TestFlight

It’s not just you, TestFlight is down for some users [Update: issue resolved]

testflight down

No, it's not just you! TestFlight is currently down for some users, including yours truly. While Apple took a bit of time to acknowledge the issue, the System Status page has now been updated to reflect the issue.

Update: the issue has now been resolved!

According to Apple, the issue started at 8.35 AM Pacific Time and is currently ongoing.  The company notes that "Users are experiencing a problem with this service. We are investigating and will update the status as more information becomes available."

Apple is making it easier for non-developers to test iOS apps

Test Flight Public Link

It wasn't that long ago when testing new iOS apps was reserved for developers and those in the tech media. That began to change last year when Apple increased the number of people who could test beta software. App testing should further expand thanks to a new tool recently unveiled called TestFlight Public Link. 

Apple now lets developers invite 2,000 people to beta test apps via TestFlight

Apple today announced on its portal for developers that it is doubling the previous limitation of up to 1,000 beta users in TestFlight to 2,000 external testers who can beta test an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Apple TV app.

In addition, the company is extending beta periods on a per-app basis to sixty days, a twofold increase over the previous beta expiration limit of 30 days.

Apple’s TestFlight app receives support for native Watch apps and iOS 9’s App Thinning technologies

TestFlight, an online service for over-the-air installation and testing of mobile applications that was purchased by Apple last year, in its most recent version 1.2 update has introduced support for testing upcoming iOS 9 features, including native Apple Watch applications with watchOS 2.

In addition, the application has been optimized with support for App Thinning, a set of Apple-provided optimization technologies designed to reduce download sizes of iOS 9 and Apple Watch apps by tailoring app delivery to the capabilities of the user’s particular device.

Apple updates TestFlight with support for beta testing of Apple Watch apps

As part of a flurry of updates related to Apple Watch ahead of tomorrow's first batch of shipments, Apple on Thursday updated its TestFlight application with ability to install and beta test apps on your Apple Watch.

With today's update, iOS developers no longer must exclude the WatchKit binaries when uploading iPhone and iPad apps with WatchKit functionality to iTunes.