Apple iOS 8.3 public beta released, alongside iOS 8.3 beta 3 for developers

Apple has been making some changes in the way it handles its pre-release software as of late. Last year the company introduced its Apple Seed beta testing program for Mac OS X Yosemite. Starting today, Apple has been renamed the service to Apple Beta Software Program and included an iOS 8.3 beta to anyone who wants to test it.

Apple has also released iOS 8.3 Beta 3 to developers registered in the iOS Developer program. The update comes a week after iOS 8.2 was released to the public with Apple Watch support.

Apple's iOS 8.3 will include a Wireless CarPlay feature, a new Emoji picker, improved login for Google services, an updated voice for Siri, and support for Apple Pay in China. The company is also reportedly working on iOS 8.4 with a new streaming music feature, along with iOS 9.0 which will focus on performance improvements and bug fixes.

The iOS 8.3 beta 3 update comes with the Apple Watch app pre-installed. Apart from that, the Messages app now allows you to report texts with a new ‘Report Junk’ button. Lastly, you can now filter your conversations for specific contacts from everyone else using the new ‘Conversation List Filtering’ feature in Messages.

If you are a paying developer, you will be able to download the update directly on your device by heading to Settings > General > Software Update. You can also download the IPSW file from the Dev Center and manually flash it to you device.

How to install Apple iOS 8.3 public beta

Besides releasing the beta version to paying developers, Apple has also released a beta version of iOS 8.3 to the public for the first time. In order to receive this beta build, you will have to sign up on the Apple Beta Software Program website. While installing beta software is not recommended for general users, you can follow this guide for help installing the iOS 8.3 public beta on your device.

[NOTE] It is not recommended installing this beta on a device you use daily. Consider installing it on an older device you have lying around instead.

1. Backup your iOS device. You can create a backup on iCloud, or create a complete backup on your computer using iTunes.
   -
2. Head over to the Apple Beta Software Program website, and sign up or sign in.
   -
3. Select "Enroll your iOS device to receive beta updates".
   -
   
   
   -
4. Next, download the iOS Beta Configuration Profile specific to your device from here. It is recommended that you visit this link using the iOS device you want to install iOS 8.3 beta on.
   -
   
   
   -
5. On your device, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and you should see the iOS 8.3 beta build. Tap it, and you'll be able to download and install on your device.
   
-

If you have any issues running the iOS 8.3 beta, you can always revert back to the public release of iOS 8.2 instead.