For the first time in Apple’s history, earlier this year they released a public beta of their upcoming OS X update. Named Yosemite, it brings a brand new look to OS X, taking a lot of design cues from iOS. On Thursday, Apple released the second version of this public beta to testers.

Over the past month, Apple has released two developer updates to Yosemite. This second public beta brings the public version up to date with what developer’s are currently using. OS X Yosemite Beta 6 was released to developers earlier in the week. It brought several small user interface changes, and the usual amount of bug fixes. The first public beta, which was brought out about a month ago; Apple said it planned to allow 1 million people to sign up for the beta.

What’s New?

If you’ve been using the public beta, there are several new things you’ll find in beta 2. You’ll find small tweaks of the UI all over the place. Apple has spent the last month making sure every corner of the OS X user interface receives a make over in order to make it fit in with the rest of the operating system. 

You should also notice that this beta feels much more finished than the previous beta. Over the last month, Apple has fixed innumerable bugs and flaws, and has brought the OS closer to what we’ll see when the finished version hits Macs this fall. 

Apple seems to be pushing the developer betas faster than the public version. It’s possible that they are doing this in order to prevent major bugs for people who aren’t accustom to using beta software. 

iTunes

The second public beta also includes the latest version of iTunes 12. iTunes 12 includes a brand new interface to fit in with the rest of OS X Yosemite, as well as new features for creating and managing playlists, and easier library management. 

This second version of the iTunes beta fixes several bugs, and further refines the user interface. 

Where to Get It

If you have the first public beta installed on your machine now, upgrading to the second version is as simple as opening the Mac App Store and going to the Update tab. There you’ll find an update, that when downloaded will update you to public beta 2, and will also install the latest version of the iTunes 12 beta.

If you have yet to sign up for the OS X Yosemite public beta, it appears (as of publication), that Apple is still accepting participants into the program. You can go the sign up page here. How long this will remain open is unknown, as again, Apple has stated that only 1 million people will get in. 

For the fourth straight year, Apple is releasing a major update to its desktop operating system, OS X. This year the release is named Yosemite, continuing Apple’s new naming scheme based on California landmarks (last year’s update was labeled Mavericks after a California surfing hotspot).

OS X Yosemite may be one of the largest updates to the Mac OS since OS X was released in 2000, at least in terms of visual changes. Last year Apple released iOS 7 which brought a completely new design to the mobile OS; this year a lot of that same design has been implemented on the desktop. What’s new in OS X 10.10 Yosemite?

Redesigned Interface

The most major change in OS X Yosemite comes from the visual changes. The design is now much more iOS-like, taking the flat and translucent design from its mobile sibling. New icons adorn the classic Mac Dock; while a new dark option gives users the ability to make OS X a little less bright. 

The main theme of the new interface is translucency. The dock, the menu bar, and the title bars of all the apps are now translucent, allowing the user to see “underneath” the app. Apple says this gives users the ability to sense depth in their applications. 

Outside of the main interface, you’ll notice a redesigned Notification Center, which can now be equipped with third party widgets.

Updated Apple Apps

In addition to the main interface, all of Apple’s pre-installed applications have been updated to fit with the new look and feel of OS X Yosemite. For example the Mail app has a new look as well as some new features like in-message markup. Messages received the biggest update; it has a new look as well as allowing users to group message using iMessage. 

Continuity

For people who have both a Mac and an iOS device, Apple has created a new service called Continuity. Continuity allows users to start doing one thing on their Mac (or iPhone) and continue doing it on their other device. For example, if you start browsing the web on your Mac, you can then pick up your iPad and continue browsing the same page there. 

This is accomplished with a new icon that will pop up on both devices when Continuity is available. In the example above, a Safari icon would appear on the lockscreen. 

Continuity also allows users who own an iPhone to take calls and send SMS messages on their Mac. 

Swift

Swift isn’t something that most users of the Mac will care about. It’s a new programming language that will allow developers to code Apple applications with less code and less experience. From an end-user experience, this should mean faster applications. 

Bottom Line

These are just the major updates to OS X Yosemite, there are many more under the hood. One of the biggest changes Apple has made is that it is allowing 1 million people to try the software before it is officially released in the fall with their Public Preview. This is a major change for Apple, which usually keeps its beta software under lock and key until it is polished enough for public consumption.