Developers have been able to try out the beta version of OS X 10.10.3, and as of Monday the public can, too. Mac users who signed up to participate in the public beta program can download the latest prerelease build of the upcoming Mac OS update, and it includes a beta version of the iPhoto replacement app Photos, too.
OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 beta now available to the public, along with new Photos app
Along with the new Photos app, the beta version of OS X 10.10.3 includes new system-wide emoji characters, and two-factor authentication support for Google accounts.
Developers have been using the same release version (14D87) for about a week, and Photos has been available to them for almost a month. Photos replaces iPhoto and Aperture, but doesn't offer all of the features pro users had in the latter. Apple will likely add more features in over time, but those may not come fast enough to keep Aperture users from switching to Adobe Lightroom.
OS X Yosemite is the first Mac operating system version to offer a public beta. If you're already participating in the Yosemite public beta, the new version will show up under the App Store app's Software Update tab. If you aren't participating, you can check out Apple's beta program website to sign up.
Reports claim Apple plans to offer a public beta of iOS 8.3 some time this month, which will mark a first for the company's mobile OS. That hasn't happened yet, but March has only just begun which means there's still plenty of time for the beta to go public.