14 DAY TRIAL // Through its AppleSeed Software Customer Seeding program, Apple is rolling out the latest version of OS X Lion to regular testers, not just developers, in an attempt to iron out any potential bugs ahead of the company’s fall multi-software-release, which includes iCloud, iOS 5 and, of course, the unreleased OS X 10.7.2.
A program where customers are invited to test pre-release software, Apple Software Customer Seeding has the main goal of providing Apple Software Engineering with real-world quality and usability feedback.
The program gives testers a first glimpse at new and upcoming Apple software. What testers submit as feedback is then used by the Cupertino tech giant to make improvements.
An ‘OS X Lion Software Update Invitation’ has now been sent to select Apple customers, these people report, with the company saying “Apple invites you to participate in a software seeding project.”
“Our program, Apple Software Customer Seeding, provides customers with access to pre-release software so that they may explore new features, perform early compatibility testing, and submit feedback to Apple engineers.”
The company adds, “We have selected you, based on a referral and/or prior participation in our program, to assist us in testing an upcoming release of an OS X Lion Software Update.”
Selected testers will be required to have a Macintosh computer that already runs OS X Lion, either the initial version (10.7 build 11A511) or the incremented version (10.7.1 build 11B26).
Testers are not only given the opportunity to download OS X 10.7.2, but they’re also provided with the necessary directions to install and properly test out the software.
It is important to note that if you’ve been selected as a tester, your use of this pre-release software is strictly confidential.
According to the company formerly run by Steve Jobs, “all potential participants are required to sign a Customer Seed And Confidentiality Agreement before being accepted into the program.”