Apple Disabling iOS 5 Beta Installs and Developer Accounts Over Sales of Device Slots?

[nibbet]

Apple News Sites

So question, if the NDA specifically says do not provide information about features are the News sites that provide the new storys about new features for each beta breaking the NDA if they have stated they have updated their own devices?

 

[chrono1081]

I’m skeptical that Apple would bother.

But if they did, maybe it will help with all the ridiculous App Store 1-star reviews from people who say “this app crashes on iOS 5 beta!”

This.

People on this forum always throw a fit when I say that only dev's should have access and this is precisely the reason why (as well as coming onto sites like Macrumors saying that such and such an app doesn't work in iOS5 beta), it just puts a bad taste in peoples mouth and makes the developer look lazy.

That takes income away from the developer for no reason, especially if that review gets ranked highly.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

So question, if the NDA specifically says do not provide information about features are the News sites that provide the new storys about new features for each beta breaking the NDA if they have stated they have updated their own devices?

I would say: yes. But I'm sure they will not use their own devices for makeing a story but have some other fuzzy pictures on hand. Protection of their source will help. Advantage for news companies; doesn't apply for developer.

 

[I WAS the one]

So, Apple will be controlling what you can do in the future..... Hmmmmm..... Something is telling me that when we entered the iOS 5 era, devices with cydia installed will be shutdown from the mothership.... Talking about freedom. Apple is getting stronger and wiser now....or may I say "EViL"?

 

[chrono1081]

So, Apple will be controlling what you can do in the future..... Hmmmmm..... Something is telling me that when we entered the iOS 5 era, devices with cydia installed will be shutdown from the mothership.... Talking about freedom. Apple is getting stronger and wiser now....or may I say "EViL"?

Not even close. You guys aren't understanding the article. Apple isn't some evil corporation who wants to control you, thats silly. They are targeting developers who broke NDA's and they have every right to do so. Any dev claiming that they didn't see the NDA is full of it because you have to read and click it before you can download the iOS betas.

Be glad this is the most they are doing because individuals can be sued over NDA's, this is but a slap on the wrist.

 

[Prodo123]

OK, I admit to buying a UDID slot But I couldn't help it, I'm the "Apple Insider Guy" in my circles and people expect me to run beta software, so I had to do it in the cheapest way possible. I always feel kinda guilty for not paying $100, and if I could, I would.

(Prepared for downvotes)

That being said, iOS 5 beta 4, I'm still fine. My account is all over Apple's records, so I would have been flagged for sure if they ever found out. But seeing that I'm still texting away, this is simply an issue of the early betas expiring.

 

[21ce]

If you already own a mac when you decide to become a developer, you are fortunate. You also do not represent the masses. The fact that you have a mac doesn't make it any less cost prohibitive for people that only own windows computers.

A friend of mine actually just sent me an e-mail today, asking if the following would work for iOS development:
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=223167950

Now, this friend of mine is a windows software engineer. I know that he has the money to pick up a real mac and start developing, but he feels that dropping $1k is too much.

The fact that the developer account is only $99 doesn't help him one bit. I do see your point, and agree somewhat. But if the goal is to make it super easy to get started, why even bother charging $99? That $99 charge is clearly not enough to discourage non-developers. Yet, the cost of a new mac is enough to discourage real developers.

You're definitely right the $99 fee won't deter people from trying to make a quick profit by selling the UDIDs, and by not having a OSX based system some developers are at a great disadvantage.

I still feel $1k fee would prevent a lot more people than it would help as far as controlling what kind of users purchase these developer accounts (beta seekers vs. real programmers). I would go as far as to simply suggest a tiered amount of devices depending on how large your team was. Provide 3 UDIDs to start for any individual account, and make it more strict for people to create a company account without providing proof and even then, distribute UDIDs to a limited number of devices. (not just 100 for every account)

 

[phatspider]

I had beta 3 running on my iPhone 4 - I couldn't get the OTA update to beta 4 working and hadn't got round to downloading it and plugging in to iTunes - and last night it reset.

So deffo not just about 1 and 2 expiring - btu could be 1, 2 and 3 expiring. My iPad is on beta 4, but I left it in my draw in the office so don't know if that's been affected - would think probably not.

 

[Krayzie116]

Have two question.

First question if they do shutdown people who payed the $6-7 UDID Reg. Would I be able to buy a Dev. account and just register it then, I've been wanting to get into making apps.

