Apple Releases iOS 11 Developer Beta 8 and Public Beta 7

Apple on Monday seeded the eighth beta version of iOS 11 to registered developers for testing purposes, just one week after releasing beta 7. In addition to the developer beta, Apple today has also released the corresponding iOS 11 beta 7 to public beta testers. iOS 11 beta 8 seems to be a relatively minor update, clocking in at just over 60 megabytes.

Changes Made in iOS 11 Beta 8

• New splash page for the native Home app.
• Reintroduction of developer ads in App Store searches.
• Bug fixes.
• Performance enhancements, and various other under-the-hood changes.

iOS 11 itself is a major update and introduces a wide range of changes and features including subtle UI tweaks, a new customizable Control Center and a new Lock screen, peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments in Messages, and a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature. It will also mark the launch of ARKit, a powerful development toolset that’ll turn Apple’s mobile OS into the largest augmented reality platform in the world.

For iPad users, iOS 11 will also introduce a number of enhancements like a dedicated file management app, a new Dock with improved multitasking, system-wide drag-and-drop, and a revamped App Switcher. Those features will make the iPad platform much closer in functionality to a full-fledged personal computer.

How to Download iOS 11 Dev Beta 8 / Public Beta 7

iOS 11 beta 8 is currently available as an over-the-air update for registered developers, provided that the proper configuration profile is installed on the device. It’s also available from the Apple Developer Center. In addition, iOS 11 beta 7 is available to members of Apple’s public beta software program. If you haven’t signed up already, you can do so here.

The new software is expected to be released to the public early next month after Apple’s fall announcement event. That keynote is rumored to take place on Sept. 12, meaning that we might be a little less than a couple weeks from the OS’s launch.