The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead • Hacker News Board

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#21

Post by cageface » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 5:42 AM UTC

danielrakh wrote: post #8

As an iOS developer I speculate that it's not the price that hinders people from downloading an App, it's the psychological barrier of paying for something (regardless of the price) that they haven't experienced yet. Sure reviews and screenshots help ease this tension as well as the standard $0.99 price tag, but I don't think it's enough. It would be really great if users could download the App and play around with i…

This is a huge shortcoming of the current app store model, I agree. That Apple hasn't done anything in this direction for years strengthens my suspicions that they don't really care if the typical dev makes money on the store as long as the big players earn and the users keep buying phones.

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#22

Post by danielrakh » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 5:53 AM UTC

cageface wrote: post #21

danielrakh wrote: post #8

As an iOS developer I speculate that it's not the price that hinders people from downloading an App, it's the psychological barrier of paying for something (regardless of the price) that they haven't experienced yet. Sure reviews and screenshots help ease this tension as well as the standard $0.99 price tag, but I don't think it's enough. It would be really great if users could download the App and play around with i…

This is a huge shortcoming of the current app store model, I agree. That Apple hasn't done anything in this direction for years strengthens my suspicions that they don't really care if the typical dev makes money on the store as long as the big players earn and the users keep buying phones.

I agree. If not for the dev, they should do it for the sake of the user experience. A "Try It Out" option would prevent customers from feeling duped when they buy an App that they think looks good but turns out to not be of their liking. Which right now contributes to the customer to be more hesitant of purchasing the next app tomorrow.

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#23

Post by phil » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 6:00 AM UTC

fpgeek wrote: post #13

Translation: Sure, the odds have gotten longer. Ticket prices might be higher. Consolation prizes might be smaller. But don't worry. If you pick your numbers just right you too can still win the lottery! I understand things look different from his vantage point, but I just don't see a healthy market in what he wrote - I see a dying one. With the climb getting steeper and the asking prices getting higher, that just sh…

You're mistaking the micro for the macro. Sure, the odds have gotten longer and ticket prices might be higher -- but from the app buyer's perspective, that's because there are just so many rides and they're so damn good. Can't try 'em all!

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#24

Post by mcobrien » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 6:05 AM UTC

rbritton wrote: post #15

andrewtbham wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you put ads?

AdWords. They're the only ones I've ever personally had a positive return from. At least as near as I can track it.

I've considered that, but the last time I tried you couldn't use the words iPhone or iPad in a Google Ad. Has that restriction gone away, or how do you work around it?

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#25

Post by yoster » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 6:15 AM UTC

rbritton wrote: post #18

danielrakh wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What App is this? If you don't mind me asking?

I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure if disclosing it puts me at any disadvantage, but I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something.

It wouldn't hurt considering it would be free advertising. If I generated steady income off a popular app, I would be letting everybody and their momma know about that app. I would even throw a sales pitch right now!

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#26

Post by wahnfrieden » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 6:32 AM UTC

socmoth wrote: post #2

I once had someone pitch me an idea for an app, which coincidentally I had actually built and was selling on the app store. He wasn't willing to pay 99cents for it (but had previously been willing to quit his job to make it hypothetically with me). It is a weird world. (for the record I like marco's work)

What's the app or idea?

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#27

Post by Oxxide » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 6:52 AM UTC

mcobrien wrote: post #24

rbritton wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AdWords. They're the only ones I've ever personally had a positive return from. At least as near as I can track it.

I've considered that, but the last time I tried you couldn't use the words iPhone or iPad in a Google Ad. Has that restriction gone away, or how do you work around it?

wouldn't iOS be a better term anyway?

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#28

Post by tonyedgecombe » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 6:52 AM UTC

danielrakh wrote: post #22

cageface wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a huge shortcoming of the current app store model, I agree. That Apple hasn't done anything in this direction for years strengthens my suspicions that they don't really care if the typical dev makes money on the store as long as the big players earn and the users keep buying phones.

I agree. If not for the dev, they should do it for the sake of the user experience. A "Try It Out" option would prevent customers from feeling duped when they buy an App that they think looks good but turns out to not be of their liking. Which right now contributes to the customer to be more hesitant of purchasing the next app tomorrow.

I suspect try it out would only reduce sales further, it adds a delay in the process and gives the customer more chance to change his mind.

It might help for expensive software but for something that is a few dollars I'd see it as a negative as a developer.

Re: The market for paid iOS apps isn’t dead

#29

Post by angryasian » Sat, Apr 20, 2013, 7:26 AM UTC

danielrakh wrote: post #8

As an iOS developer I speculate that it's not the price that hinders people from downloading an App, it's the psychological barrier of paying for something (regardless of the price) that they haven't experienced yet. Sure reviews and screenshots help ease this tension as well as the standard $0.99 price tag, but I don't think it's enough. It would be really great if users could download the App and play around with i…

I don't see this as being an Apple issue because a lot of apps should be offering a lite version as well as a premium version with no ads and additional features.