Apple Releases iOS 8.3 Public Beta

Days after the launch of iOS 8.2, Apple has made a beta version of its mobile operating system available to the general public for the first time.

iOS 8.3 is now available to download to registered members of the ‘Apple Seed’ programme, which has also been used to distribute preview versions of Mac OS.

The latest update to iOS is expected to add support for Wireless CarPlay, an upgraded Emoji keyboard, better voice in Siri and a simpler log-in for Google services.

iOS 8.3 beta

Apple has never made iOS available as a public beta before, instead preferring to test new versions with its developer community. But the company has been encouraged by the success of the Mac OS X Yosemite beta and is keen to avoid the problems that afflicted the launch of iOS 8 by expanded the number of testers.

iOS 8 was released last September without the highly-publicised Health app due to problems with the Healthkit developer framework. Other users complained of cellular problems and a loss of TouchID functionality, with a number of updates released shortly after the launch to fix a myriad of problems.

A public beta would also do much to reduce demand for unauthorised sales of beta downloads from developer accounts, a black market Apple wants to clamp down on.

If the initiative is a success then future updates could also be tested by a wider audience. The Cupertino-based company is also reportedly working on iOS 8.4, which is set to add Apple’s long-awaited music streaming service, and will unveil iOS 9 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

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