Apple Ups DTK Mac Mini Return Credit to $500 After Developer Complaints

[MacRumors]

Prior to the release of the M1 Macs, Apple offered developers a $500 Developer Transition Kit (DTK) that included a Mac mini equipped with an A12Z Bionic chip first used in the iPad Pro, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port.

The DTKs were available on a temporary basis, and earlier this week, Apple said that it would soon begin asking developers to return the Mac minis in exchange for a $200 credit.

Since developers shelled out $500, many were unhappy with the credit amount, which also required the funds to be used by the end of May. Many developers complained about Apple's credit amount and the time limit on spending, as the end of May would not allow the credit to be used toward a product released later in 2021.

Apple has now reversed course and upped the credit, and will now be providing developers with $500 to put toward an M1 Mac or any other Apple product. The time limit to spend the credit has also been increased, with Apple giving developers until the end of the year to use it.

We heard your feedback regarding the 200 USD appreciation credit mentioned in our last email. Our intention was to recognize the tremendous effort that you have put into creating amazing universal apps. By partnering with us early, you showed your commitment to our platform and a willingness to be trailblazers.

So instead of the 200 USD credit that expires in May, we are giving you a 500 USD Apple credit and extending the time you can use it to get a new M1 Mac through the end of the year. If you already purchased a new M1 Mac, the Apple credit gives you the flexibility to purchase any Apple product to help with your app development work.

We'll share details soon about how to ship the Developer Transition Kit (DTK) back to Apple. Note that the DTK will no longer receive publicly available software updates after macOS Big Sur 11.2. We encourage you to return it as soon as possible so that your development work is not interrupted. And once you return the DTK, you'll receive your Apple credit.

Apple first sent out Developer Transition Kits at the end of June, so developers were able to use them for seven months. Developers were meant to have a year with the DTK for app development purposes, but other benefits that include a private discussion forum and technical support will continue to be available for the full 12 month period.

As noted in Apple's emails to developers, the $500 credit can be used toward any Apple product, including M1 Macs or other devices.

Article Link: Apple Ups DTK Mac Mini Return Credit to $500 After Developer Complaints

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Developers have spoken. Apple has listened. Good Move Apple.

 

[icanhazmac]

Good on Apple. I'm not sure Apple owed anyone anything but $200 was just bad optics.

 

[Falcon80]

Wow.. I am amazed.. Apple does listen! Well done, Apple!

 

[ian87w]

Wow, good for Apple. Extending the time limit is also a very nice gesture.
It brings good vibes whenever a company responded this quickly and positively.

 

[joelhinch]

Good move, it makes sense. Return it early, get your money back, sort of.

 

[coolfactor]

Good on Apple. I'm not sure Apple owed anyone anything but $200 was just bad optics.

Apple owed nothing. Any developer that chose to join the program did so willingly according to the terms presented at the time. Giving back $200 was generous, and to refund the full amount (in the form of a credit) is beyond words.

Any developer that whined about this can suck a lemon, if you ask me. 😜 Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[sinoka56]

$200 or $500, the profit still returns to Apple. Apple get apps, the DTK, and the devs will spend more to buy the mac mini.

That was just greedy on Apple's part.

 

[macintoshmac]

Yes, their proclivity to annoy their developers is really a subject of study. Nice to read that good sense prevailed. The developers benefit from Apple, but Apple benefits far more than developers do, because without developers building for macOS and iOS, they are not going to go far. Apple's penchant for annoying their developer community time and again where developers have to fight for what is right is really concerning.

That said, Apple did not make developers buy this kit. Developers who wanted to buy it bought for themselves. Apple did not have to offer anything in return if the kit was developers' to keep. But since Apple wanted it back, a full refund becomes fair.

 

[dannyyankou]

Thank god. Apple needs the developers more than the developers need Apple. It was wrong that Apple was going to make a net profit off of their contributions to their new platform.

Developers already pay $99-299 per year depending on which plan they choose, Apple should’ve just loaned them at no cost and asked for them back.

 

[Nucleartool]

Good. Developers were getting stiffed. Having to rent hardware and getting back a small percentage of it for the privilege of moving apps to a new platform was nasty of apple. I get it is a two way thing and the devs want to be on it, but it showed a lack of respect to the largest group of people who are making the news macs look amazing as more native apps appear. Glad they did the right thing.

 

[coolfactor]

Good move, it makes sense. Return it early, get your money back, sort of.

Thank god. Apple needs the developers more than the developers need Apple. It was wrong that Apple was going to make a net profit off of their contributions to their new platform.

