Developers for iOS, Mac, and Apple watch devices can now maintain one account for all these platforms with its new Apple Developer Program. This new, unified program will allow developers to access watchOS, and prerelease builds of iOS 9 and OS X, as well as SDK for OS X and Ios.
Through this program, Apple integrates everything - from developing, distributing, and managing apps on all platforms into single account seamlessly and in a more cost-effective manner.
For a single fee of $99, developers will be spending half the cost that developers will have to pay using the old configuration. And since member developers will no longer have to create a separate account for mobile platforms, Apple desktop, and Apple watch, bringing apps to customers all over world will be fuss free. All developers have to do is integrate their membership account with App Store and Apple Pay.
New and existing developers will still have access to TestFlight beta testing, app analytics, and other services. Automatic renewals are also part of Apple's plan to prevent service interruption and access to developer tools.
Speaking of preventing intervention, Apple may be changing a bit of its approach in trying to "show users functionality on a need-to-know basis" with regard to its cloud storage device. The iCloud Drive, according to 9to5Mac, is hidden inside the iOS 9 beta. That means this app is not visible by default and thus need to be activated.
To activate iCloud Drive app in iOS 9, Apple device users should go to Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive. Click on 'Show on Home Screen' and it will appear as an app icon alongside other apps. Once it is activated, users can start storing files in the app, view and manage it anytime.
Apple outlined the steps for existing members to transition to the unified developer program in its support page. It is not clear in the outline how Apple will handle separate accounts that are already settled, however.
This plan of Apple to integrate Mac, iOS, and Apple watch into a single developer account removes redundancy and reduces cost. A news agency, ont he other hand, mentioned about a possible downside. It said, "with a watchOS, the new program seems counterproductive to add on yet a third fee or to single out a platform to pair it with."
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