Apple today seeded the second beta of macOS Ventura 13.1 to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to try out the new features ahead of the software’s release. The public beta comes two weeks after Apple released the first public beta.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13.1 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple’s beta software website.

‌macOS Ventura‌ 13.1 introduces the Freeform app, which Apple has designed for creative collaboration. The app can be used for brainstorming, planning out ideas, jotting down notes, and more. Users can insert drawings, sticky notes, shapes, text boxes, photos, videos, PDFs, links, and other documents, with Freeform serving as a blank canvas.

Freeform “boards” can be shared with other people and discussed over FaceTime, with updates from all participants synced to everyone in real-time.

The update also introduces support for an updated Home app architecture that improves performance for smart home devices.

Popular Stories

Apple Preparing iOS 16.1.1 as Widespread Wi-Fi Bug Persists

Apple is preparing an iOS 16.1.1 update for the Iphone to address bugs and issues experienced by users following the first major update to the iOS 16 operating system two weeks ago, including a persistent Wi-Fi bug that’s been annoying iPhone customers. MacRumors in the past week has seen signs of devices running iOS 16.1.1 in our website analytics, indicating the update is under testing…

8 Features Rumored for the iPhone 15 Coming in 2023

There’s almost a year to go until we get new iPhone 15 models in September 2023, but we’ve been hearing rumors for months now. It’s looking like the iPhone 15 models could get more notable updates than we saw for the iPhone 14, including features many iPhone users have wanted for years. We’ve rounded up some of the best features coming to the iPhone 15 that we’ve heard so far so MacRumors…

Deals: Amazon Introduces Massive Discounts on 2021 MacBook Pros, Save Up to $499

It’s been a few weeks since we tracked deals on every model of the 2021 MacBook Pro, but today Amazon is providing just that, with a new all-time low price on one 14-inch model. In total, these deals reach up to $499 off select notebooks, with some of the biggest markdowns to date. 14-inch MacBook Pro Starting with the 8-Core M1 Pro/512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro, this model is available for $1,599…

Deals: Walmart Kicks Off Early Black Friday ‘Deals For Days’ Sale With Sitewide Discounts

We’re still a few weeks away from Black Friday, but of course that isn’t stopping numerous retailers from holding early Black Friday sales ahead of the shopping holiday. Walmart is one of the first major ones to introduce such a sale this week, with the first leg of its “Deals For Days” event kicking off today. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and…

Apple Issues Takedown Order for Popular YouTube Channel That Archived WWDC Keynotes

Apple has issued multiple takedown orders for a popular YouTube channel amongst Apple fans that archived past WWDC keynotes. The channel owner, Brendan Shanks, shared the news on Twitter alongside screenshots from YouTube with notices of the DMCA takedown orders. The channel, “Apple WWDC Videos,” contained hundreds of videos of past WWDC keynotes and is now disabled after it received three…

Gurman: Apple Working On Revamped Siri Experience That Doesn’t Require ‘Hey Siri’ Trigger Phrase

Apple is working on an updated Siri experience that moves away from the trigger phrase “Hey Siri” currently required to invoke the digital voice assistant hands-free, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that Apple is working on a way for Siri to be able to understand phrases and commands without the need to use the “Hey Siri” trigger phrase but…

Apple Issues iPhone 14 Pro Shipment Warning Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season

Apple today said it expects iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments to be lower than the company previously anticipated due to temporary COVID-19 restrictions at the primary Foxconn factory where the devices are assembled in Zhengzhou, China. The warning was shared in a press release on the Apple Newsroom site:COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro…

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2

Apple today debuted a new firmware update for the second-generation AirPods Pro, marking the second update that the earbuds have received since their fall launch. The existing 5A377 firmware has been updated to version 5B58. There is no word on what features might be included in the refreshed firmware, so we don’t know what’s new. Apple also does not provide instructions on how to upgrade …