Prior to the release of the M1 Macs, Apple provided developers with a Developer Transition Kit that included a Mac mini equipped with an A12Z Bionic chip used for the first time on the iPad Pro, 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, two USB- C, two USB ports -A and one HDMI 2.0 port.
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These DTKs were temporarily offered to developers who paid $ 500 for access and were intended to give developers a way to create universal applications to prepare for the transition from Intel processors to Apple’s silicon chips.
Apple is now asking the developers to return your Developer Transition Kits in exchange for a one-time code that will provide a $ 200 discount on a M1 Mac.
Thank you for participating in the Universal Apps Quick Start Program and your continued commitment to creating great Mac apps. 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 MacBook Air, Mac mini and MacBook Pro with poweredM1 are available, it will soon be time to return the Developer Transition Kit (DTK) that was sent to you as part of the program. Locate the original packaging to use for returning the DTK. We will send you an email in a few weeks with instructions to return the DTK.
In appreciation for your participation in the program and to assist in the continued development of universal applications, you will receive a one-time code for $ 200 to use when purchasing a comM1 Mac after confirming the return of the DTK. Until your program membership expires one year after the membership start date, you will have continuous access to other program benefits, such as technical support incidents and private discussion forums.
Apple shipped the Developer Transition Kits in late June, so developers have had them on hand for the past seven months. Developers should have a year with DTK for application development purposes, but other benefits that include a private discussion forum and technical support will remain available throughout the 12-month period.
Some developers are dissatisfied with Apple’s compensation, given the $ 500 starting price for the DTK program and the bugs found that made using the DTK difficult. The last time Apple had a similar program for the transition from PowerPC to Intel chips, Apple provided developers with the first Intel-based Mac for free.
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS? That doesn’t even come a third of the way to the cheaper M1 Mac. It covers almost the 4 months DTK can be used from the 12 month rent you paid for – Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) February 3, 2021
$ 200 and use until the end of May. Extremely poor, considering how unusable the DTK has become, that you already had to buy a M1. Very, very disappointed – Neil Kerr (@nfjkerr) February 4, 2021
It is an absolute joke. I’ve been waiting for almost three months for my unusable DTK to be replaced with a usable, still radio silence from Apple after agreeing to replace it. Along with the fact that it must be used until May 31st. Very disappointed – Alpha (@AlphaNDB) February 4, 2021
“Hello, please return your DTK that you paid $ 500 to borrow. As proof of our gratitude, here is enough money to buy 1/6 of a M1 Mac. Thank you! “- Adam Bell (@ b3ll) February 4, 2021
The $ 200 credit can be used for any Mac, and the $ 699 Mac mini would be the cheapest option available to developers looking to purchase a new M1 Mac for ongoing development. The credit should be used until the end of May.