Apple has apparently started to crack down on developers who sell early beta versions of iOS 5 to non-developers. According to a report by Karthikk, Apple has identified certain developers who have been selling UDID slots to the general public. Apple has started to close developer accounts that have been caught selling iOS 5 beta software to unauthorized personnel.
Many developers have already received an email from Apple informing them that their account has been banned from the developer’s program.
According to Karthikk, “Apple has started closing the developer accounts for selling the slots and also, have flagged the UDIDs associated with that dev account, thus making the iOS 5 device unusable.” When Apple locks out an iDevice, it will enter into the initial setup mode and ask you to connect the device to iTunes. At this point the iDevice has essentially been bricked. If this happens, the device must be downgraded to iOS 4.3.
There are quite a few websites willing to sell anyone with $10 a copy of iOS 5 beta. These sites openly advertise on the internet and are an easy target for Apple to go after and shut down.
Every developer is provided 100 UDID (Unique Device Identifier) slots so they can beta test their software using iOS 5 beta. Apple does not require developers to register every device that they test software on. It seems unlikely that Apple would deactivate iDevices running iOS 5 beta without knowing exactly who is legitimately using the software.
Because iOS 5 is still in development, Apple doesn’t want the general public using the software until it is ready to be released. If too many people get a bad impression of the beta version of iOS 5, then it could have an adverse effect on Apple’s bottom line. Apple is expected to release iOS 5 in September along side iCloud, and possibly the fifth-generation iPhone as well.
Source: Karthikk
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