Home Why Apple Won’t Allow Reviews For iOS 9 Yet

Why Apple Won’t Allow Reviews For iOS 9 Yet

Bugs, incompatibilities and other weird things are so common in pre-release software, they’re practically guaranteed—which is why Apple has now blocked iOS 9 beta testers from leaving App Store reviews

Apple apparently wants to nip premature complaints in the bud, which seems very logical and reasonable. But it should have seen this issue coming ahead of time. Developers may be used to dealing with unfinished software, but everyday iPhone users may not be prepared for the unexpected problems that often go along for that ride. 

See also: 10 Things Developers Need To Know About The New iPod Touch

What makes matters worse, according to developers: Some of those issues didn’t even stem from programming errors in their own apps, but from iOS 9 itself. In a sense, it was like taking the fall for someone else. Apple has been focusing on improving iOS development, but if it’s serious about supporting its app-making community, it shouldn’t overlook such common-sense matters. 

Apple Should Have Seen This Coming

When it comes to mobile apps, reputation can be everything. That’s why App Store reviews and its popularity charts can wield so much power. 

So naturally, some developers had a right to worry when they saw beta testers leaving one-star app reviews—particularly since some of those problems came from issues in iOS 9’s code. 

Apple executives must be monitoring social media more closely these days, first responding to Taylor Swift’s plea for Apple Music royalties and now reacting to developer woes like this being tweeted out. Although it didn’t officially announce any changes to its policy, word has spread that the company has indeed blocked beta testers from leaving reviews. 

Apparently users of the iOS 9 beta now get this message if they attempt to leave an App Store review: 

https://twitter.com/orbuch/status/623724857570758656

On the surface, the company appears to have acted quickly, striking reviews mere weeks after the iOS 9 beta opened up to the public. But dig deeper, and you’ll realize that the issue goes back several months. 

iOS 9 is the first major update to get the public beta treatment, but it’s not the very first to take this route. The company opened up iOS 8.3 betas back in March

See also: Apple Wants You To Help In The War On iOS Bugs

Opening up early access probably looked like a great way to go. Not only can the tactic help drum up excitement among users, but this wider availability—which also wound up extending to Mac OS X—allows for a huge army of free beta testers. Too bad it also exposed Apple and its app developers to millions of users who don’t necessarily understand what using beta software entails. 

Better Late Than Never?

Clearly, Apple wants to make its iPhone and the apps that run on it as bulletproof as possible. Most recently, it expanded the limit on test devices—from 100 in total to 100 devices per Apple device type (iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, etc). 

See also: Why Apple’s Letting Developers Test Apps On 100 Apple TVs

As for this latest change, it’s not immediately clear if it the new policy will affect any previous reviews left by beta testers. But at least from now on, developers may get some much-needed breathing room to get their apps fully iOS 9 compatible, without fear of bashing. 

Hopefully, it will also serve as a timely reminder to users that beta versions are not the same as polished, full releases. 

The final version of iOS 9 should officially see the light of day when this year’s iPhones are launched around September time. It brings with it a more proactive Siri, multitasking views for the iPad, and a News app that showcases a curated list of articles from selected publishers, among other new features. 

Image courtesy of Apple

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.