<story><title>Apple removes $99 dev account requirement for first iOS 17 and macOS 14 betas</title><url>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/how-to-install-ios-17-and-macos-14-developer-betas-now-that-anyone-can-do-it/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>guraf</author><text>Serious question: why or how does a developer in a developing nation end up selecting macos as a platform? And after that deliberate choice of hardware why do we assume they couldn&amp;#x27;t afford the $99?</text></item><item><author>reaperman</author><text>This is still a huge improvement. Can devs also use TestFlight for free to distribute to a few dozen friends for testing?&lt;p&gt;Would be a massive benefit to budding developers in developing nations.</text></item><item><author>superkuh</author><text>&amp;gt;Actually submitting apps to Apple for App Store distribution (or, on the Mac, signing them so that you can distribute them outside the App Store without setting off macOS&amp;#x27; many unsigned app warning messages) will still cost $99 per year.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>schemescape</author><text>If they’re trying to sell apps, it would make sense to sell on the platform where people spend the most on apps. I have no way to verify, but I’ve heard that iOS is that platform.</text></comment>
<story><title>Apple removes $99 dev account requirement for first iOS 17 and macOS 14 betas</title><url>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/how-to-install-ios-17-and-macos-14-developer-betas-now-that-anyone-can-do-it/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>guraf</author><text>Serious question: why or how does a developer in a developing nation end up selecting macos as a platform? And after that deliberate choice of hardware why do we assume they couldn&amp;#x27;t afford the $99?</text></item><item><author>reaperman</author><text>This is still a huge improvement. Can devs also use TestFlight for free to distribute to a few dozen friends for testing?&lt;p&gt;Would be a massive benefit to budding developers in developing nations.</text></item><item><author>superkuh</author><text>&amp;gt;Actually submitting apps to Apple for App Store distribution (or, on the Mac, signing them so that you can distribute them outside the App Store without setting off macOS&amp;#x27; many unsigned app warning messages) will still cost $99 per year.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>norman784</author><text>I don&amp;#x27;t know how is now, but a few years ago you have more chances to monetize in iOS than in Android. Also you can get a used Mac or refurbished one relatively cheap.</text></comment>