The Danosphere.

Before I start let me say- I like Apple. I own an iPhone, a Macbook, an iPod, and love them all. So when I decided to drop $100 to join their Developer Program, I thought the experience would be just as enjoyable as all their products have been. I was very wrong.

It started late last night, I joined the program, paid my $100 fee, and downloaded the lastest iPhone 3.0beta firmware. I installed it on my phone and then connected to iTunes to “reactivate” with the new firmware. Instead of activating, I got an error saying I needed to “register my device”. I scoured the Developer Homepage and saw a link to “activate my account”, sounded right, so I completed the activation process and tried again, still no luck.

I decided to sleep on it and call the “Developer Support” line this morning. After waiting on hold for well over 1 and a half hours, I was finally connected with a human on the other side. I explained my situation and asked him to help me activate my now “bricked” phone. He told me he could not answer my question, I would have to refer to the apple Developer Forums. So this guy, who works at the Developer Support Center, is telling me that after I have paid $100 and bricked my phone to join the Developer Program, the best answer he can give me is to check the forums?! Who the hell does Apple have working in their support centers?!

I ask to speak to his manager, he says he cannot do that. I ask him to connect me with a HUMAN who can help me, he says their are none who can help, but I can email dts@apple.com for help. Apprently humans respond to emails at that address, but they cannot be reached via phone… at all (I asked). I ask him if the Apple Store “Geniuses” can help me, he says no they cannot. Frustrated I ask for his name so I can use it to close the loop when emailing this “dts@apple.com” address he has referred me to. He says “Jimmy Ryan”. Sure.

In the end, after multiple requests to speak to his manager, or ANYONE else at the support center, all which were denied, I hung up. I turned to twitter and found help there. So now my iPhone is back up and running, and I have learned a valuable lesson, Apple Developer Support is completely and utterly worthless.

Conclusion: If you are a developer, do not, at all, ever, in any way, rely on Apple’s “Developer Support” to assist you. Save yourself the time and just visit the developer forums, it’s what they will tell you to do anyway after you wait for hours on hold hoping to get a real answer. #FAIL.