Report: Apple to Let Public Try iOS Beta

Want to try out iOS 9 before it's released? Sit tight; it might just happen.

According to a Friday report from 9to5Mac citing "multiple people briefed on the plans," Apple is planning to hold its first-ever public beta program for the next version of iOS, starting next month. The program will reportedly kick off with iOS 8.3 in March and extend to iOS 9 after Apple introduces it at its Worldwide Developer Conference.

But if you want in on the iOS public beta, you better act fast.

"In order to maintain a higher level of exclusivity, the public beta program for iOS will apparently be limited to 100,000 people," the report notes. "The main goal of the iOS beta program will be a more reliable and widely tested operating system by the time of the wider consumer launch."

Apple first tried out this approach last year with Mac OS X Yosemite. Before releasing the next-gen operating system in October, Apple invited customers to participate in the beta testing process and submit feedback directly to the company. That time, space was limited to the first 1 million people who signed up.

Meanwhile, iOS 8.3, codenamed Stowe, has already been in the hands of developers since early this month. The software reportedly includes wireless CarPlay support, more emojis, Siri voice enhancements, and a simpler log-in process for Google services.

As for what to expect in iOS 9, word has it that Apple is focusing more on improving stability rather than adding a bunch of new features in the next big release. What you'll likely get is a mobile operating system with fewer glitches.

Until then, check out PCMag's roundup of iOS 8 tips in the slideshow above.