Apple has rolled out a new beta of OS X 10.7.2 to developers with a clear indication that this new build is likely to become the final shipping version of Lion’s second software update for end customers.
Listing no changes to the list of focus areas (AddressBook, GraphicsDrivers, iCal, iChat, iCloud, Mac App Store, Mail, MobileMe, Safari, Spotlight, and Time Machine) as well as no known issues, Lion Build 11C62 appears to be final, going by the seed notes.
According to those who are familiar with the build, Apple has posted the following release notes for Mac OS X 10.7.2 (courtesy of MacRumors):
The 10.7.2 update is recommended for all OS X Lion users and includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac. It also includes support for iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that automatically and wirelessly store your content on iCloud and push it to all of your devices. iCloud on OS X Lion includes the following features:
• iCloud stores your email, calendars, contacts, Safari bookmarks, and Safari Reading List and automatically pushes them to all your devices.
• Back to My Mac provides remote access to your Mac from another Mac anywhere on the Internet.
• Find My Mac helps find a missing Mac by locating it on a map and allows you to remotely lock the Mac or wipe all its data.
Getting started with iCloud is easy. After installing the update, OS X will automatically present an iCloud setup panel. Simply enter an existing Apple ID or create a new one and then follow the on screen instructions. To learn more about iCloud visit http://www.apple.com/icloud.
The 10.7.2 update also includes Safari 5.1.1 as well as fixes that:
• Allow reordering of desktop spaces and full screen apps in Mission Control.
• Enable dragging files between desktop spaces and full screen apps.
• Address an issue that causes the menu bar to not appear in full screen apps.
• Improve the compatibility of Google contact syncing in Address Book.
• Address an issue that causes Keynote to become temporarily unresponsive.
• Improve VoiceOver compatibility with Launchpad.
• Address an issue that causes a delay in accessing the network after waking from sleep.
• Enable booting in to Lion Recovery from a locally attached Time Machine backup drive.
• Resolve an issue that causes screen zoom to stop working.
• Improve Active Directory integration.
For detailed information about Safari 5.1.1, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4922.
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4767.
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.
As readers will notice, the Support links included by Apple are not yet functional (save for the one detailing the security content of the update, as that Support document only gets modified, never replaced).
This OS X 10.7.2 beta delivers a new version of Safari (as the seed notes show) and comes with iCloud integration, marking the second time a Lion seed includes Apple’s Internet suite as a built-in component, rather than a separate download.
Developers enrolled with Apple’s programs can access the Mac Dev Center to download the latest Lion beta.
An Apple press event is rumored to go live October 4, when the company will reportedly launch its fifth-generation iPhone, alongside iOS 5 and iCloud (both of which have already been scheduled for launch this fall).
Since the launch of iCloud and iOS 5 is imminent this fall, expect Mac OS X 10.7.2 to drop very soon (especially given the nature of the new seed note format).
