Apple is expanding its beta testing of iOS 8.3 and issuing invites to developers and non-developers to get involved.
However, the iPhone maker stopped short of making it a completely public and wide-open dabbling ground for involvement.
"For the first time ever, we are broadening the program to include the all-new iOS Beta," the invitation stated. "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 invite arrived less than a week after Apple released the latest iteration of its mobile OS: the iOS 8.2. That release is becoming a hot topic of debate, given that Apple included a Watch app that can't be deleted from the update, which had been initially described as an optional element during the Watch launch event last Monday. The OS version also offers up a slew of bug fixes and security enhancements.
The iOS 8.3 beta testing news comes about a month after Apple announced it would be launching a public beta program. The fact that it is not truly public is igniting some unhappy feedback from Apple developers and fans. Those who may have signed up earlier are not necessarily going to be included in the beta testing effort, one report claimed.
"This is not a public iOS 8.3 beta. This is an invitation-only beta being drawn from the public AppleSeed program pool," stated one reader regarding the announcement.
In July 2014, Apply established a public beta for OS X and at the time up to 1 million developers were provided the opportunity to play with Yosemite (OS x 10.10) before it was released.
The goal of any beta testing effort is to find bugs easily and quickly, and fix those glitches and issues before a public software release.
For those with beta testing invites, if chosen to participate, Apple will be providing insight on how to install a config profile for an iOS device.
The invite was sent by email on Thursday, March 12. According to Apple, the iOS 8.3 beta features a revamped emoji keyboard, better stability, additional language support as well as advanced message filtration features.
