Apple Moves to Prevent iPhone Users From Getting iOS 17 Developer Beta for Free

[Shirasaki]

I mean, Apple can make developer beta so bad that only developer is obligated to download and try out, for the offical release feels more like a beta of some sort filled with just as bad bugs anyway.
After all, developer needs developer beta anyway but horrible experience can deter random folks using beta in their production devices, and then complain issues.
Apple’s this move however, will only make obtaining developer beta harder, but not impossible (in the realm of extremely low cost or free access). I don‘t know if this deterrence is enough. What’s next? They register each beta download with government-issued ID? And because Apple’s “strong stance” at privacy, people would just blindly trust. Yeah, I feel like it. (/sarcasm)

 

[B4U]

Sigh, sure missed the tvOS profile blocking the annoying OTA update red badge.

 

[GreaTskY_PL]

Here comes back the days where you pay someone like $10 to add your device to their dev account list

Unfortunately no, the dev beta profile is added to your iCloud account, not the phone's IMEI.

 

[theapplehead]

Nobody needs this.

People who prefer to download the full installer rather than just point upgrades would definitely appreciate this.

 

[bergert]

Why does Apple charge developers $99 per year? That is a hurdle for a kid that just creates an app for fun, which could generate a lot of money for Apple.

Why does Microsoft charge me $700/year for the Windows Defender certificate - something that is included by Apple for free? Because it is sooo expensive to manage (says Microsoft), and inlcudes sooo many benfitts (it's just a certificate, which Apple gives for free to Devs). Evyer week, I have to tell users to ignore Windows Defender warnings ... (and some don't have Admin permissions, taken away by IT).

Du - oH! Developer beta - only for Developers, Windows Troll alert!!!

 

[Realityck]

iOS 17 is gonna be such a minor update just like iOS 16 apart from Lock Screen changes we have had nothing for 2 years, it’s upsetting 10 years and same look. I think the whole beta thing isn’t worth it anymore, seeing as iOS 17 is just a minor bug fix update why does it even need 3 months of beta testing?

Remember this article below, also iOS 17 will be in beta from June's WWDC to Sept release. So little over 4 months.

Apple Working to Add Support for Sideloading and Alternate App Stores in Europe

Apple is planning to allow for alternate app stores on iPhones and iPads ahead of European legislation that will require the company to support...

www.macrumors.com

According to Bloomberg, Apple's software engineering and services employees are working to open up "key elements of Apple's platforms," with Apple using a "significant amount of resources" for the change. Apple is planning for the functionality to be ready for iOS 17 in 2023, which would put it ahead of the deadline. There is a danger that these drastic updates could impact work on new features slated for ‌iOS 17‌, some employees told Bloomberg.

To protect users from the aforementioned risks of sideloading, Apple is considering implementing security requirements such as verification, a process that it could charge a fee for in lieu of collecting money from app sales. Apple has a verification system on Mac that allows users to be safe while giving them access to apps outside of the Mac App Store.

 

[one more]

#1: to prevent regular users from getting beta software, as many people would criticize Apple for things like data loss and lots of bugs
#2: MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY

#1: regular users can still join a public beta program

#2: paying that fee gives developers extra perks, not just an earlier access to betas:

Apple Developer Program - Apple Developer

Join the Apple Developer Program to reach customers around the world on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Watch.

developer.apple.com

 

[Realityck]

The same site only offer Public Beta profiles now for everything after it reopened. Last year news below

https://twitter.com/x/status/1557246301640617984

 

[GraXXoR]

I only install the public beta on my old iPhone 8, just to see if it slows anything down or breaks anything...
If my iPhone 8 suffers at all, I know to not install the new patch on my main phone.

But I don't think I would ever want to risk a dev preview...

Still, I can understand youtubers and tech journalists and developers installing a profile, since there is always competition to get the juicy details ASAP, but they are pro users, so paying a dev fee is fair game, IMO.

These cost rising issues, such as the big battery price increase coming next week, seem to show an Apple in desperate need of cashflow... And frankly, it makes them feel a little bit like nickel and dime merchants which is not a good look, for a so-called aspirational, premium company, IMO.

