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Apple seeds second public build of iOS 8.3 beta, fourth beta for developers

Apple has just seeded the latest beta of iOS 8.3 to its public beta users. The first beta was sent out just under two weeks ago. The build is also available over-the-air to developers, making it the fourth beta for those users. It’s also available on the iOS developer center.

Along with the new iOS beta comes a new Xcode beta. The Xcode 6.3 beta comes with a build number of 6D554n and includes support for Swift 1.2. A beta update for the third-generation Apple TV has also been pushed out.

The final version of the mobile OS is expected to bring more diverse emoji, new Siri languages and voice improvements, the ability to place speakerphone calls from Siri, and many bug fixes.

Wireless CarPlay is also expected to debut with the update. However, the CarPlay settings menu has disappeared in beta 4.

A recently discovered change in the software will allow users to download free apps and music without entering a password. That feature was nonfunctional in the previous beta, and it seems that’s still the case in the latest build.

The new build removes the “Beta” label from the iCloud Photo Library option, now promoting it as a full feature. This has changed in previous betas, so it’s possible it could go back to being a beta before the operating system is released.

Apple has also renamed the new “filtered messages” section of the Messages application to “unknown senders.” The section collects messages sent from iMessage addresses that aren’t in your contacts. SMS messages from unknown contacts will still be included with iMessages from your friends.

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Comments

  1. PMZanetti - 9 years ago

    Been having issues with 8.3 beta and 10.10.3 beta with public AppleTV: All AppleTVs and iTunes Libraries have disappeared from Remote.app. No amount of restarting things, turning Home Sharing off/on across all devices has helped. Very strange.

    • johnmfoley (@johnmfoley) - 9 years ago

      Not sure if this is specific to 8.3. I’ve been experiencing that same issue since 8.0 or 8.1. Although just for my AppleTV (latest gen) not my iTunes libraries.

      Homesharing Off/On was my fix too.

    • PMZanetti - 9 years ago

      This update fixed it entirely.

    • Gene Archuletta - 9 years ago

      Any idea if they fixed the Verizon VOLTE issue from beta 2?

      • Vinnie - 9 years ago

        Id love to know too! I didnt see any mentions of it in the know issues in this release

      • ogeneo - 9 years ago

        It appears to be fixed… have Voice & Data on for LTE and had no issues using data while on a call.

  2. xprmntr - 9 years ago

    Is the ios public beta only available by email invitation or is there some hidden link I’m not finding?

  3. James Alexander - 9 years ago

    Still waiting for my invite email. Come on Apple.

  4. karzan (@karzan5555) - 9 years ago

    hello can i get update i m on iOS beta program

  5. TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

    Ah!!

    I just went back to 8.2 this morning because the Maps up only showed a blank grid instead of the map from 8.3b3.

    Well, guess I’ll install the new beta to see how it goes…

  6. Zoheb Khoja - 9 years ago

    100mb on iPhone 5 :P and its working very smooth.

  7. i think iOS 8.3 will launch by the time Apple Watch hits shelves

  8. I just installed it and I noticed that 8.3 beta 4 fixed the “Hey Siri” feature that broke in the previous beta.

  9. themaindude1521 - 9 years ago

    NEWS FLASH!!!!

    LEARN HOW TO PROGRAM AND/OR PAY FOR THE 99$ PROGRAM TO GET ACCESS

    I CANT EXPRESS MY LOW TOLERANCE FOR IDIOTS TRYING TO USE BETA’S WHEN THEY DONT WHAT THE HELL YOUR DOING. STOP. USE THE SOFTWARE THAT CAME WITH IT.

    THANKS

  10. Jayski (@Jay30002) - 9 years ago

    Is it to late to sign up for the Beta? I went to appleseed but I dont see the IOS just the mac.

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      Apple invited select Mac testers to join for iOS. No idea what critera it was based on, might have been number of feedback tickets filed or could be totally random. Not sure if people are still being invited or not.

  11. Andre Moore - 9 years ago

    Hope this update fixes my siri. Ever since the last beta my ‘hey Siri” doesn’t work. I have to hold the button and siri doesn’t time out it just stays there.

  12. All yellow “people” emojis have blond/yellow hair instead of black hair:

    http://sms-smileys.com/iOS_8_3_Beta_4.html

  13. nishantrevur - 9 years ago

    Siri does local search in India now! Never did before!

  14. trozzotim (@trozzotim) - 9 years ago

    Here’s how to get IOS 8.3 beta 4 without an invitation: Go to this link http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-download-ios-8.3-public-beta-3-without-needing-developer-account/ follow the instructions and install beta 3,after the installation is complete check software update on your device and you should have an option to update to beta 4.