Apple Inc. Does Not Want iOS 9 Beta Users Writing Reviews In The App Store

Apple Inc. does not want you writing reviews of apps while using the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 9, at least while its still in beta. Apple is no longer allowing users of the beta version of the OS to write reviews in the App Store. When an attempt to leave a review is made, devices running the iOS 9 Beta are now blocked and greeted with a popup, according to MacRumors.

“This feature isn’t available,” the popup reads. “You can’t write reviews while using a prerelease version of iOS.”

The change will be of some relief to developers that have received negative reviews from device owners that experienced app problems on the prerelease operating system. And in many cases the problems were tied to issues outside of developer control. It’s an issue that developers were quick to express their frustration about on Twitter:

While the change will prevent iOS beta testers from leaving reviews, it does not prevent them from leaving one-star ratings via the App Store.

Beta versions of iOS had previously been released to developers as a way to test out their apps with Apple’s new operating systems before they are widely released. But with Apple offering the iOS 9 beta to the general public, the problem of negative reviews was exacerbated since more users had access to the software.

Apple first launched a limited beta program for iOS starting with iOS 8.3 in March, which gave iPhone owners a chance to test out the software before its release. Earlier in July, it launched its iOS 9 public beta program. The software will come with a number of new features, including a News app, split-screen multitasking and performance tweaks.