Second question I would be able to downgrade to 4.3.5 right whatever.

 

[s15119]

Good news!!!!

 

[koruki]

a warning would of been nice, I am a registered dev, I have iOS5 beta running on my iPad 2, and last night I open it to check something and its in activation mode. Normally with provisioning profiles it would say something about expiring in a few days and ask me go renew it.

 

[ct2k7]

Have two question.

First question if they do shutdown people who payed the $6-7 UDID Reg. Would I be able to buy a Dev. account and just register it then, I've been wanting to get into making apps.

I think so, but I don't think they are blacklisting UDID/iOS Devices

Second question I would be able to downgrade to 4.3.5 right whatever.

Until iOS 5 is released, for your platform, then yes.

 

[Krayzie116]

I think so, but I don't think they are blacklisting UDID/iOS Devices

Hopefully your right lol, cause my iPhone is my main device I know I know you shouldn't put beta on there but I've been enjoying it so far from beta 1-4

 

[hobo.hopkins]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A5274d Safari/7534.48.3)

If you already own a mac when you decide to become a developer, you are fortunate. You also do not represent the masses. The fact that you have a mac doesn't make it any less cost prohibitive for people that only own windows computers.

A friend of mine actually just sent me an e-mail today, asking if the following would work for iOS development:
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=223167950

Now, this friend of mine is a windows software engineer. I know that he has the money to pick up a real mac and start developing, but he feels that dropping $1k is too much.

The fact that the developer account is only $99 doesn't help him one bit. I do see your point, and agree somewhat. But if the goal is to make it super easy to get started, why even bother charging $99? That $99 charge is clearly not enough to discourage non-developers. Yet, the cost of a new mac is enough to discourage real developers.

You're definitely right the $99 fee won't deter people from trying to make a quick profit by selling the UDIDs, and by not having a OSX based system some developers are at a great disadvantage.

I still feel $1k fee would prevent a lot more people than it would help as far as controlling what kind of users purchase these developer accounts (beta seekers vs. real programmers). I would go as far as to simply suggest a tiered amount of devices depending on how large your team was. Provide 3 UDIDs to start for any individual account, and make it more strict for people to create a company account without providing proof and even then, distribute UDIDs to a limited number of devices. (not just 100 for every account)

I think the idea of a tiered amount of UDID registrations would most likely prevent the problem of selling, while also not deterring small developers. I think that is a good idea.

 

[JustinDaigle]

What is so hard about playing by Apple's rules?

From JailBreaking to Slot Selling, why can't some people just play the way you're supposed to?

I love how people agree to the rules in order to download developer software, or activate their i-device, and then moan & groan when they are punished for not following the rules they agreed to!

I play by Apple's rules (and also don't use torrents or Napster-ish programs) and I absolutely LOVE my Apple devices and digital lifestyle.

If you don't want to play by the rules, or if iOS doesn't provide you with what you need (tethering, file system, notifications, etc.) Go elsewhere!

Please!

Okay, glad to hear you're happy using your devices out of box. If you're fine with that, then so be it. It's your device, and it's not my business how you use it. However, the same applies to you. It's none of your business how I use my devices. I can (and do) jailbreak them, because I want to, and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Just go live your own life and don't tell me how to live mine.

Back on-topic, I'm quite sure it's just betas 1 and 2 expiring. My favorite UDID registration site is still up and selling spots.

And as for all you people who hate on people selling these spots, sure they're making a small profit, but maybe they deserve it? That's how reselling anything works by the way. The middleman buys in bulk for cheap, then raises the price to sell the merchandise individually. It's life, deal with it.

Finally, some people don't want to pay Apple $99/year just to try betas. I'm a developer (in the sense that I write apps, not that I pay a yearly fee), and I don't even do that. How could I? My site does reviews, and operates at a loss. I can't pay $99 per beta version of iOS I need to review (considering one new major release a year, this is ultimately what it comes down to). Also, I'm still learning iOS development, and couldn't bother to pay a large sum of money just so I could run my code on-device. I'm jailbroken, and don't have to. I paid plenty enough for my iDevices, and since they're mine, I can run my own code on them, with or without Apple's permission.

 

[Leucaeus]

Apple's NDA is a legally binding contract. Breaking the contract is against the law.

I've yet to see anyone go to jail for breaking an NDA, but Apple could sue you and get you in trouble.

