Apple is no longer letting beta testers post app reviews on pre-release versions of iOS.
That means that giving a bad – or even a good – review of an app on iOS 9 is no longer possible until the final version of the software launches.
That’s a welcome change, as previously users could give apps bad scores if they were buggy ahead of the official OS release.
Beta tests are used to give developers a chance to refine their apps before they go live for a new OS.
As such, they often suffer with bugs, crashing, or sluggish performance – but that’s okay, because it’s a beta test.
Unfortunately, this meant that apps could end up with bad scores on the actual App Store, despite users technically running ‘test’ versions of the content.
Related: iOS 9 vs Android M
The change – which went live in Apple’s fourth iOS 9 beta – was first spotted by an AppleInsider reader.
It’s worth noting that the new rules also mean users won’t be able to post positive reviews about apps running on iOS 9 either, but developers will likely think the change is worthwhile.
It’s not clear whether Apple will impose similar reviewing rules for the El Capitan beta test either.
If you need a device to run the iOS 9 beta on, check out our iPhone 6 video review below:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.