Rumblings resurface regarding lack of App Store trials
It’s hard to fault a product that has been as successful as Apple’s App Store. Sales are through the roof, just about every major competitor has already copied the concept or at least plans to and perhaps most importantly, iPhone and iPod Touch users love it. As is often the case however, Apple seems to get a kick out of taking two steps forward while taking one step back. iPhone: Brilliantly usable and attractive UI, nice and functional, likely still the best touch experience on the market… but it completely lacks a plethora of basic and essential functionality. App Store: Likely the best mobile app distribution platform in the industry, wonderfully simple UI with great navigation, terrific organization with simple search functionality… but there is no way for a typical user to trial an App before buying it.
Apple fans are once again beginning to voice concerns over the lack of demo / trial versions and odds are pretty good these complaints will fall on deaf ears. Apple apparently sees its policy allowing developers to add “lite” versions of apps to the App Store as a viable solution and this stance isn’t likely to budge any time soon. The truth of course, is that lite versions are the worst possible answer. Forcing developers to maintain two active versions of the same app is ridiculous at best, especially when the concept of a software trial is about as old as Betty White. Why not just create a self destruct timer mechanism?
Provide a trial download on each app page and have the trial version auto-expire after five or seven days. When the trial life runs out, the app will open one last time to inform the user of this and a link will take the user back to the app page in the App Store. Sounds simple enough. Would it take time to implement? Of course – everything takes time and resources but the ends would certainly justify the means. Would it be cracked? Of course – but considering it takes all of one click to crack an app now, that should be the least of Apple’s concerns. Besides, we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: 999 out of 1,000 times, people who use a cracked version of software would not pay for it even if they had no other choice. It’s just the nature of the beast. So what do you guys think – does this sound doable or should we just shut up and go back to moaning about lack of copy / paste?
There’s currently a bigger issue with the AppStore. Recently hackers have figured out a way to crack paid apps, and users can download those cracked apps onto jailbroken devices.
Apple needs to better protect the developers applications, especially since the developers have paid Apple for the privilege of having their apps sold through the AppStore.
This is a good idea. And it is no more going to get cracked than it already is. I went to a site where you could get a crapload of pirated apps and all you need is a jailbroken phone. So I don’t see a problem with adding trial features.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
@blah,
Yup. And people scoff at apple for trying to lock down these devices. Piracy is just one reason for apple to combat jailbreaking. I am reluctant to jailbreak my phone, but have seen what is available because I used to go to the same site for my windows mobile and palm needs. Piracy for iPhone is big, and apple needs to get more agressive in halting jailbreaking to stop it.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
I still don’t understand why people generally seem to get upset about the idea of cracked iPhone apps yet see no problem with torrenting the latest game, movie, song etc.
You think that pirated apps are a bigger concern then the pirated music, movies, etc that have been such a concern that apple used to put “don’t steal” stickes on the iPod?
Jailbreaking isn’t even what needs to be addressed (if you some how manage to make the argument that app piracy is more pressing the any other type). Its the methods of getting the cracked games that should be addressed.
I don’t have a problem with the current paradigm. For the most part we’re talking about apps that cost maybe a dollar or two, maybe up to five bucks. I do a little research, read the reviews, and if I get bit, I’m out five bucks. Not really *that* big of a deal. If we are talking about an app that has a higher price tag ($10 or more), then I’m fine with trying out a “lite” version (for free), and then plunking down the cash if I like the app. Might be a different story if we were still in Handango-land Palm days where every app costs $30 or more, but that’s not how the App Store is being administrated so I don’t think it’s a fair comparison…
Sorry, Zach, I’m just not able to agree with you on this one, and the jailbreakers passing around free apps aren’t doing a thing to bolster the position you’re taking here. Given an opportunity to open up another “hole”, a bunch more opportunists will jump right in – yeah, a generalization, but thieves will be thieves presented an opportunity.
Don’t get me wrong – I would love to get a few trials to some applications after trying a few for real and finding out the paid-for application was utter crap. But I asked for my money back and was reimbursed.
I don’t get upset about it – it’s their policy, their software, their TOS. If I don’t like it, I take my business elsewhere. I’m not taking the high road here, just I deal with it.
Developers are not “forced” to do anything. If they wish to offer “lite” versions, they can. If they don’t, they don’t. The absence of an alternative that a particular group finds attractive does not equal force.
I like lite apps!
they dont take up as much memory and on top of that not everybody is gonna sit down for a good hour trying to complete an entire 80MB game on their iphone.
…im still waiting for call of duty lite though
@tande,
They can’t do much to stop the methods of getting cracked games. The servers are not theirs and some are outside the US. The only thing they can really do is stop people from being able to put cracked apps on their phones, and the only way to do that is to combat jailbreaking.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
I don’t think all of the apps should have lite versions but MOST should…i don’t care if its $20 bucks or $1…in a recession I better know what I’m gettin myself into.
Just give up that Latte Mocha with everything. and get the app you fancy.
seriously? slow news day?
Lite apps are the shit. I got excited when rolando lite came out, then i went and bought the game because it went from 10 to 6 bucks!
SO WHAT if it forces people to run two versions. You give apple credit for starting the app store, then give them crap for not allowing trials but allowing another form of trials. If developers really want to make money with their apps, they better put a damn lite version up so people can try them. Then if apple gives trial versions, oh freakin well at least devs got around it when they couldnt. With apple, you gotta play their game.
I’m fine with “Lite” versions. I’m still upset at the lack of copy / paste and MMS!
I like the trial idea.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Warwick RI, 02889
@Christopher Cox
Jailbreaking serves way more purpose than to simply get hacked apps. My iTouch is jailbroken so can enjoy themes(right now I’ve got a gears of war background and lockscreen), copy/paste, running background apps(including appstore apps), youtube downloading, and more. It’s a shame that people assume that jailbreaking is some sort of cult of illegal activity without taking the time to actually discern the real benefits.
And in full disclosure; yes I do have a program to downloads hacked apps on my iTouch. However, I only use it to test apps with NO FREE TRIAL VERSION such as tetris and byline. Tetris was deleted because the controls didn’t feel right to me and byline was purchased because it did what I was looking for in an RSS app. I would not have bought it otherwise, so that’s one sale directly attributable to your dreaded jailbreak(and for that matter to the hacking of apps). If apple would simply give me a built-in trial system for every app, I would remove the offending app in an instant.
I can’t belive some people don’t think apple could easily stop app piracy. This isn’t the same as your pc. This is a closed system and their software.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Los Angeles California, USA
trial versions/lite versions.. same poison, different bottle. Who cares… we need the background notification system!
copy and paste please!!!
Boy, talk about straw men. Apple doesn’t stop you from creating a demo version you can give out for free. Lots of developers are doing it.
So, let’s get the facts straight, why don’t we? Developers don’t want to give out demos. If they wanted to, the can, and they would.
Period. End of story (and it can only be hoped – the whining and posturing).
I’m with u!
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Phoenix AZ, 85040
Correct me if i’m wrong but don’t most iphone apps only cost a few dollars.. and aren’t the most popular apps shallow, straightforward, “what you see is what you get” in functionality?
I don’t see why you would need a trial for these sort of iphone apps. Although I suppose it would be nice for all the iphone users.
Even when principals understand the impor- tance of community engagement, however, many find it difficult to find the time and the resources to get started. ,