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Apple Launches New iOS Beta Testing Program, Seeds iOS 8.3 to Testers

Thursday March 12, 2015 11:48 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today made a pre-release version of iOS 8.3 available to those who sign up for the company's public beta testing program, giving them early access to a new version of iOS for the first time ever. The version of iOS 8.3 being distributed to beta testers is the third iOS 8.3 beta, which was seeded to developers a few hours ago.

iosbetatestingprogrampublic
The launch of today's iOS beta testing program has also been accompanied by an overhaul to Apple's Appleseed Beta testing site. Previously the language on the site was heavily focused on OS X, but a site revamp gives it a more general focus to encompass both iOS and OS X testing.

iOS 8.3 was first seeded to developers on February 9, while iOS 8.2 was still in testing. iOS 8.2 is mainly focused on the Apple Watch, but thus far, iOS 8.3 has introduced several new features including support for wireless CarPlay connectivity, a new emoji picker, support for Google 2-step verification, and Apple Pay support for the China UnionPay network.

The second beta brought all new diversified emoji and skin tone modifiers, along with new emoji for country flags and updated emoji icons to represent the iPhone, iMac, and Apple Watch. Siri also gained several new languages, including Danish, Dutch, English (India), English (New Zealand), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Swedish, Thai, and Turkish.

Apple introduced its public beta testing program with the launch of OS X Yosemite, allowing more than a million consumers to sign up for and participate in the Yosemite beta. Prior to today, public beta testing was limited to OS X, but Apple appears to be ready to expand its beta testing program to iOS.

Apple has also continued offering OS X betas, most recently seeding OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 with the Photos app to public beta testers.

Update: Apple is now sending out emails to certain members of the OS X public beta program, inviting them to also test out iOS 8.3.
Thank you for participating in the OS X Beta Program. For the first time ever, we are broadening the program to include the all-new iOS Beta. The feedback you have provided on the OS X Yosemite Beta continues to help us shape OS X, and we would like to offer you an invitation to the iOS 8.3 Beta.

The iOS 8.3 Beta is available for download from the new Apple Beta Software Program website. Try it out and submit your feedback. You can use the iOS 8.3 Beta while continuing to use the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 Beta. And with the all-new Photos app for Mac and iCloud Photo Library, you can now access your entire library on all your devices.


Tag: iOS 8.3
[ 297 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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musika
58 months ago
In 2011, I would have been all over this. But in 2015, I just want my stuff to be reliable.

Luckily, better reliability may be a result of more beta testers. But I won't be one of them.
Rating: 24 Votes
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applemax
58 months ago

You're answering for everyone? How sweet.


Don't be an ass.
Rating: 12 Votes
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iPhone20
58 months ago
I signed up for OS X testing but i'm not seeing the beta. Where do we have to sign up?
Rating: 7 Votes
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applemax
58 months ago
Where's the link? There's no button on the Beta Program page for me.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Skylined69
58 months ago
Getting sick of the fact that I've been registered for the Yosemite beta since the day it launched and I've still got no option to join the iOS beta program, yet people who only registered to the program yesterday are getting access WTF Apple ?!?:mad::mad::mad:
Rating: 6 Votes
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unplugme71
58 months ago
seems like everyone who got theirs isn't updating, and everyone who wants to still didn't get an invite.

Well played Apple. Well played.
Rating: 5 Votes
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ryanmcv
58 months ago

I signed up for OS X testing but i'm not seeing the beta. Where do we have to sign up?


Same here. I don't see any option for iOS 8.3 on the AppleSeed website.
Rating: 5 Votes
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TexasChemE
58 months ago

No problem

https://appleseed.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/iosinvite


Hmmm, even when I open that, it redirects me to the OS X one
Rating: 5 Votes
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thatJohann
58 months ago
According to 9 to 5 mac, it's rolling out slowly to everyone so will appear in the next hours. "Note: The program is still rolling out. A link to join the iOS program may not appear immediately upon registration"

According to TechCrunch, you have to be selected to participate in a random manner.

According to the verge, "It's worth nothing that we've so far been unable to access the iOS signup page, so it's unclear if Apple is limiting the beta to randomly selected users; the OS X program was first-come, first-served. Plenty of mentions of iOS are visible in the FAQ section, though. The link to sign up is here. If all you see is information on the OS X Yosemite program, you may be out of luck. We've pinged Apple for comment regarding just how it's handling the iOS beta."

Not sure what the deal is.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
Paddle1
58 months ago

No, it's beta 1 which then updates to beta 3.


Now why would they do that? Please don't try to correct someone with wrong information.
Rating: 4 Votes

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