Apple to Launch Public Beta Testing Programs for iOS 8.3 and iOS 9 [Updated]

[Armen]

Oh great, just what we needed. More new people joining the forums to bash Apple because they don't understand what a "Beta" is.

"I know it's a Beta but.......<insert unrealistic expectations here>".

 

[shandyman]

Apple to Launch Public Beta Testing Programs for iOS 8.3 and iOS 9

Oh great, just what we needed. More new people joining the forums to bash Apple because they don't understand what a "Beta" is.



"I know it's a Beta but.......".

It's probably going to be the same as every year, doubt this is going to increase people coming here, rather that people who frequent the forums will go on the public in place of going on the beta in other means that they had done previously. The only people that are going to be aware of public beta are people that frequent sites like this.

 

[ani4ani]

I want in on this! How does one get picked as a beta tester?!

Buy an Apple product with IOS a 8 on it.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

Not disagreeing at all! But like the Yosemite public beta showed, a lot of people were cursing Apple for releasing something with bugs, saying it broke their laptop, etc. how can Apple do this, blah blah blah... Those are the people that shouldn't be downloading the betas...

Discussing and pointing out the bugs is the whole point of the betas, so that's a very good thing!

Yeah, people definitely do need to understand the danger of betas. I'm actually using 10.10.3 on my MacBook Pro 2012 with Retina display, and it's getting really hot and shutting itself off. A lot. Fortunately, I realize what I've gotten myself into, and I'm just being careful with what I use it for. Meanwhile, I have an iPhone, iPad Air 2, and my 2013 MacBook Air from work so while I wait for an updated beta, I can use my other stuff.

 

[nikicampos]

As I understood it, iOS9 was going to be all about stability and under the hood improvements. If that's true... why would I want the beta? Just fix all the little things and give it to me all shiny and new.

Besides, my jailbreak is sitting pretty. Though that may disappear if I decide to get a new time piece.

And how do you think all the stability and under the hood improvements are done... by testing betas, and what a better way than having maybe a million people to test it.

Wow, talk about complaining about everything.

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I want in on this! How does one get picked as a beta tester?!

My guess is just like the Yosemite Public Beta, in a few months Apple will post a page where you can sign in by email.

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You need to write an email to Tim Cook and explain in 100 words or less why you should be picked. Make sure you don't use big words but spelling and grammar must be correct.

This is the best answer

 

[Armen]

It's probably not going to be the same as every year, doubt this is going to increase people coming here, rather that people who frequent the forums will go on the public in place of going on the beta in other means that they had done previously. The only people that are going to be aware of public beta are people that frequent sites like this.

Every year we have a spike in new members around WWDC announcement and in October.

 

[shandyman]

Every year we have a spike in new members around WWDC announcement and in October.

Yea, so as I said, pretty much the same as every year. No more new people than the usual amount.

 

[ILikeAllOS]

If 8.3 is entering public beta in mid March, does that mean 8.2 should be out sometime between now and mid March?

 

[shandyman]

If 8.3 is entering public beta in mid March, does that mean 8.2 should be out sometime between now and mid March?

Possibly.

 

[manu chao]

I must admit, I never thought they'd do this for iOS, but I'm glad to hear it!

I unfortunately don't have time to test unreliable beta software anymore (though I always enjoyed it), but it makes me excited to think about the bugs that will get ironed out before the official release. Especially the little ones like the menu bar sticking to the top of the photos app, or iPads getting suck in one orientation, or UI lag on new devices.

We of course all hope this, but it doesn't seem that the public betas for Mavericks and Yosemite have lead to a higher quality than the preceding OS releases.

 

[Tech198]

I must admit, I never thought they'd do this for iOS, but I'm glad to hear it!.

YES !! I had it on the back of my neck,, or maybe it may have been an itch.

Does the dance.

https://33.media.tumblr.com/22db529a66f8391576777094f4fc322b/tumblr_n4fjeyaFBV1qcga5ro1_500.gif

Its about time to step up the pace of fixes . It's just like doing your xmas list..

 

[shandyman]

We of course all hope this, but it doesn't seem that the public betas for Mavericks and Yosemite have lead to a higher quality than the preceding OS releases.

You don't know that for sure. The public beta caught some big bugs, but no release is perfect.

 

[PJWilkin]

While I agree that some have this issue; not everyone had it. My girlfriend and her bff have no issue at all on their Yosemite devices.

Also, 2600+ posts when tens of millions of users have a sofware is not conclusive proof that this is pervasive. Seeing as it has been so hard to solve the issue, I'd argue that this is probably a rarer bug than people think. They do have to reproduce these issues, and their various circumstances to actually solve them.

I think the changes they made for continuity is what has messed the network stack for some.

10's of millions of users ?
not everyone who has issues will post, the fact there are issues and the fact apple has named Wifi issues in the last 2 updates means Apple knows there are issues

I don't get all the issues named, I do however see
1) SSID's disappearing randomly, these are visible on Windows and Mavericks
2) Speed Drops when Airdrop is used

I think a lot of the issues relate to the change to Discoveryd

 

[norwaypianoman]

I always felt the first public release of each iOS was basically a public beta anyway. At least they're making it official now.

My point exactly. Public beta will probably get rid of this. Good idea.

 

[Scarpad]

I have enough devices that I can test it on one of them , probably my MiniRetina, I would never put it on my 6 Plus or any device that gets carried on a daily basis.

 

[nviz22]

iOS 8 is like the Halo MCC of iPhones and now, they need a beta to clear up the clutter.

 

[oliversl]

Users: Dear Apple, please fix all the iOS bugs. The new iOS version (7 and 8) are too buggy and we want more stability.
Apple: Oh really? The iOS is buggy? Here you have it, the new beta version of iOS, you find the bugs and you report them. Happy now?
Users: WTF?

 

[StyxMaker]

We of course all hope this, but it doesn't seem that the public betas for Mavericks and Yosemite have lead to a higher quality than the preceding OS releases.

There is no way of knowing how much buggier they may have been if there hadn't been the public beta programs.

 

[saberahul]

It's officially mid-march… really hoping they release in the next 1-2 days.

 

[Nermal]

It's officially mid-march… really hoping they release in the next 1-2 days.

How about three days ago?

 

[saberahul]

How about three days ago?

Wow - clearly I missed that. Still waiting to get my email invite (if I understand correctly that that's how it works). Been a Mac beta tester since the public launch.

 

[BigInDallas]

So is this Apple admitting iOS 8 was released far to early and clearly wasnt ready for public use? iOS 8 is the equivalent of Windows ME

 

[Nermal]

Still waiting to get my email invite (if I understand correctly that that's how it works). Been a Mac beta tester since the public launch.

Nope, that's not how it works: Log into the Public Beta site (same one as for OS X) and the invite will pop up there.

 

[shandyman]

Apple to Launch Public Beta Testing Programs for iOS 8.3 and iOS 9 [Updated]

Nope, that's not how it works: Log into the Public Beta site (same one as for OS X) and the invite will pop up there.

No it doesn't, not for everyone. Only for selected users. It's a select closed beta really.

 

[saberahul]

Nope, that's not how it works: Log into the Public Beta site (same one as for OS X) and the invite will pop up there.

No it doesn't, not for everyone. Only for selected users. It's a select closed beta really.

Tried logging in 5 times and no pop-up. Just get "Enroll your Mac" as an option, but I am already enrolled.