Apple this week announced that a new beta version of its mobile operating system, iOS 8, is ready for developers. The new release includes plenty of wonderful new features and improvements, particularly in how iPhones integrate with Mac OS X, Cupertino announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

The Messages app in iOS 8, for example, has new features that let you add and remove contacts from threads. The auto-correct functionality underneath the keyboard includes predictive typing in iOS 8 (yeah, kind of like how it works in Android). It will also have some new apps, including Health and a companion service called HealthKit, which will help you monitor data related to your health.

At present, only Apple developers can download and install iOS 8, but anyone can become an Apple developer by enrolling in Apple's developer program and paying $99 per year. The operating system is expected to be released to all Apple users in the fall.

If you are a developer and can get iOS 8 now, how do you get it? And what do you need to do before you download and install it?

1. Check Your Device for Compatibility

First you need to make sure you have a compatible device. iOS 8 will work on iPhone devices going back to iPhone 4s, iPads going back to iPad 2, and iPod touch fifth generation and later.

You also need to have your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch registered to your developer account. New developers generally complete this step when they first enroll as a developer.

2. Update iTunes

Next, check whether you're running the latest version of iTunes. It should be version 11.2.2. To check, launch iTunes, and go to Help > Check for Updates.

Install the updates, and restart iTunes.

3. Back Up Your Device
This step is the single most important one. Make a backup your device! You back up using iCloud or back up using iTunes.

If anything goes wrong while you're installing iOS 8, you'll need this backup to restore your device. Depending on the size of your backup and a few other factors, this step could take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Also note that there is no simple way to restore a backup of your iPhone or iPad once you successfully install the iOS 8 developer beta.

4. Download iOS 8

Log into the Apple developer member center with your Apple ID, and choose the iOS Dev Center. Go to the section for iOS downloads, and find the version that matches your device. Download the appropriate file to your computer. Unzip it, and you'll have an ispw file.

5. Update to iOS

8

Connect your device to your computer using the USB cable. On the left side of iTunes, select your device.

In Mac, hold alt/option and click for Check for Update. In Windows, hold Shift and click Check for Update.

From the window, select the .ispw file you saved to your computer in the previous step. Click Open.

6. Be patient!
Follow the few prompts as they come up, but most importantly, be patient and don't interrupt the process. If you're anxious, be sure to watch when your device shuts down to reboot. That's a good signal that it's nearly done updating. Once the OS is installed, just follow the screen prompts and you'll be set to go.

For more Apple coverage, check out some of the more intriguing features in iOS 8 in the slideshow above. Also see iOS 8: What We Wanted vs. What We Got and 32 Hidden Features in Apple iOS 8. And watch the video below for our first take on Apple's WWDC announcements.