Build 13E16 focuses on graphics, Bluetooth, audio, Finder, App Store, and Safari

Jun 12, 2014 07:09 GMT  ·  By

Apple has officially started distributing betas of the upcoming OS X Mavericks update, as well as two new Safari test builds. As usual, developers are offered a set of focus areas with the encouragement to report bugs in a detailed manner.

A pre-release update to OS X Mavericks 10.9 is being offered to developers this week. OS X Mavericks 10.9.4 Build 13E16 comes with the usual instructions from the mother ship, namely to test on particular areas of interest.

Developers who download the build can do the testing on their own terms, of course, but Apple asks them to focus their efforts around Graphics Drivers, Bluetooth, Audio Drivers, Finder, App Store, and Safari.

“This build is being provided to you for testing and development purposes. Should you encounter any problems, please submit a bug report using the online Bug Reporter at bugreporter.apple.com,” according to the company.

To download the build, you need a paid membership with Apple’s Mac Developer Program and the OS X Software Update Seed Configuration Utility. Those who already have the OS X Software Update Seed Configuration Utility installed can just choose Software Update from the Apple menu or the Mac App Store and get OS X 10.9.4 from there.

To install Mavericks, developers need iMac (Mid-2007 or later), MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008 later), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later), MacBook Pro (15-inch or 17-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later), MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later), Mac mini (Early 2009 or later), Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later), or Xserve (Early 2009).

The Mac also has to be running OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard v10.6.8 at least, and a minimum 2 GB of memory is required for smooth sailing. 8 GB or more disk space is recommended.

In addition to OS X 10.9.4, Apple also started offering betas of Safari 7.0.5 for Mavericks and Safari 6.1.5 for Lion and Mountain Lion. The focus areas here are “general website compatibility” and “extension compatibility.”

On Lion, Safari 6.1.5 requires OS X 10.7.5 with Security Update 2013-002. Mountain Lion testers need OS X 10.8.5. Safari 7.0.5 for OS X Mavericks is included in the latest seed of OS X 10.9.4, so there’s no separate download available.

On the Mac Dev Center, Apple also offers newly-updated OS X Server and Xcode builds, a new version of Configurator and, of course, the OS X 10.10 Yosemite developer preview showcased at WWDC14.