The MacOS Tahoe 25 Public Beta program has begun, bringing the beta operating system to all interested Mac users. If you’re curious about installing and running the MacOS Tahoe 26 public beta, you’ll find this walkthrough helpful as we cover the system requirements, compatible Macs, caveats, and installation process.

MacOS Tahoe 26 is intriguing with new features, and there’s good reason for Mac users to be curious about running the beta operating system. With an all new Liquid Glass interface design with lots of translucency and shininess, further icon customization options, Spotlight gets a major redesign with actions and iPhone search functionality, a clipboard history manager comes to Spotlight, Live Activites from iPhone can display on Mac, Journal app for Mac, Phone app for Mac with the ability to check voicemails and make phone calls, Apple Intelligence improvements, and more.

Let’s get to it so you can download, install, and run the MacOS Tahoe 26 public beta on your Mac.

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Amazon is continuing to offer incredible deal prices on the M4 MacBook Air series, with the 15″ model beginning at just $999 (down from $1199 retail) and the 13″ model starting at just $799 (down from $999 retail). But that’s not where the deals end, and they’re offering the same $200 discount across the board on all other M4 MacBook Air configurations too, so whether you want the base model, upgraded storage, or upgraded RAM, you’ll find a fantastic deal available right now. The M4 MacBook Air features fantastic all-day battery life, the powerful M4 chip with Apple Intelligence support, Center Stage front FaceTime camera, a backlit keyboard, MagSafe charging, dual-display support, and much more. These might back-to-school sales but they’re available to all, and it’s unclear how long they’ll last, so grab one while they’re hot!

15″ M4 MacBook Air

• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 256GB for $999 (MSRP: $1,199)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 512GB for $1,199 (MSRP: $1,399)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 24GB / 512GB for $1,399 (MSRP: $1,599)

13″ M4 MacBook Air

• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 256GB for $799 (MSRP: $999)
• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 512GB for $999 (MSRP: $1,199)
• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 24GB / 512GB for $1,199 (MSRP: $1,399)

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MacOS Sonoma and MacOS Ventura users will find security centric software updates available for their Macs, versioned as MacOS Sonoma 14.7.7 and MacOS Ventura 13.7.7. Additionally, Safari 18.6 is available for these versions of MacOS.

These updates come along with macOS Sequoia 15.6 for Macs running Sequoia, and iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6 for iPhone and iPad, respectively. There are also updates available for older iPad as iPadOS 17.7.7, watchOS 11.6 for Apple Watch, tvOS 18.6 for Apple TV, and an update to Apple Vision Pro and HomePod.

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Apple has released iOS 18.6 for iPhone, and iPadOS 18.6 for iPad. The updates include bug fixes and security enhancements, and address an issue with Photos app where the Memory Movies were not able to be shared in some situations. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.9 with security fixes for select iPad models.

Additionally, MacOS Sequoia 15.6, MacOS Ventura 13.7.7, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, audioOS/homeOS, and visionOS updates are also available for other Apple devices.

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Apple has released macOS Sequoia 15.6 as a software update for Mac users. The primary focus of MacOS Sequoia 15.6 is bug fixes and security updates, and no major changes or features are expected.

Aside from MacOS Sequoia 15.6, Apple has also released macOS Ventura 13.7.7 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.7 as security updates for those versions of MacOS.

Separately for other Apple devices, Apple has also released iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, watchOS 11.6, and tvOS 18.6.

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Apple has officially launched the Public Beta versions of iOS 26 for iPhone and iPadOS 26 for iPad. These public betas give everyday users early access to the latest features Apple is working on, without having to use the developer beta testing channel.

If you’re a tech-savvy user who likes getting direct experience with new system software before it’s finalized, the public beta program is a great opportunity. You’ll be able to try out new features like the shiny Liquid Glass interface, customizable app icons, the revamped Phone app, a redesigned Lock Screen, the new Games app, and plenty more small changes and improvements throughout iOS/iPadOS 26.

If you’re ready to explore iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS Tahoe 26 early, you can enroll your device in the Apple Beta Software Program and start testing today.

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Amazon is offering all time low prices on the M4 MacBook Air series, taking $200 off each model in both 13″ and 15″ display sizes. You’ll find the M4 MacBook Air 13″ for just $799 for the 16GB/256GB base model while the 15″ base model is just $999. These deal prices are available in each configuration and screen size, so check otu the deals and save $200 on an M4 MacBook Air.

• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 256GB for $799 (MSRP: $999)
• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 512GB for $999 (MSRP: $1,199)
• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 24GB / 512GB for $1,199 (MSRP: $1,399)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 256GB for $999 (MSRP: $1,199)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 512GB for $1,199 (MSRP: $1,399)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 24GB / 512GB for $1,399 (MSRP: $1,599)

FTC: OSXDaily is an affiliate partner with Amazon, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment which goes towards keeping the site running.

