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Latest iOS 6 beta does not require Apple ID to download free apps

Monday, July 23, 2012 · 3:01 pm · 17 Comments

“Shortly after iOS 6 beta 1 made its debut in early June, Cult of Mac reported that users are no longer required to enter their iTunes password when downloading updates or previous purchases from the App Store,” Killian Bell reports for Cult of Mac.

Bell reports, “In iOS 6 beta 3, Apple has expanded this feature to cover free apps, too… In iOS 6, the only time you’ll need to enter your password in the App Store is to download a paid app.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Finally!

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Fred Mertz" for the heads up.]

Categories: News

Tags: Apple ID, ease-of-use, iOS 6, iOS 6 beta 3, password

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Comment Feed

17 Comments

Thelonious Mac

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:12 pm · Reply

Hmmm… how do you control the kiddies?
- DeRS
  
  Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:36 pm · Reply
  
  There are no porno apps in App Store, and free apps can not kill your wallet. So no problem with children.
  - Bizlaw
    
    Monday, July 23, 2012 - 4:57 pm · Reply
    
    It’s not just about porn DeRS. Some of up parents want to make sure our young kids aren’t downloading games which they shouldn’t be using, like FPS games, etc. Or just downloading stuff all the time.
    
    This opens the door to people submitting free apps with potentially inappropriate material for kids. The kids could download the free app without a parent’s knowledge, and then come ask for the paid in-app purchase. Yes, that happens today, but at least I can say no to the initial app download if I think it is not appropriate for my kids.
    - DeRS
      
      Monday, July 23, 2012 - 5:16 pm · Reply
      
      Is not there parental control in iOS already? You can prohibit installing new applications (independently of password thing), right?
      - praus
        
        Monday, July 23, 2012 - 7:08 pm · Reply
        
        You can also restrict apps based on age requirements.
- Tessellator
  
  Monday, July 23, 2012 - 5:25 pm · Reply
  
  You still need to have an iTunes account active on the device. You will need your password to initially “log on” to an account, you just won’t have to enter the pass in again to DL free apps (but they will need to fit your account criteria) So the age levels are still supported (even on free apps) Just set the level and lock it (the device), your kids cannot download anything above what you set, same as before.
Sucker

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:13 pm · Reply

As a parental control it would be good to be able to enable “require a password for everything”. I want my daughter to ask.
Kevin

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:21 pm · Reply

Anyone know yet how that affects IAPs? I would guess it would still ask at that point, but yes as a parent, I don’t like the idea of any free app being downloadable without password restriction.
Huh

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:25 pm · Reply

What about apps that are normally not free but free at time of download? Will the app continue to be associated with your account for future download without your password after uninstall?
- TheConfuzed1
  
  Monday, July 23, 2012 - 8:01 pm · Reply
  
  If you have ever downloaded an app, you never have to pay again to redownload the same app, regardless of any price changes that have occurred.
UAEUTE

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:27 pm · Reply

Obviously the MDN take writer doesn’t have kids. And forgets that many of their readers DO have kids.
- TheWatchfulOne
  
  Monday, July 23, 2012 - 5:18 pm · Reply
  
  Settings -> General -> Restrictions -> Installing Apps.
lawrence

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 3:54 pm · Reply

Isnt parental controls already in place that can be made to require a password to install an app, any app right now?
Judhe

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 4:26 pm · Reply

Don’t worry parents, I’m sure there will be all the restrictions you want if they do this change, from a cursory check right now, I can see restrictions of many varieties already from restricting purchases by asking for the password always, or every 15 minutes, turning off app purchasing all together, restricting by age appropriateness. War already exists should cover most situations, so you can be as control freak as you want.
- Bizlaw
  
  Monday, July 23, 2012 - 5:01 pm · Reply
  
  It’s not about being a control freak. There are things from the App Store that some kids should not be able to download, and content restrictions are not foolproof. Right now I don’t have to worry about that because my kids can’t download something without me entering my password.
  
  Beyond that, there will be some app developer who figures out a way to have a free app for download and then other content be downloadable that is inappropriate for kids, even if it’s against Apple’s guidelines. Just wait and see.
Lindsay

Monday, July 23, 2012 - 5:44 pm · Reply

MDN may not have kids, but it seems that those folks who do have not familiarized themselves enough with iPhone. Both my son and daughter have iPhones and can not add nor update without me going into the settings, changing the restrictions, updating/adding apps, then turning the restrictions back on. In fact, neither iPhone shows the App Store or iTunes once the restrictions are in place. I have the beta and for me the update without password is an added bonus, my kids have no clue. Let’s lay some onus on the parents and not solely on Apple
- geekzilla
  
  Tuesday, July 24, 2012 - 8:27 am · Reply
  
  I am very familiar with the iPhone settings, and by far the easiest way for both myself and my kids is the password route. They are allowed to browse iTunes/ App Store, and request a download. If i deem appropriate, I enter the password and it’s there. Yes, I can go thru the hoops of digging down into settings… but a simple password is the simplest and most elegant solution. And keep in mind, that Apple made the iPhone for the “Common Person”, who may not be as aware as the rest of us… simplicity is what helps protect the “Less Cognitively Able” of our society.