iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 Let Developers and Public Beta Testers Opt in to Betas Directly From Software Update Settings

[Lounge vibes 05]

This is the way it should've been from the beginning. Now, bring that same functionality to macOS!

It’s not exactly the same thing, but there is a command to enable both public or developer beta updates in the terminal on the Mac.

 

[Rogifan]

Correct! But the Public Beta is not available right away either. Thus, people that want to test out the latest iOS software would have to wait.

I also have a feeling, In the future, Apple may make the new features available to the $99 paying developer accounts. Sadly, It’s a money game. Simple as that!

You’re seriously going to complain because you’re not a developer and might have to wait a few extra days to download beta software? Is there really anything that important that you need to have it immediately after Apple announces it?

 

[rjjacobson]

View attachment 2159746There’s an option for something called a customer beta? Anyone else have any idea what that means?

I saw the same on my ipad and iPhone I have no idea either curious what it is.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I use a separate Apple ID for my development, keeping my personal Apple ID, well personal. Is this going to affect how I can install developer betas now?

 

[KoToNaS]

I use a separate Apple ID for my development, keeping my personal Apple ID, well personal. Is this going to affect how I can install developer betas now?

exactly what I do too. I use separate Apple ID

 

[ProfessionalFan]

The developer beta was always intended for use only on devices being used for development so the people asking about having a separate ID confuse me. The developer Apple ID would be on your developing devices I assume.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Correct! But the Public Beta is not available right away either. Thus, people that want to test out the latest iOS software would have to wait.

I also have a feeling, In the future, Apple may make the new features available to the $99 paying developer accounts. Sadly, It’s a money game. Simple as that!

They probably got tired of having to deal with tech support and repair inquries from people who installed the dev beta and weren't supposed to.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yes, you are wrong. Let the developers try it first to make sure it isn't problematic. I am in the public beta program. I can wait (usually) 1 or 2 days after developers get it.

Whenever anyone mentions Apple “forcing” them to pay anything, I’m always reminded that they’re totally not forcing anyone to pay anything 🙂

 

[sbailey4]

We can still download the IPSW and install it over iTunes so this is extremely unnecessary but likely what is going on. Not many people (really only a geeky fraction of customers) get betas through such loopholes and driving them away like this is counterproductive to the software development process. The people who so eagerly await updates and can't wait for the public beta so they go through the loopholes to test it are the ones who are actually passionate about it and can't wait to provide feedback. Gatekeeping with $99/year what's valuable testers who care about the platforms seems like a nonsensical move to me.

Agree. Seems that they should be paying knowledgeable testers to provide valuable feedback on their software that will go out FREE to everyone at some point so as their experience would be better. But they need the money. 🙂

A lot of folks cannot or will not pay $99 to provide free testing for free software. Apple may step up the public testing timeline though to provide folks, who are not actually developing apps thus no need for a paid developer subscription, the ability to provide this feedback earlier in the cycle. Hence the dual switch in the settings.

 

[sbailey4]

The purpose of betas is to test and provide feedback. How many non-developers who install the very early betas are actually providing meaningful feedback (specific reproduction steps, screenshots, logs, etc)?

Has nothing to do with money and everything to do with improving the quality of the feedback. Having thousands of random users submitting garbage feedback just increases the amount of reports engineers have to wade through and triage, which in turn takes time away from actually fixing bugs.

This will improve the quality of the software. If you just want to play around with new features, wait for the public beta.

I disagree. I would venture to say most of the folks at least on this site have the knowledge and skills to provide good feedback. The rest who are just getting the software earlier may never provide any feedback good or bad. Also I would bet that by the time the public beta is available, those folks may not provide as much feedback either but simply enjoy the software earlier. You don't have to be a paid developer to understand how the software is supposed to work/ perform and let someone know when it doesn't.

 

[garranhado]

I always used betas with a separate Apple ID (personal) from my developer account.

 

[deckard666]

Yeah that wait between the developer update and public one of a week or so is really going to sting....First world problems !

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Yeah that wait between the developer update and public one of a week or so is really going to sting....First world problems !

It is only a day in a lot of cases too

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I always used betas with a separate Apple ID (personal) from my developer account.

The betas are intended for use on devices used for development only so you have been using them wrong. Apple is just enforcing their terms of service better here.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yeah that wait between the developer update and public one of a week or so is really going to sting....First world problems !

Look you, I am ENTITLED to any of the things that I determine I want! If I can’t get them then the WORLD is out of order. The world owes me my satisfaction!

/s

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Apple’s doing folks a favor. They are FORCING them to think about all the valuable hours they put into an activity, for FREE, that others are getting paid for.

 

[svish]

Much simpler. Good move.

 

[one more]

How does it work if you have a separate Apple ID for your developer account?

You can probably still install a profile, as before.

 

[jambon]

Do I delete the profile now?

 

[MLVC]

Do I delete the profile now?

Wondering the same thing.

 

[sbailey4]

You can probably still install a profile, as before.

Nope, they said the profiles would be no more once this is rolled out.

 

[one more]

Nope, they said the profiles would be no more once this is rolled out.

Perhaps they will then also start rolling betas out at the same time for both developers and public testers? Then you will only need your dev profile to manage your apps, which would make sense.

 

[gank41]

The developer beta was always intended for use only on devices being used for development so the people asking about having a separate ID confuse me. The developer Apple ID would be on your developing devices I assume.

Tell that to the MANY developers that can only afford their one device. This breaks a LOT for a LOT of people. This will force developers to sign into the device itself with their Developer ID as opposed to their Personal ID, and then installing a Profile authenticated with their Dev ID.

This might stop/prevent, or even slow down the influx of "Average Joe" folks wasting Apple's time with the whole "UGH this one new beta feature still isn't working yet!" issues, but will only hamper actual development.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Why do I have a feeling this is Apple's way to force people to pay a Developer Account $99 annual fee to not wait for the public beta? Am I wrong?

You’re wrong because that defeats the whole point of a public beta.

 

[gank41]

You’re wrong because that defeats the whole point of a public beta.

You technically only need to pay for the Dev Program if you’re submitting apps to the App Store. Anyone else can always and have always been able to join the Public Dev Program.