Interesting Insight into Cheap App Conundrum!

nizy · #1 12-10-2008, 02:46 AM

Read this interesting blog with a developer writing an open letter to Steve Jobs explaining the shortcomings of cheap $1 apps vs. more expensive, complicated and interesting ones. Even explains the development costs and units required to break even.

Original Blog:
http://furbo.org/2008/12/09/ring-tone-apps/

**BulletDev** · #2 12-10-2008, 02:57 AM

Amazing! Thank you for sharing, lets hope for a response

rich_952000 · #3 12-10-2008, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarringtonSoftware

Amazing! Thank you for sharing, lets hope for a response

Good article, good find hopefully The Jobbs handles business.

VirtualAlex · #4 12-10-2008, 03:48 AM

Nothing Apple can, or should do about this. The only suggestion I can really is for Apple to hire some in-house app reviewers that should concentrate on 4.99+ apps and give them reviews, and maybe make a premium apps section. So people can have better access to more "serious" applications, and get a better feel for them with a full professional review, and videos etc...

Oliver · #5 12-10-2008, 03:56 AM

The only problem I can see with the AppStore is that the top lists are list over all apps of all price categories. Apple has to create more than the current two categories for apps, to increase the visibility. That's all!

Free
Low (,99 to 3,99)
Mid (4,99 to 8,99)
Premium (9,99 and above)

That would also shift the view on apps a bit, because it would merge different price ranges and also give a range on the quality and content of the apps, especially with the Premium stuff (if it's a good app which a dev feels is premium quality, than just give it a 9,99 price tag or even higher and it will show up as a Premium app in iTunes). And when 3,99 is recognized as a low price, maybe the number of people complaining about an app whichs costs less than a burger will decrease.

Haephestos · #6 12-10-2008, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver

The only problem I can see with the AppStore is that the top lists are list over all apps of all price categories. Apple has to create more than the current two categories for apps, to increase the visibility. That's all!

Free
Low (,99 to 3,99)
Mid (4,99 to 8,99)
Premium (9,99 and above)

That would also shift the view on apps a bit, because it would merge different price ranges and also give a range on the quality and content of the apps, especially with the Premium stuff (if it's a good app which a dev feels is premium quality, than just give it a 9,99 price tag or even higher and it will show up as a Premium app in iTunes). And when 3,99 is recognized as a low price, maybe the number of people complaining about an app whichs costs less than a burger will decrease.

That is a really great idea! We should start a petition or something!

HerbertKornfeld · #7 12-10-2008, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Gruber

What Apple could do is weight the best-seller list by revenue rather than unit sales. That way a $10 app with 1,000 sales could get ahead of a $1 app that sells 5,000.

Sound advice, if you ask me.