Speeding is against the law as well, yet people speed and get away with it all the time.

I just had to respond to this because it is so ridiculously wrong it makes my head hurt. One is an agreement and the other is a LAW. If I break my cellphone contract or the lease on my apartment I'm not going to jail unless somehow I violate the laws of the land. i.e. I don't vacate my apartment upon terminating my lease, therefore I'm trespassing.

Secondly, all the sanctimonious attitudes need to stop. Yes, I paid $17 to get a sneak peek at iOS 5. If it crashes or fails or forces me to downgrade to iOS 4.x then so be it; That's the price to play with beta software and I accept that.

For the Devs that have complained about people using iOS 5 beta sound like you're just mad at people joining your club for a small fee and you don't like it. Cry me a river.

All of this moot anyhow. iOS 5 betas 1 & 2 have expired. That's why devices have reset. Beats 3 & 4 will expire one day as well... When beta 5 is released and established.

 

[DrumsetDan13]

You got your reimbursement and then kept using the beta. You were stealing from Apple and they shut you down.

Oh my................ poor you!
JohnG

i know man, i understand what happened im not crying about it now, i figured it out. I just would have wanted an email or something after i was refunded.

 

[twoodcc]

but how do they know devs are selling these slots for money though?

 

[DrumsetDan13]

Beta 2 expired last night, and others have pointed out. This happens to every developer, even the ones that didn't request their $100 back

You have two choices, upgrade to the latest beta or go back to iOS 4. Contrary to popular belief, you can downgrade. I've done it a million times. You will lose your photos and data that you acquired while using iOS 5, but you can downgrade and restore to any old backup.

i downgraded to cdma ios 4.2. i lost all my photos but thats really it. no big deal

 

[DrumsetDan13]

Impossible to get a refund for a developer access purchase.

Not impossible. I called apple and explained to someone that it wasn't for me (only a day after the purchase) and luckily they did it. Very rare for apple tho

 

[lamina]

OK, I admit to buying a UDID slot But I couldn't help it, I'm the "Apple Insider Guy" in my circles and people expect me to run beta software, so I had to do it in the cheapest way possible.

If that is how you identify with yourself, I think that a banned UDID is the last thing you should worry about.

 

[chrono1081]

I just had to respond to this because it is so ridiculously wrong it makes my head hurt. One is an agreement and the other is a LAW. If I break my cellphone contract or the lease on my apartment I'm not going to jail unless somehow I violate the laws of the land. i.e. I don't vacate my apartment upon terminating my lease, therefore I'm trespassing.

Secondly, all the sanctimonious attitudes need to stop. Yes, I paid $17 to get a sneak peek at iOS 5. If it crashes or fails or forces me to downgrade to iOS 4.x then so be it; That's the price to play with beta software and I accept that.

For the Devs that have complained about people using iOS 5 beta sound like you're just mad at people joining your club for a small fee and you don't like it. Cry me a river.

All of this moot anyhow. iOS 5 betas 1 & 2 have expired. That's why devices have reset. Beats 3 & 4 will expire one day as well... When beta 5 is released and established.

Actually people have been sued and lost for breaking NDA's. If they were useless, then people wouldn't use them.

 

[JustinDaigle]

Actually people have been sued and lost for breaking NDA's. If they were useless, then people wouldn't use them.

Have you been to a courtroom lately? The law doesn't actually matter anymore. The announcer... err, judge, shouts "May the best lawyer win!" and it proceeds from there.

Which is why you have people paying up millions of dollars for downloading a couple of songs.

 

[kdarling]

Not even close. You guys aren't understanding the article. Apple isn't some evil corporation who wants to control you, thats silly. They are targeting developers who broke NDA's and they have every right to do so.

If Apple wanted to punish people breaking NDAs, they could've started enforcing them years ago when the first mass beta sales started.

Instead, they looked the other way for a long time because the number of "developers" increased and they could brag about that number.

It seems more likely that Apple has suddenly started enforcement because they're getting too many support posts / calls / visits from clueless people using the betas.

 

[AidenShaw]

I paid plenty enough for my iDevices, and since they're mine, I can run my own code on them, with or without Apple's permission.

When Apple's stock drops back below $50, this will be the reason. People are becoming fed up with the turtlenecked overlord's control crap - the sooner that he's out of the picture, the better for Apple.