For the first time, Apple has made it possible for those without an App Store developer membership to use iOS betas. Anyone can legitimately download and install today’s iOS 8.3 beta by joining Apple’s official Beta Testing Program.
OS X Yosemite was the first software release that could be beta tested by non-devs, and now that Apple has flung open the gates on iOS, many more people will likely opt-in to be on the cutting edge of where the operating system is headed.
iOS beta releases don’t always include new features, and they often include glitches and bugs most won’t want to deal with. But for the chance to see what features Apple is working on before they ship for everyone, it beats paying a $99/year developer membership.
You can sign up to beta test pre-release versions of iOS and OS X on Apple’s website. There are step-by-step instructions for installing the latest beta, which includes manually installing a configuration profile from your iPhone or iPad.
It appears that Apple hasn’t rolled out the iOS section of the beta program for everyone yet, so you may only see the option to test OS X for a little while longer.
