It's a bad move for me. I like β-testing. Unstable versions has many cool features for a long time before the release. Also i'm developer, but not the registered one nor I willing to pay 200$ for mac + ios programs. What shall I do then? Right download osx ML from torrents and signup for ios6 at sites that sell it.
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Apple Cracking Down on Sites Selling Access to iOS 6 Developer Betas
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So do I and lots of people. Apples beta software is largely not publicly available. Its private. They provide a very simple method of getting it, but they are providing this for one reason and one reason only - so that developers can test it out. They do not want the public testing it out and that it their choice. You have no rights to and and neither do I (I have a free developer account). You will have to wait until it comes out or pay the fee.
Not everything is open to the public. Some things Apple offers as an open beta. Moat of the time they dont. Heck I have been invited to beta test some things from Apple that were not publicly available. It was a nice privilege that I took advantage of. Apple wants to control the fate of their core assets as much as possible.
You claim to be a Beta tester. Exactly how much feedback have your provided Apple on issues in the betas? Exactly how much do you plan to?
Also Apple is more interested in feedback on tools and API's rather than the iOS release. How much feedback do you intend to give as you have neither the OS to install the SDK nor the SDK itself to give feedback on.
I can tell you're not a developer. You act like Apple is the only one charging a fee to develop on their platform. Let's look at Microsoft and their XNA Platform. It costs $99 to be a developer. You only get access to the indie game section on XBox Live. The section that almost no "normal" person ever finds. They only find the arcade section sometimes but most of the time they just put a disk in and get going. Forget surfing all the options XBox Live has.
$99 to develop for a widely used platform? For a developer that is a pretty good deal actually. Considering it costs thousands to get a license from Microsoft or another console developer to get their console SDK and a license to create games for that console. Even then you need to be a good size company for them to still give you one. It's not like you just fork the money over and it's yours.
I'm glad Apple is cutting down on this. If you're not a developer and not looking to develop an iOS 6 app then your hands should be no where near an iOS Beta. This beta should not even be on a everyday device!
There are at least 6 different devices that a good developer would want to test their (universal) app on: iPhones 3GS/4/4S and all three iPads. A thorough beta test would probably involve at least 10 of each device, and if you have multiple products whose beta testers aren't exactly the same people...well it's pretty easy to hit the limit.
If you follow some small, popular developers on twitter, you will see them complain about dealing with the limit quite regularly. It is especially common around the release of a new device.
I just don't believe you're a developer. What Apple charges and what you get access too. Why don't you go get an official SDK from Microsoft or Sony to develop a game for their system. That's right you can't...
What services are those, that other developer setups don't provide for much less or even free?
Btw...
- Even if your apps are free, you have to pay $100 a year to keep them available. If you fail to pay that yearly fee, all your apps disappear from the App Store. Apple gets lots of publicity and device sales from having lots of free apps. It's not fair for the poor devs to foot the bill for years upon years.
- Even if you just want to make an app for yourself or your family or friends, you have to pay $100 a year to keep that app runnable... unless you put it up on the App Store so it can be downloaded permanently. That hardly promotes good apps.
Even at a small shop you can get to 100 slots with just a handful of apps produced for clients. Most of it wasn't even expanded beta testing, just for various employees in those companies who needed to get an app on their device to test.
In-office test devices + client devices + a handful of outside beta testers + turnover of old devices adds up pretty quick. Especially since you're locked in until the dev account renews once you start adding devices.
I guess thats a choice the developer has to make. Perhaps they should consider making some paid apps to offset the cost if they really need to?
Also it's fair because Apple is clear on the terms. They haven't deceived anyone at all.
If a developer doesn't like it they are free to move over to Android.
Why not a web app? Because, you know, like all things in life web hosting is 100% free too.
If you need access to native API's then i guess the $99 is part of the cost for your totally awesome, completely essential app for you and your closest friends and family.
Chances are everyone will get bored and stop using your app after a week anyway. So it's not like you have to pay for a decades worth of memberships.
I've created about six issues on apple bugtracker for the past ~three month. When I see something bad or not obviously stupid (just like "Share" button response speed in Safari 6) — I report it. What's the problem?
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Find out for yourself.
$99/year is bugger all. Xcode is free.
$99/year is bugger all - even if you just want to do it as a hobby, as I do myself.
Hardly wiped out. They just suspended their activations...and they also did this for ios 4 and 5 betas at one point. Cautious? More accurate
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Your friend has violated the developer agreement just as much when he gives the slots away as someone who sells them.
The problem is not that Apple is being generous with the 100 accounts. The problem is that so many people just think Apple should TAKE AWAY accounts from developers FOLLOWING THE RULES to punish those that are not.
