Apple releases iOS 6 beta 4 to developers

Apple has just released iOS 6 beta 4 (10A5376e) for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad to developers. iOS 6 beta 4 is currently available to paid developers via Apple's developer portal, developer.apple.com and as an over-the-air (OTA) software update via Settings, General, Software Update on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

iOS 6 was introduced at WWDC 2012 on Monday, June 11. Beta 2 was released on two weeks later on Monday, June 25. Beta 3 was released three week later on Monday, July 16. Now, Beta 4 has followed 3 weeks after that. While slightly longer between releases, iOS 6 is sticking to a more regular, Monday schedule than last year.

We previous looked at how many betas there might be for iOS 6, using past release schedules as checkpoints, and how iOS 6's flagship features compare to those of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Windows Phone 8, and Blackberry 10.

If reports of a September 12, 2012 Apple special event are accurate, that will likely be the date for an iOS 6 Gold Master (GM) seed for developers, with general public release following on or around September 19, shortly before the new iPhone 5 launch rumored for September 21.

Thanks Ronald!

Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.