Prior to the release of the M1 Macs, Apple developers provided a Developer Transition Kit featuring a Mac mini equipped with an A12Z Bionic chip first used in the iPad Pro, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD , two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and one HDMI 2.0 port.
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These DTCs were offered on a temporary basis to developers who paid $ 500 for access, and were aimed at giving developers a way to create universal apps to prepare for the transition from Intel processors to Apple silicone chips .
Apple is now ask developers to return their transition kits to developers in exchange for a one-time use code that will offer a $ 200 discount on a M1 Mac.
Thank you for participating in the Universal App Quick Start program and your continued commitment to developing excellent applications for Mac. The response to the new Macs has been incredible, and we love the fantastic experiences that developers like you have created for Mac users.
Now that the new MacBook Air, Mac mini and MacBook Pro powered by M1 are available, it’s time to return the Developer Transition Kit (DTK) sent to you as part of the program. Search for the original packaging to return the DTK. We will email you with instructions to return the DTK within a few weeks.
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 $ 200 use code to purchase for a Mac with ‘M1’, upon confirmation of the DTK. Until your program expires one year after your start date for membership, you will have continued access to other program benefits, such as technical support incidents and private discussion forums.
Apple first sent the transition kits to developers at the end of June, and developers have had them on hand for the past seven months. Developers planned to have a year at the DTC for application development purposes, but other benefits that include a private discussion forum and technical support will be available during the full twelve months.
Some developers are dissatisfied with Apple’s compensation given the initial price of $ 500 of the DTK program and the errors experienced that made the use of the DTK difficult. The last time Apple had a similar program for the transition from PowerPC to Intel chips, Apple provided the first Intel-based Mac to developers for free.
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS? It’s not even a third of the way to the cheapest M1 Mac. It covers about the 4 months that the DTK was usable from the 12 month lease you paid for – Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) 3 February 2021
$ 200 and used by the end of May. Extremely poor considering how useless the DTK has become that you already had to buy a M1. Very, very disappointed – Neil Kerr (@nfjkerr) February 4, 2021
This is an absolute joke. I’ve been waiting almost three months to have my unusable DTK replaced by a usable, still radio silent one from Apple after I agreed to replace it. In addition, it must be used by 31 May. Very Disappointed – Alpha (@AlphaNDB) February 4, 2021
‘Hello, return your DTK, you paid $ 500 to borrow. As proof of our gratitude, here’s enough money to buy 1/6 of an orM1 Mac. Thank you! ”- Adam Bell (@ b3ll) February 4, 2021
The $ 200 credit can be used for any Mac, and the $ 699 Mac mini is the cheapest option for developers looking to pick up a new M1 Mac for further development. The credit must be used by the end of May.