So Apple grants developers 100 slots... Remember that has to work for large devs too. How about DEVELOPERS be responsible with the contract they signed stating the account was for THEIR USE ONLY.
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Not really. They are the same ones that leave 1-star reviews "this crashed-it sucks" all over the App store. If you read enough reviews you can spot them by their MO. At least Apple weeded out the really dumb ones that used to SAY they were using the beta in reviews.
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Really?English not your thing?
I don't know how no one has called you out on this yet; you must be young (which is no excuse actually) and not know your seasons but, yes, during the last WWDC in Spring, Apple promised a Fall launch date, it's Summer now, and Fall is coming up starting September... so again, what exactly is your problem!? Seems Apple is following their program exactly on schedule so far...
As for the rest of you, it's amazing how quickly you forget that when Apple first implemented the iOS developer program, it was a dream come true; free development environment (Xcode) a measly $99 a year fee to ensure you are serious about developing quality apps, and a small 30% cut to Apple who covers ALL the app hosting fees, the transactions, payment systems, etc. Compare that to what was going on at the time with Microsoft ($11,000+ developing environment) plus they took more than half your profits and you STILL had to host your own app and take care of the transactions yourself.
Now of course, all competitors (Microsoft, Android, et al) are mimicking Apple's system and people have the nerve to complain about Apple? There is a reason why the vast (and I mean VAST) majority of developers, with all options before them, STILL choose to develop for iOS... (I'm talking to you kdarling! The king of FUD that you are.)
How is it crazy your friend broke the rules by sharing slots so therefore it is within apples rights to ban him. Also it is impossible to run a beta without UDID registration so apple doesn't have to go after people without registration.
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That's what simulator or whatever they call it is for.
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Can't tell if serous or trolling.
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Actually most people don't accept it's a beta and not production quality. Have you seen the amount of people comparing in every forum ever that "my app is crashing" or similar.
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Take an android app and an iPhone app and put them side by said and see which one looks nicer, works smoother and is faster and that would give you your answer as to why apple charge.
Imagine if apple tried to close down sites like macrumors that offered non developers information about possible new apple products that wasn't meant for non apple developers.
Oh wait, didn't they try that with gizmodo when they lost an apple iPhone 4 .....
And then a year later apple went after another person when they lost an apple iPhone 4s.
Don't get me wrong, I like apple stuff .....
But am questioning the motives for such action.
It's one thing restricting acces to beta software, it's another thing entirely to go after websites for supplying information.
Had apple done it right, then the restrictions should lay on activations alone and not just having X amount of slots. As that is the make or break point, not looking to close down sites because of apples lax security regarding developer accounts.
Oh wait, didn't they try that with gizmodo when they lost an apple iPhone 4 .....
And then a year later apple went after another person when they lost an apple iPhone 4s.
Don't get me wrong, I like apple stuff .....
But am questioning the motives for such action.
It's one thing restricting acces to beta software, it's another thing entirely to go after websites for supplying information.
Had apple done it right, then the restrictions should lay on activations alone and not just having X amount of slots. As that is the make or break point, not looking to close down sites because of apples lax security regarding developer accounts.
Huh? These web sites are not just "supplying information," they are blatantly breaking the terms of Apple's developer program which they explicitly agreed to be bound by when they sign up for it. There is no gray area that Apple is exploiting. These people unquestionably knew they were doing something shady and were lucky to get by for so long without Apple shutting them down.
I'm not quite sure what you're saying... If we took iOS Angry Birds and had it face off against Android Angry Birds, we would see the same exact app.
Now, it is true that there may be some apps on the Android store that wouldn't get into the iOS store. However, by Apple killing any app that doesn't live up to its standards, they do not keep out only apps that you don't want to see, but also apps that you very well may like (if you gave them a chance).
Also, not every developer makes it big off the first or second attempt. The apps they make won't sell, but they'll still have to pay a couple hundred dollars just to see it hit the light of day.
Apple makes a decent experience for the consumer - by keeping out anything that may offend or not live up to the standards of anyone they ensure all the apps left will be loved by all. Yet this in essence is censorship - and a censorship that can only benefit the consumer, not the developer. And I'm arguing that Apple's platform is not quite as good for the developer - the only thing the developer benefits from is the increased popularity of iOS devices (and spending habits of iOS customers).
Just to make this clear, Apple isn't feeding anyone - in fact, Apple is the fat pig that's being fed by the developers and their customers. The real problem here is that said pig has an insatiable hunger.
And how exactly is shutting down sites that illegally sell iOS betas hurting either legitimate developers or 99.999% of honest paying customers?