14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is getting ready for the largest Beta release of a Mac Operating System. 1 million non-developers can download it today and try it on their machines. The new OS brings a redesigned interface and hidden features.
Apple is ready to release the brand new OS X Yosemite as a BETA to a small group. 1 million users who sign up first on this special page will get a chance to download the Operating System for Free and run it to iron out the wrinkles.
Apple specifically says that the Beta is limited and will be used to get feedback from the regular users. OS X Yosemite will not be out until October, so if you sign up today, you can download it soon.
In order to sign up for this, you just need your user ID. When the BETA is ready, you will be emailed a redeemable code that can be used in the App Store. The OS will have a built-in Feedback Assistant application, so you can report bugs or any other problems directly to Apple, as soon as you encounter them.
And encounter them you will, because Apple really means the BETA Tag. This is not an OS ready for public consumption, not a bug-free environment. You will have problems and incompatibilities.
In order to get it, you need to have OS X Mavericks on your Mac. If you are on a previous version of OS X, you can get Mavericks for free from the Mac App Store.
However, Apple recommends that you install the OS X Yosemite Beta on a secondary Mac, or just use a different partition from the one with your OS X Mavericks install. That way you can just boot into the two Operating Systems and be sure that you can always go back to Mavericks. Bear in mind that you may need at least 40GB to properly run the OS and a basic set of applications.
Apple also advises their users to perform a Time Machine Back-up before you install the BETA. The software is still in development and you are exposed to issues. Also, there will be some apps that do not work and some services that are not compatible with the new OS just yet.
If you are running iOS 8 Beta on your iPhone, some of the Continuity features may be affected or just not work at all.
Apple already has a Developer Program in place. They get the same BETA OS Yosemite a little bit earlier than the public release, for testing purposes only.