Apple ($AAPL) is more unpopular than ever. The tech giant usually gives app developers about a week to prepare for the launch of a new iOS — this time around, they were given just 24 hours’ notice.
With Apple’s announcement of iOS 14 on Tuesday during its annual September event, developers for iPhone and iPad found themselves scrambling to update their apps. While a beta version of the operating system has been available since June, many developers assumed they’d have at least a week to get their updates ready ahead of the launch. Many took to Twitter to voice their complaints.
In June, Apple held their annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC), where it announced iOS 14. Developers were given a beta version to test and make sure their apps were compatible with the new software. However, the beta version is never quite the same as the final product, so developers were counting on some extra time to make bug fixes.
Apple’s September events usually mark the release of its “Golden Master” (GM) version of an iOS along with Xcode developer tools. The GM is typically an updated form of the beta, and therefore requires more work to get an app update rolled out. Then there’s the process of getting Apple to approve the app for its App Store, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a week.
Many apps won’t be available on iOS 14 just yet, and developers of major apps, including Nintendo, which makes the popular iPhone game "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp," have cautioned against updating.
Apple’s increasingly strict App Store policies have drawn heavy criticism in recent months, contributing to developers’ bitterness toward the company. Its ongoing court battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games ($PRIVATE:EPICGAMES) has painted Apple as the villain, due to the App Store’s 30% fee on all app transactions that Epic Games argues is unfair. Both Google and Apple charge the same fee for apps in their stores, and both companies kicked Epic Games out for attempting to bypass their payment methods.