Apple AAPL +1.78% is now inviting users to test iOS software updates before public releases, starting with the third beta of iOS 8.3. To download iOS 8.3, you will have to register your account as a software tester at the Apple Seed website. Not everyone will see the iOS beta program now because it seems to be rolling out to the users that were part of the ”OS X Beta Program” first.
If you have been invited to the iOS beta program, you will be asked to back up your iPhone to iTunes and log in with your Apple ID. After that, you will have to opt in for the iOS beta program and download a configuration profile. iOS 8.3 beta will appear as a software update in the Settings app after downloading the configuration profile.
If you have been invited to the iOS beta program, you will be asked to back up your iPhone to iTunes and log in with your Apple ID. After that, you will have to opt in for the iOS beta program and download a configuration profile. iOS 8.3 beta will appear as a software update in the Settings app after downloading the configuration profile.
The public release date of iOS 8.3 is unknown, but it may be a while because Apple released iOS 8.2 three days ago. If you encounter any issues while using iOS 8.3 beta, then you will be able to restore your device using a saved iTunes backup and you should file a report in the Feedback Assistant app.
Apple launched the “OS X Beta Program” about a year ago, but now it is known as the “Apple AAPL +1.78% Beta Software Program” since iOS has been added. “The feedback we have received on the OS X Yosemite Beta continues to help us shape OS X, and now the iOS 8.3 Beta is available for download,” states Apple’s Beta Software Program website.
When the public version of iOS 8.3 is released, it will have performance improvements, bug fixes, racially diverse emoji, Google's GOOGL +1% 2-step verification, Apple Pay integration for China UnionPay, support for the CarPlay platform and new languages for Siri. The languages that Siri will support in iOS 8.3 are English (India, New Zealand), Danish (Denmark), Dutch (Netherlands), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian (Russia), Swedish (Sweden), Thai (Thailand) and Turkish (Turkey). The Messages app in iOS 8.3 will have a feature called “Conversation List Filtering.” Through this feature, you will be able to filter spam messages and separate messages from your actual contacts. iOS 8.3 also includes the Apple Watch app that was introduced in iOS 8.2.
Apple’s addition of iOS to the Beta Software program does not come as a surprise. Last month, sources with Apple news website 9to5Mac revealed that iOS 8.3 will be added to the Beta Software program in March followed by iOS 9 this summer.
By offering beta versions of iOS to non-developer testers, Apple will be able to fix more bugs before shipping the final versions. It will also curb a ”gray market” issue where people sign up for developer accounts and sell early access, according to TechCrunch. The cost of an Apple iOS developer account is $99 per year.
Do you have access to the iOS Beta Software Program? Please let us know what you think about Apple giving access to betas of iOS to the public in the comments section below!
Apple launched the “OS X Beta Program” about a year ago, but now it is known as the “Apple AAPL +1.78% Beta Software Program” since iOS has been added. “The feedback we have received on the OS X Yosemite Beta continues to help us shape OS X, and now the iOS 8.3 Beta is available for download,” states Apple’s Beta Software Program website.
When the public version of iOS 8.3 is released, it will have performance improvements, bug fixes, racially diverse emoji, Google's GOOGL +1% 2-step verification, Apple Pay integration for China UnionPay, support for the CarPlay platform and new languages for Siri. The languages that Siri will support in iOS 8.3 are English (India, New Zealand), Danish (Denmark), Dutch (Netherlands), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian (Russia), Swedish (Sweden), Thai (Thailand) and Turkish (Turkey). The Messages app in iOS 8.3 will have a feature called “Conversation List Filtering.” Through this feature, you will be able to filter spam messages and separate messages from your actual contacts. iOS 8.3 also includes the Apple Watch app that was introduced in iOS 8.2.
Apple’s addition of iOS to the Beta Software program does not come as a surprise. Last month, sources with Apple news website 9to5Mac revealed that iOS 8.3 will be added to the Beta Software program in March followed by iOS 9 this summer.
By offering beta versions of iOS to non-developer testers, Apple will be able to fix more bugs before shipping the final versions. It will also curb a ”gray market” issue where people sign up for developer accounts and sell early access, according to TechCrunch. The cost of an Apple iOS developer account is $99 per year.
Do you have access to the iOS Beta Software Program? Please let us know what you think about Apple giving access to betas of iOS to the public in the comments section below!