 

[sorgo †]

Apple software boutta take another L 📉

 

[SoldOnApple]

I hope this crackdown doesn't extend to services like altstore.io

 

[miric]

Is there a benefit to the Dev beta other than earlier access?

Sure. The benefit for Apple.

 

[cbaca51]

I never downloaded the betas but sucks for all the hardcore Apple fans that use to love these betas and see what’s changed / been fixed.

 

[chickeneaster]

Been brave a couple of times.
It’s not the bugs - it’s the heat the phone takes to the point where battery health gets heavily impacted.

No more jumping even on PB test trains for me.
Even for free I won’t care

Added: I like when people disagree with me not jumping on beta testing. 😂 Their brains 🧠 do function backwards 😂

I don't run the betas anymore because it kills my battery health

 

[_Spinn_]

Non devs should stick to the public betas anyway.

 

[expiredyogurt]

about damn time. so sick of idiots installing the beta then when something goes wrong then they call apple support and leave a negative satisfaction survey coz we can't do **** to troubleshoot the issue. the whole point of the beta profile is to test it and report the bug through a specialized channel, not install it and call apple support then try to lie about how the issue occurred. so many times I get hit with a negative satisfaction survey due to idiots like this.

 

[redbeard331]

The only times I ever I ever installed a beta for a major update after WWDC was when I had an older phone to put it on so it didn’t matter how buggy it was. Now that I don’t have an iPhone that isn’t my daily driver, that will even be able to run iOS 17 I wouldn’t jump on it until the public beta came out anyways.

I’ve never complained to Apple about bugs on a beta for a major release, people actually do that??

 

[xxFoxtail]

about damn time. so sick of idiots installing the beta then when something goes wrong then they call apple support and leave a negative satisfaction survey coz we can't do **** to troubleshoot the issue. the whole point of the beta profile is to test it and report the bug through a specialized channel, not install it and call apple support then try to lie about how the issue occurred. so many times I get hit with a negative satisfaction survey due to idiots like this.

I’d hope anyone who installs the dev beta (or even the public beta) has the know-how of making regular backups and downgrading back to the stable version.

It was fun using the dev betas in the past (when I was actively developing stuff), but now I use my iPhone and iPad for my regular full time job. I don’t really want to risk anything going completely wrong.

I still have an active developer account (separate Apple ID from my main account), so I’ll probably still play around with the dev betas on my backup devices. But, I kind of feel like these weekly updates on all of my devices were kind of draining after a while.

 

[coolfactor]

I would not be surprised if Apple completely eliminates the public beta program. The public is there to provide good feedback which is to provide improvement and stability. However, Apple doesn’t seem to think that way anymore.

Bottom line: Pay the $99 Developer Fee. That’s what Apple wants.

Are you combining two thoughts into one?

Nothing is changing. The Public Beta is still free. It's just the Developer Beta that requires a valid (and paid!) Developer account, as was always the case. Just because some chose to abuse that privilege doesn't mean that Apple is suddenly doing something wrong or bad.

 

[coolfactor]

I use the betaprofiles.dev program. Will I have to pay for the Developer Beta using this website or not?

You have fallen victim, it seems. Apple has not licensed anything to that site, so if that site tries to charge you a fee, that money does not go to Apple. It's a scam.

There's no such thing as a "betaprofiles.dev program", not in the eyes of Apple. You are using stolen profiles.

 

[giebe]

how is it supposed to work if the dev access is on a second Apple ID? Do I need to logout with my personal profile and login with the other one (company) to see the option? would be annoying.

 

[Cristim74]

What is all the big fuss about? Developer betas are for developers and public betas are for public.
People got used to having access to something they shouldn't have and now they are upset that it got fixed.

 

[addamas]

Very good move. Leeches who wants new features but not report bugs and test SW will be limited

 

[boyarka]

"FOR FREE!?!?!" exclaimed Cook angrily, while throwing his half-empty "old rainbow apple logo" coffe cup at the dept head of software development, who stood there, shaking all the while.

 

[deckard666]

What is all the big fuss about? Developer betas are for developers and public betas are for public.
People got used to having access to something they shouldn't have and now they are upset that it got fixed.

This is the correct answer ! You win a prize and I tip my hat to you 🔆