Apple's TestFlight Beta Testing Service Gearing Up Alongside iTunes Connect Revamp

[MacRumors]

Earlier this year, Apple acquired Burstly, the company behind the popular TestFlight service for managing beta testing of iOS apps, and at WWDC in June Apple announced it would be relaunching TestFlight with iOS 8 as an integrated service for developers and testers.

With the redesigned iTunes Connect web portal launching yesterday, the service is now including references to TestFlight and the company has made public a link to a universal iOS app [App Store] to allow users to install beta apps.

TestFlight allows app developers to invite you to beta test their apps on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Once you join a developer's beta test through their email invitation, TestFlight makes it easy to install or update to new bet versions as they become available.

Beta testing apps has never been easier

- To receive your beta test invitation, all an app developer needs is your email address
- You will receive beta invitations in your inbox
- Accept the invitation to open TestFlight and install the app
- TestFlight will then notify you when new versions are available
- Tap to upgrade to the latest version and keep testing

The app requires iOS 8, and Apple will likely make a more thorough unveiling at next week's media event where it will announce the public launch date for iOS 8.

Article Link: Apple's TestFlight Beta Testing Service Gearing Up Alongside iTunes Connect Revamp

 

[CrazyForApple]

This is a really cool idea.

 

[christiankm]

Finally some news about TestFlight. I'm excited to see how it works!

 

[gibbz]

This is going to make my life so easy. No more freaking provisioning madness.

 

[dspalton]

not in the UK

 

[Menel]

Didnt expect the ios8 requirement

 

[campingsk8er]

I've had TestFlight for the entirety of the iOS 8 beta being out and I haven't been invited to test a single app...

 

[waterskier2007]

I've had TestFlight for the entirety of the iOS 8 beta being out and I haven't been invited to test a single app...

You don't just sign up for testflight and get invited to random apps. It is up to developers to ask people to join their beta test.

 

[Menel]

I've had TestFlight for the entirety of the iOS 8 beta being out and I haven't been invited to test a single app...

... You actually have to know developers... for them to add you to their account.

 

[DanielDD]

Here you can see one of the rarest events in the Apple World, an icon that got its colors right

 

[GenesisST]

I've had TestFlight for the entirety of the iOS 8 beta being out and I haven't been invited to test a single app...

Send a check or money order to the amount of 1 billion dollars and I will create a dummy app to invite you for.

 

[taptic]

Here you can see one of the rarest events in the Apple World, an icon that got its colors right

What............?

 

[TouchMint.com]

This is going to make my life so easy. No more freaking provisioning madness.

You said it I can't wait!

At first when they bought them I figured they were just getting rid of the service but seems they closer integrated it so it's real nice!

 

[MikhailT]

I've had TestFlight for the entirety of the iOS 8 beta being out and I haven't been invited to test a single app...

What are you talking about? TestFlight from Apple has not been available until now.

 

[DanielDD]

What............?

Jokes aside... this icon is pretty well made. Flat, but not neoish, the gradient is much more subtle and the logo is good. I wish iOS7 / 8 had a similar approach to this icon.

 

[HiRez]

Here you can see one of the rarest events in the Apple World, an icon that got its colors right

Well you can't really praise Apple for it, it's the same icon TestFlight had been using before Apple bought them.

 

[dazed]

This is a great idea. I'm sure when it's available to all there will be devs on forums like this asking for testers.

I'm assuming there is some decent sandboxing so people can't be fooled into installing and running a phishing app?

 

[ChristianVirtual]

This is a great idea. I'm sure when it's available to all there will be devs on forums like this asking for testers.

I'm assuming there is some decent sandboxing so people can't be fooled into installing and running a phishing app?

Sure, but Devs still need to be a bit selective, specially those with only 100 devices allowed on their accounts. They can't just send unlimited test versions out. Plus the tester need to share their device ID while signing up for a test flight.

But still a great idea, even before Apple bought it.

 

[Sharkus]

Sure, but Devs still need to be a bit selective, specially those with only 100 devices allowed on their accounts. They can't just send unlimited test versions out. Plus the tester need to share their device ID while signing up for a test flight.

But still a great idea, even before Apple bought it.

Umm, no. With Apple's system you do not need to provision beta test devices. I seem to recall a mention of 1000 users can beta test an instance of your app. From what I remember you send them an email with a link to the app, they install the TestFlight app from the App Store, and it'll display your app in there.

For the vast majority of developers this will of great use.

However, for some, it's not so good. where are the options to upload beta's using CI (e.g.; Jenkins - don't get me started on how to code-sign apps with notification centre widgets using xcodebuild)? Ah, there is nothing, it says to use Xcode 5.1.1 or later, or Application loader. Hmm.

There is also a beta review system, so someone just whacking up a dodgy app will, hopefully, get caught out by that, as they would do a normal app store review process, though the beta one is likely a little less strict. This also adds time to getting betas into peoples hands.

What I'm really curious about is when the current TestFlight will cease to exist. I use it a heck of a lot and it's a great system, but given their history of shutting things down without and announcements (they pulled FlightPath support with no announcement I could find) I would not be shocked to find it's no longer there after tuesday. Good thing I have a few other systems in place just in case.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

I still have three devices from external beta tester managed via Pre-Apple Testflight in my dev account. That said I didn't tried since it became an service. They might changed the conditions/restrictions and I might missed that.