Many people enjoy ambient background sounds of nature while working, studying, cooking, projects, meditating, focusing, amongst many other activities, and if you’re in that camp you’ll likely appreciate a fun little site called tree.fm.

The tree.fm site allows you to listen to sounds of forests from around the world, and you can skip and shuffle around to different locations with just a click. People around the world have recorded these sounds, and in some cases included a picture themselves, allowing anyone to tune in and hear what a lovely forest in Germany, Borneo, Ecuador, Alberta, upstate New York, or just about anywhere else around the world.

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Apple has started the MacOS Tahoe 26 Public Beta program, available for all interested users to explore. The first MacOS Tahoe 26 public beta build arrives a few days after the release of developer beta 4, which was also updated today with a new build number that matches the freshly released public beta.

Separately, iOS 26 public beta is also available, along with public betas for iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.

MacOS Tahoe 26 includes a redesigned interface appearance called Liquid Glass that adds shininess and translunency everywhere, plus some interesting new features like the inclusion of actions into Spotlight, Spotlight can search the iPhone from MacOS, clipboard manager, live activities from iPhone on the Mac, Apple Intelligence enhancements, Phone app for Mac, Journal app for Mac, and various other smaller changes and features.

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Apple has started the Public Beta testing programs for iOS 26 for iPhone, and iPadOS 26 for iPad, along with the public beta for MacOS Tahoe 26.

The public beta program is intended for curious advanced users who are more casual than developers, but who still want to test out and experience the beta operating systems as they’re being worked on.

You’ll have full access to all the new beta features, including the Liquid Glass interface and icon customization options, revisions and improvements to Phone app, the new Lock Screen look, Games app, Messages backgrounds, and much more.

The release of the first public betas typically means there will be renewed interest in running the beta system software for many curious users who typically shy away from the developer betas, and instead wait for the bit more refined public beta releases. Public betas typically have the same build number as the most recent developer beta, but because they’re released a little afterwards, there’s time for developers to first discover any major dealbreaker bugs before they land on public beta test devices.

A separate update to the 4th dev beta has been released as well to match the new build 23A5297m of the first public beta.

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Apple has released the fourth beta version of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 for iPhone and iPad, respectively. The latest beta build is available to download and install as a software update for users who are actively enrolled in the Apple Developer beta testing program. Beta system software is generally only appropriate for advanced users to install onto secondary devices, but nonetheless it’s easy to install the iOS 26 beta right now or iPadOS 26 beta right now if you’re adventurous.

The iOS 26 public beta testing program is set to begin in the near future, and it’s possible the iOS 26 dev beta 4 build will match the iOS 26 public beta 1 release build, though that remains to be seen.

iOS 26 features a redesigned new interface appearance called Liquid Glass which is heavy on translucency and shininess, plus there are some new features like adding background wallpapers to Messages app, polls in Messages group chats, new features in Phone app, improvements to CarPlay, a new ringtone, new wallpaper, new Shortcuts capabilities, improvements to Apple Intelligence, and more. Meanwhile on the iPad side of things, iPadOS 26 introduces all the same iPhone iOS 26 features plus a new windowing and multitasking system, the inclusion of Preview app, and a variety of other little changes.

Separately, macOS Tahoe 26 beta 4, watchOS 26 beta 4, tvOS 26 beta 4, and visionOS 26 beta 4, are also available for beta testing.

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Apple has issued macOS Tahoe 26 beta 4 to users enrolled in the Apple Developer beta testing program for system software. The public beta is not yet available, but it’s said that an accompanying public beta for Tahoe 26 will arrive soon.

MacOS Tahoe 26 features a redesigned user interface appearance called Liquid Glass that makes everything look more shiny and transparent, while including features like icon and folder customizations in Finder, a clipboard manager in Spotlight along with other Spotlight changes and features, the removal of LaunchPad, Live Activites from iPhone on Mac, the inclusion of Phone app, Journal app arrives on Mac, and other various small features and improvements.

Beta system software is aimed at advanced users, but any curious adventurous Mac user can install MacOS Tahoe 26 beta right now if they want to onto a compatible Mac. If you’d like a safer way to test out the beta, you can run MacOS Tahoe 26 beta in a virtual machine with UTM, tart, or your virtualization app of choice, which allows you to run Tahoe beta as a sandboxed app without impacting your primary stable MacOS operating system. Whether you wish to run the Tahoe beta as your primary OS or as a virtual machine, you’ll still need to meet the system requirements for Tahoe, which generally speaking run best on any Apple Silicon Mac, though a few Intel machines are still supported.

Aside from MacOS Tahoe beta 4, you can also find iOS 26 beta 4, ipadOS 26 beta 4, watchOS 26 beta 4, tvOS 26 beta 4, and visionOS 26 beta 4.

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Apple has issued a Release Candidate (RC) build of iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and MacOS Sequoia 15.6, for users who are enrolled in the beta testing programs for current generation system software.

