Apple Releases Third macOS Tahoe 26.2 Public Beta

[MacRumors]

Apple today provided public beta testers with the third beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the beta to developers.

After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app.

macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 2 adds an Edge Light feature for video calls. Edge Light provides a light border around the edges of the Mac's display, mimicking the look of a physical ring light to improve lighting in darkened rooms.

Edge Light uses the Neural Engine for positioning, so it is optimally placed around your face in the video frame. Light color can be adjusted from warm to cool, and the feature is available in video conferencing apps alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, and Voice Isolation. It is available on Macs that support Apple silicon.

The macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta is limited to developers and public beta testers right now, but it won't be a long testing period. We'll likely see Apple release the update right around mid-December given past launch timelines.

Article Link: Apple Releases Third macOS Tahoe 26.2 Public Beta

 

[SwampYankee0!]

It seems Apples software development cycle is back to normal. IOS 26.0 was more like a beta then an actual polished release. IOS 26.1 looked like what should have been the October release. IOS 26.1 was solid. The IOS 26.2 beta releases are solid. Stable, new feature, quick cycle, few bugs. No longer scared to download user betas.

 

[omarjanak]

These Betas are good and solid but I am really waiting to get the major features.

 

[SwampYankee0!]

These Betas are good and solid but I am really waiting to get the major features.

AI? I can't imagine what it might offer. AI seems to be able to do all the stuff I like doing and none of the stuff I don't want to do. Call me when AI can get the laundry, bring it downstairs, wash it, dry it, fold it, sort it and put it away. Oh, and I need AI to scoop the cat pan.

 

[PalacePlayers]

I have a favor to ask a kind soul who’s on this beta: does blueetooth game controllers finally work with the Games app? As in can you maneuver the Games app with a controller?

 

[tedson]

Have they fixed the "Reduce transparency" bug where the setting is ignored in various apps, — the Mail Toolbar for instance?

 

[bxs]

Somewhat OT, but will the AirPort Utility survive beyond end of Tahoe releases. TM spits out warnings about the use of Time Capsule disks at this time. Can only use the Time Capsule for TM backups if it has an existing TM backup on it already, otherwise it's a No-Go.

The Time Capsule has other uses beyond servicing TM, such as external USB disk, Printer(s), ethernet switching, and will communicate with the AirPort Express boxes for extending the Time Capsules Wi-Fi network. For this the AirPort Utility is still a useful thing to have at hand.

 

[star-affinity]

I wonder if customized folder icons (the new feature in Tahoe) now shows up if one place the folder in the Dock? I just get the plain folder showing in the dock and not the icon I've chosen to use which is seen fine on the folder in the Finder.

Also wonder if the app switcher has been getting some love. Here's a video on how it looks for me on the built-in MacBook display.

Firstly, the alignment of the text for Activity Monitor there on the left side of the app switcher is misaligned. This seem to happen when there are a lot of apps running and the Dock gets ”full”. Don't remember it behaving like that in previous macOS versions. Second, the outline behind the app icons when one jumps around between them is very vague:

Here is how the app switcher looks on my external display – much more clear outline behind each app when switching to it:

 

[DaveMcM76]

Somewhat OT, but will the AirPort Utility survive beyond end of Tahoe releases. TM spits out warnings about the use of Time Capsule disks at this time. Can only use the Time Capsule for TM backups if it has an existing TM backup on it already, otherwise it's a No-Go.

The Time Capsule has other uses beyond servicing TM, such as external USB disk, Printer(s), ethernet switching, and will communicate with the AirPort Express boxes for extending the Time Capsules Wi-Fi network. For this the AirPort Utility is still a useful thing to have at hand.

I suspect the issue isn’t so much the disk itself as the network protocol. Apple appear to be phasing out the AFP network protocol - much like SMB 1 was already phased out - in favour of modern more secure versions of SMB, and I believe the Time Capsules only support AFP.

 

[bxs]

I suspect the issue isn’t so much the disk itself as the network protocol. Apple appear to be phasing out the AFP network protocol - much like SMB 1 was already phased out - in favour of modern more secure versions of SMB, and I believe the Time Capsules only support AFP.

Thanks.... that makes sense.👍