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There are lots of comments here that rightly point out that you have no reasonable expectation of uninterrupted functionality using beta software. But to me, th

There are lots of comments here that rightly point out that you have no reasonable expectation of uninterrupted functionality using beta software. But to me, there's a bigger, more interesting picture here: There's clearly a demand for pre-release Apple software among people who don't really have any need for it. I'm sure I'm not alone in having seen people this summer running iOS 7 betas on their personal phones, even people with no software development experience who probably couldn't tell you what Xcode is. It's not in Apple's interest for this to be happening, as it leaves a bad taste in people's mouth when things like this inevitably happen. Restricting access clearly doesn't work. Everyone who knows the beta exists knows someone who can hook them up. There's got to be something else, some other way Apple can make these betas less appealing to the casual user, without lessening the betas' usefulness for people actually trying to test things.

misiti3780 13y ago
I agree - they should change the registration process so each developer account only install firmware on a single phone
- taspeotis 13y ago
  You should be able to answer this one for yourself: why is this a bad idea? Hint: there is more than one type of iPhone.
- objclxt 13y ago
  That's a terrible idea that assumes each developer only needs one phone. But someone who is making a full-time living off iOS development probably has several devices: a 5/5x for the taller screen, a 4/4S, until recently maybe a non-retina model...
  - MaysonL 13y ago
    As well as a number of beta testers (who when they offer useful feedback can be worth their weight in gold).
    - misiti3780 13y ago
      ya i guess i didnt really think that one through ...
socillion 13y ago
I wonder if the large amount of regular users who jump at the chance to join a beta has anything to do with the severe dilution of the term. These days a product labeled as beta is very likely to be using that to imply a degree of exclusivity or simply to emphasize that it is the absolute latest, rather than it being unfinished. Beta access for video games is extremely desirable, Google has made the term completely meaningless with products like Gmail, etc. When beta is so frequently a good thing, who wouldn't want to get the latest iOS and tell all their friends about how awesome it is? Just some thoughts, but I'm feeling deja vu while writing this post - I suspect the topic has been beaten to death in the past. edit: indeed it has, here is a discussion from when iOS5 was released: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2649222 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2649222
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]

misiti3780 13y ago

I agree - they should change the registration process so each developer account only install firmware on a single phone

taspeotis 13y ago
You should be able to answer this one for yourself: why is this a bad idea? Hint: there is more than one type of iPhone.
objclxt 13y ago
That's a terrible idea that assumes each developer only needs one phone. But someone who is making a full-time living off iOS development probably has several devices: a 5/5x for the taller screen, a 4/4S, until recently maybe a non-retina model...
- MaysonL 13y ago
  As well as a number of beta testers (who when they offer useful feedback can be worth their weight in gold).
  - misiti3780 13y ago
    ya i guess i didnt really think that one through ...

socillion 13y ago

I wonder if the large amount of regular users who jump at the chance to join a beta has anything to do with the severe dilution of the term. These days a product labeled as beta is very likely to be using that to imply a degree of exclusivity or simply to emphasize that it is the absolute latest, rather than it being unfinished. Beta access for video games is extremely desirable, Google has made the term completely meaningless with products like Gmail, etc. When beta is so frequently a good thing, who wouldn't want to get the latest iOS and tell all their friends about how awesome it is? Just some thoughts, but I'm feeling deja vu while writing this post - I suspect the topic has been beaten to death in the past. edit: indeed it has, here is a discussion from when iOS5 was released: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2649222 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2649222

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]