An RC build typically indicates the end of a beta testing cycle, absent the finding of any major critical issue, and can serve as an indicator of when a final release of that system software version is arriving. In this case, if the RC build is available now, it’s a high likelihood the final versions of iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and MacOS Sequoia 15.6, will be released as a final version to all eligible devices in the near future, possibly this week or next.

No major new features or changes are expected in iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, and MacOS Sequoia 15.6, whose beta development are separate from the concurrent beta testing of iOS 26 beta, iPadOS 26 beta, and MacOS Sequoia 26 beta, the latter three of which are where the majority of beta interest from Apple, developers, and end users is focused.

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The M4 iPad Air comes with a 13″ LCD retina display, M3 chip with Apple Intelligence support, 128GB base storage, 12MP front and rear camera, Touch ID, great battery life, support for Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, and is available at great discounts from Amazon in select color options. There’s also $100 off on the 11″ model, which is all the same feature wise, except the smaller screen.

• M3 iPad Air 13″ – $699 (down from $799)
• M3 iPad Air 11″ – $499 (down from $599)

M4 MacBook Air 13″ & 15″- Up to $175 Off

The M4 MacBook Air lineup is availabe at heavy discounts on Amazon again, taking up to $175 off in various configurations. The all new MacBook Air features the M4 chip with Apple Intelligence support, LCD display in 13″ or 15″ size, 12MP camera with Center Stage, Touch ID, backlit keyboard, all-day battery life, dual display support, MagSafe charging, two USB-C ports, and more. You’ll find the best deal, taking $175 off the 15″ MacBook Air 24GB/512GB model, in particular color options, so play around with configurations and colors until you find what suits you.

• M4 MacBook Air 13″ – 16GB / 256GB – $849 (down from $999)
• M4 MacBook Air 13″ – 16GB / 512GB – $1049 (down from $1199)
• M4 MacBook Air 15″ – 16GB / 512GB – $1249 (down from $1399)
• M4 MacBook Air 15″ – 24GB / 512GB – $1425 (down from $1599)

The Playstation 4 remains a wildly popular gaming console, and now if you have a Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine, you can play quite a few Playstation 4 games on a fantastic free PS4 emulator called ShadPS4. So connect a PS4 Controller to your Mac and have at it!

Emulators are so much fun, and one of the best parts of having modern computer hardware is just how well many emulators run nowadays. Now the Playstation 4 is no different, and since shadPS4 is available for every major desktop operating system, it doesn’t matter what system you’re on, you can give it a try yourself.

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Amazon continues to offer fantastic deals on select Apple gear, taking $150 off many MacBook Air models in both 13″ and 15″ display sizes, offering AirPods 4 for just $89 and AirPods Pro 2 for $169, Apple Watch SE from $169 and Apple Watch 10 from $299, and more. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, enjoy the discounts, since there’s no reason to pay more than you have to!

M4 MacBook Air – $849 (down from $999)

Amazon is offering M4 MacBook Air 13″ for just $849 for the 16GB/256GB base model in various color options, and there are various other configurations and screen sizes available at the $150 discount too.

• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 256GB for $849 (MSRP: $999)
• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 512GB for $1,099 (MSRP: $1,199)
• 13″ M4 MacBook Air 24GB / 512GB for $1,299 (MSRP: $1,399)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 24GB / 512GB for $1,449 (MSRP: $1,599)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 256GB for $1,099 (MSRP: $1,199)
• 15″ M4 MacBook Air 16GB / 512GB for $1,299 (MSRP: $1,399)

M4 MacBook Pro 14″ for $1399 (down from $1599)

If you want something with more power than the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro is available discounted from Amazon right now as well, in various configuration options. The best deal is on the base model:

• M4 MacBook Pro – 16GB / 512GB for $1399 (down from $1599)

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While MacOS automatically manages the cooling fans on your Mac, there are some particular situations where MacOS is not necessarily the most efficient. Advanced users might find it advantageous to manually control the fan speed of your Apple Silicon Mac, particularly on a MacBook Pro (remember, the newest MacBook Air models do not include a cooling fan at all).

One of the main benefits to manually controlling fan speeds on MacBook Pro models is that you can help to prevent a Mac from overheating in some situations where you know the laptop is prone to overheat, like when used outdoors in the sunlight, even on a mild temperature day. Additionally, some Mac users may want to control their Mac fan speed to run at faster RPM speeds for gaming, LLM usage, or rendering, which could potentially improve the performance of certain apps and games.

Now that we’re in the warm season throughout the northern hemisphere, some Mac users may be taking their MacBook Pro’s outside, but even on a milder 60° day you might find that a MacBook Pro completely overheats if it’s being used in direct sunlight. While there are a variety of tips to help keep a Mac cool in hot weather, one of the most direct methods involves using an app that manually manages the fan speed, allowing you to force the fans to run at full speed right away when in a warmer environment, rather than waiting for the Mac to overheat and then have the fans kick in. The app we’re going to use for this purpose is called Macs Fan Control, and it works for any fan-equipped Mac and Apple Silicon Mac.

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