Second macOS Golden Gate Public Beta Now Available

[MacRumors]

Apple today released the second public beta of macOS Golden Gate, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its fall release. You can sign up to test the update on Apple's beta website, and then download it by going to System Settings > General > Software Update and toggling on the macOS 27 beta.

macOS Golden Gate includes the same Siri AI features as iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, but you get to Siri through Spotlight with a Command + Space keyboard shortcut. Siri can search the web to answer questions, look through your personal data like photos, emails, and messages to help you find what you're searching for, and complete actions in and between apps. There is a dedicated Siri app, and you can hold ongoing conversations with Siri.

Apple brought Visual Intelligence to the Mac, so Siri can look at what's on your screen and answer questions about it.

The Liquid Glass design introduced last year has been updated, and Apple added a slider for controlling overall system transparency. Liquid Glass opacity has been changed so it better diffuses complex content, and other design changes bring more depth and separation to the UI so it's easier to tell which window is active.

Apps now feature uniform toolbars with headings and controls that are easier to read, and windows no longer have such dramatically rounded corners. Sidebars are no longer floating and extend edge-to-edge, plus window positioning is more consistent across external displays.

Write with Siri is able to generate text from scratch, correct your grammar, or give you feedback on your writing, and there are new AI editing tools in the Photos app. In Shortcuts, you can create automations with natural language requests, and search has been improved in Mail and Messages. Apple made multiple performance improvements across macOS Golden Gate for a faster, smoother experience even on older Macs.

More on the new features in macOS 27 can be found in our macOS Golden Gate roundup.

Article Link: Second macOS Golden Gate Public Beta Now Available

 

[Macalway]

I'll wait for 3, so they can correct the mistakes they introduced in 2.

 

[RumorConsumer]

I'll wait for 3, so they can correct the mistakes they introduced in 2.

I seriously wonder if you are joking because I have some of the same thoughts and I'm just not sure there's ever a good time to use a public beta but I sure want to.

 

[Websnapx2]

I just installed PB2, so I can’t speak to its stability with confidence, but PB1 was solid. Small issues here and there but very minor in my experience. I genuinely dislike going back to my production MBP running 26.6.2, since the interface updates on 27 are so good.

 

[ignatius345]

I ran the Tahoe betas on a virtual machine and it was a great, risk-free way to test drive the OS without impacting my Mac. I gather that’s not so easily done this time around:

MacOS Golden Gate 27 Beta Won't Install in a Virtual Machine? It's a Known Issue - OS X Daily

Issues with running MacOS Golden Gate beta in a virtual machine are known, but there are two known workarounds, and a fix is likely coming soon.

osxdaily.com

But I’m going to see if I can start a Tahoe VM and opt in to the beta program for GG from inside it...

edit: no dice. I enrolled in the Beta program with the same Apple Account the VM is using, and still see this. I do correctly see the beta options on my actual Mac, but not interested in running it there, just within the VM. If anybody has any tips, interested to know!

 

[Macusercom]

Can't wait for the Golden Gate Golden Master

 

[cwintermeyer]

Can't wait for the Golden Gate Golden Master

Same. I'm gonna throw some sort of party - maybe a shower - to celebrate that release day. I'm gonna call it the Golden Gate Golden Master Golden Sho... nevermind.

 

[davedude]

DB4 has been decent. Some weird hiccups here and there but overall a better experience than 26.

 

[acethelab]

Anyone else dealing with the “virtual machine accessories” menu bar icon? I do not run any VMs. Have noticed this in every beta so far.

 

[happywaffle]

Making a rare comment* to share an interesting/amusing Siri AI quirk I found: it seems reluctant to use the word "AI" to describe itself! (These questions were rhetorical, since I am indeed running Golden Gate PB1 with the new Siri enabled.)

*Funny that I'm still classified as a "macrumors newbie" even though I activated my account in… 2002.

 

[lfaa]

DB4 has been decent. Some weird hiccups here and there but overall a better experience than 26.

Does the design of the Finder window change? It’s so bad on 26…

 

[dannys1]

There 5 PBs of Tahoe, I might jump in at 3 or 4 here.

I sort of consider the public beta the actual beta and the dev version a bit more alpha.

 

[Mainyehc]

Making a rare comment* to share an interesting/amusing Siri AI quirk I found: it seems reluctant to use the word "AI" to describe itself! (These questions were rhetorical, since I am indeed running Golden Gate PB1 with the new Siri enabled.)

*Funny that I'm still classified as a "macrumors newbie" even though I activated my account in… 2002.

That’s what you get for being a lurker… Maybe the MR staff could institute the “macrumors lurker” rank for veterans like yourself? 😉

 

[Websnapx2]

Making a rare comment* to share an interesting/amusing Siri AI quirk I found: it seems reluctant to use the word "AI" to describe itself! (These questions were rhetorical, since I am indeed running Golden Gate PB1 with the new Siri enabled.)

*Funny that I'm still classified as a "macrumors newbie" even though I activated my account in… 2002.

That’s accurate, actually — Siri is the Virtual assistant you speak to (through voice or text), where as "Siri AI" is the upgraded, context-aware intelligence system powered by Apple Intelligence underneath that is accessed by more than just the assistant. They work together, but are different elements. For example, if someone has an iPhone 14, they have Siri, but not Siri AI — because Siri is just the interactive wrapper. Apple’s naming conventions are dumb sometimes... One day we will get Siri AI Ultra Max.

 

[EllZ89]

I ran the Tahoe betas on a virtual machine and it was a great, risk-free way to test drive the OS without impacting my Mac. I gather that’s not so easily done this time around:

MacOS Golden Gate 27 Beta Won't Install in a Virtual Machine? It's a Known Issue - OS X Daily

Issues with running MacOS Golden Gate beta in a virtual machine are known, but there are two known workarounds, and a fix is likely coming soon.

osxdaily.com

But I’m going to see if I can start a Tahoe VM and opt in to the beta program for GG from inside it...

edit: no dice. I enrolled in the Beta program with the same Apple Account the VM is using, and still see this. I do correctly see the beta options on my actual Mac, but not interested in running it there, just within the VM. If anybody has any tips, interested to know!

View attachment 2647284

i installed 26.5.2 as a VM in parallels and installed it fine by downloading and running the beta4 .pkg

 

[ignatius345]

i installed 26.5.2 as a VM in parallels and installed it fine by downloading and running the beta4 .pkg

Ah, thanks for the tip. I don’t own Parallels but I’ll see if VirtualBuddy will let me install off a downloaded .pkg file.

 

[EllZ89]

Ah, thanks for the tip. I don’t own Parallels but I’ll see if VirtualBuddy will let me install off a downloaded .pkg file.

UTM should also work as well. I use it to emulate x64 windows but it looks like it virtualises macOS arm natively.

Small chance it might let you drop an .ipsw at it, but guess would be it needs an ISO.