Apple launches iOS 8.3 public beta

Apple urges beta testers to back up their iOS device using iTunes, and reminds them that beta software should not be installed on mission-critical devices. As with the OS X betas, a Feedback Assistant app will allow testers to report problems directly to Apple.

The company has also provided new instructions for iOS testers to restore a shipping version of iOS to their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch before the final release of iOS 8.3. To do so, testers must first erase their device, then re-install the latest shipping version — in this case, iOS 8.2 —  before restoring their iTunes backup.

The release comes alongside a rebranding of the initiative to the "Apple Beta Software Program," eschewing the OS X-specific language it previously employed. The iOS portion of the program is still in the midst of a staged rollout, so testers who do not see it on their dashboard are advised to check back later.

The number of known issues in iOS 8 has dwindled as the software nears release. Thursday's version includes just a few low-priority problems, including trouble with outgoing telephone or FaceTime calls on CarPlay, issues with third-party keyboards and Spotlight, and an image animation problem in WatchKit.