Prior to the launch of the M1 Macs, Apple provided developers with a transition kit for developers that includes a Mac mini equipped with an Aionz Bionic chip first used in the iPad Pro, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB SSD, two USB-C ports, two USB -One port and one HDMI 2.0 port.
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These DTKs were temporarily offered to developers who paid $ 500 for access and aimed to provide developers with a way to create universal applications to prepare for the transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips.
Apple is now asking the developers return the transition kits to developers in exchange for a unique usage code that will offer a $ 200 discount on a Mac M1.
Thank you for participating in the Universal Quick Start Program and your continued commitment to creating great Mac applications. The response to the new Macs has been incredible and we love the fantastic experiences that developers like you have already created for Mac users.
Now that the new BookM1-powered MacBook Air, Mac mini and MacBook Pro are available, it will soon be time to return the developer transition kit (DTK) that was sent to you as part of the program. Please find the original packaging to be returned DTK. We will email you in a few weeks with instructions for returning DTK.
In appreciation of your participation in the program and to assist you in the continued development of Universal applications, you will receive a one-time usage code of $ 200 to be used when purchasing a Mac with M1, after the confirmed return of DTK. Until your program subscription expires one year after the subscription starts, you will have continuous access to other benefits of the program, such as technical support incidents and private discussion forums.
Apple first shipped transition kits to developers in late June, so developers have had them on hand for the past seven months. Developers were supposed to have a year with DTK in order to develop applications, but other benefits that include a private discussion forum and technical support will continue to be available for the entire 12-month period.
Some developers are unhappy with Apple’s compensation, given the initial $ 500 price of the DTK program and the experienced bugs that made it difficult to use DTK. The last time Apple had a similar program to transition from PowerPC chips to Intel chips, Apple offered developers the first free Intel-based Mac.
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS? This doesn’t go even a third of the way to the cheapest Mac M1. It almost covers the 4 months that DTK could be used from the 12-month lease you paid for – Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) February 3, 2021
$ 200 and is in use until the end of May. Extremely weak, given how unusable DTK has become, that you already had to buy a M1. Very, very disappointed – Neil Kerr (@nfjkerr) February 4, 2021
It’s an absolute joke. I’ve been waiting for almost three months to replace my unusable DTK with a usable, still quiet radio from Apple, after I agreed to replace it. Along with the fact that it must be used until May 31. Very disappointed – Alpha (@AlphaNDB) February 4, 2021
“Hello, please return the DTK you paid with $ 500 for the loan. In gratitude, we have enough money here to buy 1/6 of a Mac M1. Thanks! “- Adam Bell (@ b3ll) February 4, 2021
The $ 200 credit can be used for any Mac, and the $ 699 “Mini Mac” would be the cheapest option available for developers who want to take over a new Mac M1 for continuous development. The credit must be used by the end of May.