What is the Early Adopters Program for Macs?
Macs enrolled in the Early Adopters Program have an opportunity to give their input by sharing their professional and personal opinions on new features and functionality prior to a full-scale release.
An early adopters program is beneficial for ITS as it allows a select group of users to test new updates, features, or system changes before a full-scale rollout. This approach provides valuable feedback on performance, usability, and potential issues, enabling ITS to make necessary adjustments and improvements based on real user experiences. Additionally, it helps in gathering insights on user preferences and needs, guiding the direction of future developments and ensuring a smoother transition for the broader campus.
Currently Deployed Early Adopter Features
Early Availability of macOS Upgrades
- What is it?
- macOS Upgrades are deferred between 30-90 days to allow time for ITS to test the new OS for compatibility.
- What is changing?
- macOS Upgrades will be allowed to install the latest macOS upgrade after a 7 day deferral rather than the full 30-90 days.
- Feedback Needed
- General feedback on usability.
- Are there any applications that are not compatible with the latest macOS version.
- What is it?
Coming Soon...
- Early rollout of Self Service+ app
- What is it?
- A new version of Self Service app on Macs with a redesign, better performance, and additional functionality.
- What is changing?
- Self Service+ will be installed for testing.
- Self Service+ will be installed for testing.
- What is it?
- Pilot Migration for App State MDM Server
- What is it?
- App State uses Jamf Pro for managing University-owned Apple devices. This allows IT to deploy software and configure compliance settings.
- What is changing?
- All managed Apple devices will need to follow prompts on a migration assistant to enroll into an upgraded server.
- What is it?
Submitting Feedback for the Mac Early Adopters Program
The feedback you provide will help ITS at App State correct any potential issues or even determine if a trial feature will be implemented. Follow the instructions below to submit feedback:
- First, read the currently deployed updates/features above to know what is changing and what kind of feedback is needed for ITS.
- Launch Self Service from the Applications folder on your Mac.
- In the sidebar of Self Service, navigate to Browse > Bookmarks.
- Click Open under Submit Feedback for Early Adopters Program.
Note:
If you don't see Submit Feedback for Early Adopters Program under bookmarks, try quitting and relaunching Self Service. If you still don't see it, your Mac may not have the Early Adopters Program enabled, follow the steps below to enable the Early Adopters Program on your Mac.
- This will open an App State support request with the summary pre-filled. Continue filling out the description with your feedback and then submit the request.
How to Enable the Early Adopters Program on your Mac
- Launch Self Service from the Applications folder on your Mac.
- In the sidebar of Self Service, navigate to Browse > ASU-Utilities.
- Click on the Early Adopters Feedback icon.
- Read the description and, if you agree, click the Enable button.
WARNING:
By enabling, you are agreeing for your Mac to install additional early release software and/or configuration settings. You agree to test and provide feedback of these pilot features as part of the Early Adopter Program. After enabling, some software and/or configuration settings may install immediately and others could take a little longer. Some features, such as newer software versions, will NOT automatically downgrade if you disable the Early Adopters Program at a later date.
Don't worry, IT Support is here to help. If you run into any issues with the Early Adopters Program you can Submit a Service Request.
- You will receive a notification confirming your Mac has enabled the Early Adopter Program.
How to Disable the Early Adopters Program on your Mac
- Launch Self Service from the Applications folder on your Mac.
- In the sidebar of Self Service, navigate to Browse > ASU-Utilities.
- Click the Disable button.
- You will receive a notification confirming your Mac has disabled the Early Adopter Program.
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