Is it necessary to have an Apple paid developer account to test iOS app on several devices?
No. You can put those few devices in your developer account and install software in then. You only need a paid account if you want to submit to the App Store for TestFlight or for release.I've done this with friend’s phones a number of times before. Adding phones to you device list in your developer account is NOT the same as adding them to your iCloud account. These are separate things.
Can I register as an Apple developer now, even if I am just starting to learn iOS development?
If you're considering of building and deploying apps to the app store in the near future, then by all means, get an account. You'll need a developer account to even test your app on an actual device.On the other hand, if you just want to play around and get a feel for the iOS development platform, the iPhone/iPad simulator would work just fine.
Do I need to be a registered Apple developer to be able to send push notifications programmatically to my iOS device?
Yes and no.Yes: if you want to send a push notification an application you developed yourself you need a developer account. But hey, you need to have that account anyway so you can install your application on the device anyway.No: if you use the Boxcar app (http://www.boxcar.io) you can receive push notification for all kind of events. You can even add your own events using their API (http://boxcar.io/help/api/providers). You do not need an Apple developer account because you are using the facility provided by Boxcar. However, you will need a Boxcar API key to be able to use their API.
How do I upgrade an iPhone to iOS 11?
The practical way is to wait for the GM (Gold Master) update to be released OTA (over the air) by Apple. But as always there are workarounds.Register as an Apple developer for $99 a year and download the device profile to grant you beta access and request the update in beta.Search online for someone who is sharing downloads for a developer device profile that has beta access. This is usually the free but more difficult method to locate. (Hint: Search for “IOS 11 beta device profile download)Pay someone to use their developer account and register your UDID with them and install the beta manually using a beta version of iTunes.Register yourself on Apple’s official Public Beta Registration page (Apple Beta Software Program). Note: You may have to wait weeks to months before Apple grants contemporary users like you and I access to install the beta.Beta versions of iOS are always buggy and iOS 11 is no exception. I installed it the first day it was available and next day I restored back to iOS 10 because of issues with my Apple Watch.I know you will do what you want in the end so make absolutely sure you do a backup of your device on iTunes (not an iCloud backup, a local backup) so that way you can restore back to normal. iOS 11 immediately does an iCloud backup after you install and if you have little space left on your cloud backup, it will wipe any iOS 10 restore points you've created.Have fun!
Apple App Development Question!?
so apple has xcode for creating your app and they have the iOS developer program for $99. is it possible for me to create the app on xcode before entering the program? would they just let me upload the app or something? or do i need to become apart of the program before making my app?
Will Apple ban me, or my Apple iOS device's account, if I use Hackintosh for iOS development?
When I was doing full-time iOS development I had OSX on a bootable USB drive so I could develop on my PC laptop when travelling. It worked fine. The main thing is to make sure you have a PC with compatible specs and use EFI emulation to be able to load on vanilla OSX (from a legally-obtained source). You can also virtualize OSX. XCode will run fine but the iOS emulator has problems.I have read that Apple may have the ability to detect your submitted package was built on non-Apple hardware, and if they detect it they will reject your app and cancel your developer account. It's a rumor (fanboys start a lot of rumors), and I'm not sure I believe it as the expense to create and maintain this ability (if even possible) wouldn't be made up for in increased sales, since developer purchases make up about 0% (rounded) of Apple device sales. I suppose it could be true though. It was never an issue for me as I had a Mac at my desk that I mainly used for development, and was where I packaged, signed, and submitted apps.Contrary to what people will tell you, there is nothing illegal about end-users installing a legally-obtained copy of OSX on non-Apple hardware (or in a virtual machine). Violating a shrinkwrap EULA is not illegal. The DMCA prevents commercializing circumvention techniques, not end users circumventing for personal use, and using EFI emulation there's no modification to Apple's software designed to circumvent any protections. There are even some companies selling commercial EFI emulation solutions that advertise they will let you install OSX on non-Apple hardware, and Apple hasn't sued them yet. They did change to a different licensing model about the same time, which IMO was a reaction to these products.The one issue you may run in to is Apple's new policy not to sell OSX licenses separate from hardware. If you can't legally obtain a license of OSX to install, you can't legally install it.