.webp "Apple releases first watchOS 10.4 and macOS 14.4 developer betas")
macOS 14.4 and watchOS 10.4: First beta versions released
iOS 17.4 is the first operating system version that allows users to install app stores from other manufacturers. A few days ago, Apple released the first preliminary versions of iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and tvOS 17.4 to registered developers. iOS 17.4 brings the necessary programming interfaces to implement alternative app stores. iPadOS 17.4 and tvOS 17.4 do not have such provisions, as Apple was only obliged to implement alternative app stores on the iPhone – but not on the other platforms. Even under iPadOS, nothing changes.
Now also macOS 14.4 and watchOS 10.4
This evening Apple is releasing the first preliminary versions of macOS 14.4 and watchOS 10.4. However, it is still unknown what innovations these versions bring with them. Apple is not obliged by the EU to make any changes on macOS or watchOS – so it can be assumed that Apple will implement hardly any visible innovations in these versions. If any major changes are noticed, we will add this news.
The current beta versions
Finally, as always, a list of the currently available beta versions. You can see directly from the letters at the end of the build number whether it is still an early development phase – the higher the letter, the further away the final version is. In the first beta, you will often still find “f-builds”, but a release candidate before it is ready for the market does not use letters at all.
| system | Build number | Published |
| macOS 14.4 | 23E5180j | January 29, 2024 |
| iOS 17.4 Beta 1 | 21E5184i | 01/25/2024 |
| iPadOS 17.4 Beta 1 | 21E5184i | 01/25/2024 |
| watchOS 10.4 | 21T5185g | January 29, 2024 |
| tvOS 17.4 Beta 1 | 21L5195h | 01/25/2024 |