Huh? Apple gave more than hardware, but a full support package. It was easily worth $500 that developers are effectively getting for free now.

 

[Abazigal]

Good on Apple. I'm not sure Apple owed anyone anything but $200 was just bad optics.

Ironically, I doubt we would be seeing so much outrage if Apple had just asked for the developer kit back while offering nothing in return.

 

[Rudy69]

It wasn’t the amount I wasn’t happy about, it was the limited time they gave us to use the money. But I’ll be honest I’m glad to get more money

 

[Rocketpilot]

Huh? Apple gave more than hardware, but a full support package. It was easily worth $500 that developers are effectively getting for free now.

Apart from all the developers saying their requests for support were ignored, sure.

 

[Jony Ive and Co.]

Apple should have considered and foreseen this before. Developers shouldn't even have to complain in the first place.

 

[coolfactor]

Good. Developers were getting stiffed. Having to rent hardware and getting back a small percentage of it for the privilege of moving apps to a new platform was nasty of apple. I get it is a two way thing and the devs want to be on it, but it showed a lack of respect to the largest group of people who are making the news macs look amazing as more native apps appear. Glad they did the right thing.

To get "stiffed" would have been to be promised a refund (or credit) that was never given. The program terms never stated that a credit would be given at all, so it was generous of Apple to add that in later. And developers complained? That I don't understand.

 

[dannyyankou]

Huh? Apple gave more than hardware, but a full support package. It was easily worth $500 that developers are effectively getting for free now.

But I was talking about the original $200 they offered back. That was pathetic, especially considering developers already pay $99-299 per year.

 

[farewelwilliams]

This sets a dangerous precedent.

 

[dguisinger]

Huh? Apple gave more than hardware, but a full support package. It was easily worth $500 that developers are effectively getting for free now.

I am always confused how people think a company who owns a platform that would be worthless without 3rd party developers, makes a major change that needs to get their partner developers on board, and is apparently owed something from their developers.

If anything, the necessity of getting developers onboard with Apple Silicon for release day completely justifies the thought that Apple should have done this from the day the dev boxes were announced. The machines were always going to be needed to sent back under the terms of the arrangement, so they should have always been loaners, secured by money that would be given back. I am shocked that they only set the terms of that a few days ago, and then needed to scramble to change it after outcry.

And to your point.... Oh no, Apple gave them a support package. No, Apple should not squeeze their developers dry, Apple needs their developers - of course the developers deserve a support package when they are bringing M1 software out for the M1 launch. No developers = worthless platform. And, its not iOS which a large marketshare. MacOS has a small marketshare, and Apple Silicon had 0% market share when they asked developers to develop for it.

Apple would have been screwed if no body came out with native software right away.

 

[tubedogg]

To get "stiffed" would have been to be promised a refund (or credit) that was never given. The program terms never stated that a credit would be given at all, so it was generous of Apple to add that in later. And developers complained? That I don't understand.

Developers complained because it was a tone-deaf token gesture after widespread problems with the DTK working (once it actually shipped; many developers didn't receive theirs until months into the program), lack of response to support queries, and the additional smack of the program abruptly ending several months early.

And for the richest company in the world, $200 times *at most* several thousand developers is literally a rounding error.

All of this comes on top of the craptacular year they just finished in developer relations, even setting the DTK aside.

No, they didn't owe developers anything, except to do what they originally promised in return for the $500. The $500 credit doesn't fix the past but it's at least not an utter slap in the face.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Good on Apple. I'm not sure Apple owed anyone anything but $200 was just bad optics.

How many DTK did they sell? I’m sure the move to $500 was good press at a negligible cost.

 

[farewelwilliams]

It's unfortunate the amount of whining towards something where Apple didn't do a single thing wrong caused Apple to cave which sets a dangerous precedent. Is Apple going to bend over backwards whenever the developer community cries, even if they're wrong?

Community needs to bash Apple where it hurts. Whether it's them completely failing with the 2013 Mac Pro, butterfly switch keyboards, or other weird design choices. Complaining about a voucher isn't one of those things.

I'm ashamed to be considered part of this developer community.

 

[technole]

The bigger picture for M1 is if the dev has paid apps in the App Store, Apple is likely cashing in more than $500 regularly. Might as well keep the honey pot churning.

 

[ouimetnick]

Funny how several members in the previous thread were calling developers ungrateful, whiny, immature, impudent children. 🤔🙄

Its called taking care of your developers. Remember macOS would be what it is today with out the vibrant community of developers creating apps for it.