May 04, 2024 | Updated: 11:35 AM EDT
Mar 22, 2017 07:55 AM EDT
Apple has rolled out macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 8, the next version expected to bring in new features for Mac users. The latest version is only accessible to developers and public beta users. Headlining the new features for the operating system include the return of Night Shift mode and changes to voice assistant Siri.
Night Shift mode officially returns on macOS Sierra 10.12.4 since it was last seen on iOS 9.3, Apple Insider reported. It is expected to carry to bring in the same thing it did before where it reduced exposure to blue light and fend away blue spectrums which interfere with the sleep cycle of Mac owners. Night Shift mode can be activated by going to the ‘displays’ section located under system preferences. For those who want to do it manually, they can do so under the Notification Center or through Siri.
Speaking of Siri, the Apple AI has also gotten an upgrade. Aside from common commands, Siri can now give users key updates about the Indian Premier League or the International Cricket Council, Mac Rumors reported. Dictation has also been ramped up on macOS Sierra 10.12.4 with more languages such as Shanghainese.
Folks who have been suffering from a poor display of PDFs can expect improvements from macOS Sierra 10.12.4 as well. With a new and updated PDFKit API, PDF files will reportedly be displayed better even on apps thanks to the latest round of framework changes.
The release of macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 8 hints at the release of the final version soon. It could follow the speculated release of iOS 10.3 which could be out this March. There is a chance that macOS 10.12.4 may not be far behind unless Apple finds more problems that need to be addressed. So far, there have been minor changes since the first beta though Apple is likely prioritizing known bugs and coming up with corresponding fixes.
