the betas, and so leaked to the public.

Given that 11.0.1 is already in beta, 11.0 will be released within short. I say Friday.

Well, Friday came and went, and still no official release of OS 11.0 yet.

 

[Bazza1]

Well now this is interesting: Apple just seeded the first beta of Big Sur 11.0.1.

I'd rather that they release the OS when it is ready, rather than when it fits their own PR schedule, but when they are releasing patches (sorry...'updates') to an OS that has yet to make it to Gold and out to the general public, it all begins to look a little like vaporware. 😜

 

[StellarVixen]

I don’t know what’s gonna release first, Big Sur or Cyberpunk 2077.

 

[honestone33]

I'd rather that they release the OS when it is ready, rather than when it fits their own PR schedule, but when they are releasing patches (sorry...'updates') to an OS that has yet to make it to Gold and out to the general public, it all begins to look a little like vaporware. 😜

Well stated! As it is, this release of the mac OS seems like more than Apple can handle, given how late it is. But yes, hopefully Apple will not release it until most (if not all) the bugs are ironed out.

The "dark" one for me, though, is the problems Big Sur causes with SuperDuper! (similarly for Carbon Copy Cloner). That is a definite show stopper.

 

[Bazza1]

Well stated! As it is, this release of the mac OS seems like more than Apple can handle, given how late it is. But yes, hopefully Apple will not release it until most (if not all) the bugs are ironed out.

I mean, I 'get' that Apple is trying to jam OS X functionality into 11 for (much like they had to do with System 9 to X), and that can delay things - but maybe the real issue is that Apple is just not ready to introduce Silicon yet and can't get 11 to play nice with that. For everyone else not using Silicon, we wait.

Still, Apple's rarely been hampered with the concerns of introducing something that seems cool and is half-baked over actual functionality, so this delay seems out-of-character. It must be an issue not even their PR or Support departments can spin favourably.

 

[honestone33]

I mean, I 'get' that Apple is trying to jam OS X functionality into 11 for (much like they had to do with System 9 to X), and that can delay things - but maybe the real issue is that Apple is just not ready to introduce Silicon yet and can't get 11 to play nice with that. For everyone else not using Silicon, we wait.

Still, Apple's rarely been hampered with the concerns of introducing something that seems cool and is half-baked over actual functionality, so this delay seems out-of-character. It must be an issue not even their PR or Support departments can spin favourably.

Well stated! And the Silicon release could definitely be a contributing factor as to why Big Sur is late when compared with most other releases of prior versions of the mac OS.

 

[StellarVixen]

I mean, I 'get' that Apple is trying to jam OS X functionality into 11 for (much like they had to do with System 9 to X), and that can delay things - but maybe the real issue is that Apple is just not ready to introduce Silicon yet and can't get 11 to play nice with that. For everyone else not using Silicon, we wait.

Still, Apple's rarely been hampered with the concerns of introducing something that seems cool and is half-baked over actual functionality, so this delay seems out-of-character. It must be an issue not even their PR or Support departments can spin favourably.

There is nothing to “jam”. Mac OS 11 is the evolution of Mac OS X, not a new OS from pretty much ground up, like it was case with going from 9 to X.

 

[halofan56]

Apple doesn't need to expose anything related to new hardware in 11.0, they can introduce all that in 11.0.1. If there were anything of that sort, it would already be present in the betas, and so leaked to the public.

Given that 11.0.1 is already in beta, 11.0 will be released within short. I say Friday.

It's either going to be released Tuesday, November 3rd or 10th, if it holds to the event. Somebody on another forum is receiving a 2020 iMac tomorrow, (11/3). will it have pre-installed Catalina or Big Sur?

 

[honestone33]

There is nothing to “jam”. Mac OS 11 is the evolution of Mac OS X, not a new OS from pretty much ground up, like it was case with going from 9 to X.

Then why so long for its release? Recent versions of the mac OS have been released in September or October.

 

[StellarVixen]

Either polishing or they want to premiere it with new ARM Macs.

 

[halofan56]

Then why so long for its release? Recent versions of the mac OS have been released in September or October.

This osMAC being such a change from previous osMAC and getting a lot of flack how buggy it was, maybe its best they don't rush it. Big Sur had beta 11 and 11.0.1 which is the highest any osMAC ever had. Could be tomorrow (11/3) to (11/10). We'll see.

 

[honestone33]

This osMAC being such a change from previous osMAC and getting a lot of flack how buggy it was, maybe its best they don't rush it. Big Sur had beta 11 and 11.0.1 which is the highest any osMAC ever had. Could be tomorrow (11/3) to (11/10). We'll see.

Well said, although a number of folks are reporting that the latest beta release, V11.0.1, is quite stable.

 

[halofan56]

Well said, although a number of folks are reporting that the latest beta release, V11.0.1, is quite stable.

That's what I'm seeing. I just think Apple doesn't want to make the same mistake twice.

 

[halofan56]

Damn. They should just keep a regular schedule. Pick a date and every 2 or 3 years stick to it.

It depends on the amount of betas, osMAC Big Sur has had 11 betas, I think Apple is trying not to make the same mistake twice like they did with Catalina.

 

[Ansath]

Seeing as the event is the 10th November, we're either getting the GM/RC the day of the event, or the public release.

It all depends on this week. If we get the RC/GM this week, then next week we will get the public release. This is based on the fact Apple like to give Devs a week with RC/GM before public release, for testing.

 

[Ansath]

Clearly Apple were holding back for the new Silicon Mac event, so that being the 10th, means we should see either GM/RC this week and public release the day of the event. If we don't see the RC/GM this week, then we're getting it the day of the event and the public release will be at least the week after.

They will, no doubt, recap the shiny things with Big Sur, then talk about the new Macs (likely at least 1 intel and 1 or 2 Silicon), highlighting the perks of Silicon.

 

[casperes1996]

Seeing as the event is the 10th November, we're either getting the GM/RC the day of the event, or the public release.

It all depends on this week. If we get the RC/GM this week, then next week we will get the public release. This is based on the fact Apple like to give Devs a week with RC/GM before public release, for testing.

With iOS 14.0 we got 1 day

 

[dmccloud]

I noticed that the version of Big Sur installed by the latest update is 11.0.1, so I wouldn't be surprised if next week's Apple announcement includes the Big Sur release.

I mean, I 'get' that Apple is trying to jam OS X functionality into 11 for (much like they had to do with System 9 to X), and that can delay things - but maybe the real issue is that Apple is just not ready to introduce Silicon yet and can't get 11 to play nice with that. For everyone else not using Silicon, we wait.

Still, Apple's rarely been hampered with the concerns of introducing something that seems cool and is half-baked over actual functionality, so this delay seems out-of-character. It must be an issue not even their PR or Support departments can spin favourably.

This makes no sense, especially since the DTK has been running Big Sur since WWDC. The bigger issue isn't a matter of Apple being ready, but whether the developers have had ample time to work out any bugs in their software during the conversion process. Rosetta can handle some of the issues, but there are still certain things that not even Rosetta will be able to address due to the way that software is written or uses features not present in the ARM-based builds of Mac OS. If the DTK can run Big Sur without many issues, then it shouldn't be an issue at all to get it running with the new processors that will be going into the Mac.

 

[Ansath]

With iOS 14.0 we got 1 day

That was a rare exception (the only time it happened), so that doesn't count, and it thoroughly pissed off Developers.

Also, I said they LIKE to give a week, not ALWAYS gives a week.