Apple releases iOS 8.3 beta to developers

In a surprise move, Apple has released the first beta of iOS 8.3 before it’s even officially released the final version of iOS 8.2.

The new beta offers Wireless CarPlay support which appears in a sub-menu under the General category in the Settings app, and instructs users to hold down the voice control button in their vehicle to begin the pairing process. Once set up, wireless CarPlay could trigger with compatible vehicles whenever a driver enters their car and starts up the engine, which would make it far more convenient than it is even now, since iPhone owners likely won’t even have to take their phone out of their pockets to use it once the initial pairing is complete.

Apple’s iOS 8.3 beta update also offers support for Google 2-factor login when adding a Gmail or other Google-hosted account for mail, calendar, contact syncing etc. The emoji keyboard is also redesigned, with continuous scrolling allowing users to browse the entire catalog, and helpful category icons to jump between specific collections within.

This beta seed of iOS 8.3 also contains support for new emoji — the emoji picker has been redesigned with a host of new categories, but it’s not clear yet if the customizable, multicultural emoji will be present in this update.

Apple has also introduced a major update to Swift, its new programming language, with Xcode 3.6, and iOS 8.3 will help developers prepare for that transition.

Developers should note the warning Apple that devices updated to the iOS 8.3 beta cannot be restored to earlier versions of iOS.