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My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

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Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#11

Post by [deleted] »

joshstrange wrote: post #9
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you have seven examples out of nearly 2 million apps, one doesn't exist anymore, one is a wrapper around news.ycombinator.com, and one is the equivalent of a skin app. No, these are not shining examples of good apps.

You said all apps are garbage unless they come from Fortune 500 companies, I give you examples of apps that are not garbage from solo developers, and you respond with this… I have no clue what to say. I’m not sure HN is the place for you with that attitude.

[deleted]

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#12

Post by theluketaylor »

joshstrange wrote: post #3

> The reason I chose to make Danish Names a paid app from the beginning was simply that I think it's a lot more honest and upfront to charge a small one-time fee before the download, as opposed to claiming your app is free and then charging a high fee or even a subscription inside the app. There's an honesty and straight-forwardness to paid apps that I like: You pay once, and then you don't get bothered with requests…

Since Apple doesn't offer trials I have no issue with a dev offering some limited free download with IAP to unlock. The limits need to match the app in some way, like a limit on total queries or a timer.

Subscriptions have to be either something that has recurring costs to the developer (like they depend on a 3rd party API that charges for access) or the dev is upfront that it's an optional opportunity to support them. I'm also fine with some nice-to-have features locked behind a paywall if they are not core to the app functionality.

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#13

Post by andrewmcwatters »

joshstrange wrote: post #9
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you have seven examples out of nearly 2 million apps, one doesn't exist anymore, one is a wrapper around news.ycombinator.com, and one is the equivalent of a skin app. No, these are not shining examples of good apps.

You said all apps are garbage unless they come from Fortune 500 companies, I give you examples of apps that are not garbage from solo developers, and you respond with this… I have no clue what to say. I’m not sure HN is the place for you with that attitude.

[flagged]

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#14

Post by catgirlinspace »

andrewmcwatters wrote: post #13
joshstrange wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You said all apps are garbage unless they come from Fortune 500 companies, I give you examples of apps that are not garbage from solo developers, and you respond with this… I have no clue what to say. I’m not sure HN is the place for you with that attitude.

[flagged]

Why are you being so rude? You claimed that apps not made by fortune 500 companies are all garbage, they listed some counter examples (not an exhaustive list), and that isn’t good enough? If anyone here is ruining the site, I think it might be you. I had been enjoying reading the comments here until seeing yours.

(Also Octal is one of my favorite apps, even if you think it is nothing but a wrapper around news.ycombinator.com.)

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#15

Post by chrismatheson »

joshstrange wrote: post #4
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #2

I have mostly found that all app store apps, no matter what app store, are 100% garbage unless they come from a Fortune 500 company and even then, a lot of those are garbage. It seems like if you’re big enough, you’re obligated to be on an app store, and incidentally your software quality is only going to be on par because you’re large enough to afford designers who actually adhere to design guidelines, maybe. I will…

> I have mostly found that all app store apps, no matter what app store, are 100% garbage unless they come from a Fortune 500 company and even then, a lot of those are garbage. Hard disagree. My favorite apps are made by either a solo developer or a small group/company. Some examples: - Overcast (Podcast Player) - Prologue (Audiobook App) - Octal (HN Client) - Apollo (RIP, Reddit) - Drafts (Notes app) - Any Zach Gage…

+1 for Prologue. I use it every day and I think its amazingly stable and well designed

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#16

Post by chrismatheson »

>The reason I chose to make Danish Names a paid app from the beginning was simply that I think it's a lot more honest and upfront to charge a small one-time fee before the download, as opposed to claiming your app is free and then charging a high fee or even a subscription inside the app. There's an honesty and straight-forwardness to paid apps that I like: You pay once, and then you don't get bothered with requests for paid upgrades when you're using the app.

The resonated with me. I'm trying to get my own app from 80% to 95% so I can release and ill be going the upfront cost route for these say reasons.

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#17

Post by 6510 »

isntThatSth wrote: post #5
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #2

I have mostly found that all app store apps, no matter what app store, are 100% garbage unless they come from a Fortune 500 company and even then, a lot of those are garbage. It seems like if you’re big enough, you’re obligated to be on an app store, and incidentally your software quality is only going to be on par because you’re large enough to afford designers who actually adhere to design guidelines, maybe. I will…

I have to say I don't recognize that experience at all. There are plenty of good apps - both from large companies and solo developers.

Please do shamelessly promote the solos here.

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#18

Post by msgodel »

andrewmcwatters wrote: post #2

I have mostly found that all app store apps, no matter what app store, are 100% garbage unless they come from a Fortune 500 company and even then, a lot of those are garbage. It seems like if you’re big enough, you’re obligated to be on an app store, and incidentally your software quality is only going to be on par because you’re large enough to afford designers who actually adhere to design guidelines, maybe. I will…

App stores are a business thing not a technical thing. You must be a business partner with the OS vendor to publish in one.

They're a horrible idea and quite frankly should be illegal.

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#19

Post by isntThatSth »

chrismatheson wrote: post #16

>The reason I chose to make Danish Names a paid app from the beginning was simply that I think it's a lot more honest and upfront to charge a small one-time fee before the download, as opposed to claiming your app is free and then charging a high fee or even a subscription inside the app. There's an honesty and straight-forwardness to paid apps that I like: You pay once, and then you don't get bothered with requests…

Based on the numbers I've seen and the comments I've read here, I'd go for in-app purchases instead. Good luck with your app!

Re: My app charted on the App Store, and that sucked

#20

Post by 6510 »

joshstrange wrote: post #4
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #2

I have mostly found that all app store apps, no matter what app store, are 100% garbage unless they come from a Fortune 500 company and even then, a lot of those are garbage. It seems like if you’re big enough, you’re obligated to be on an app store, and incidentally your software quality is only going to be on par because you’re large enough to afford designers who actually adhere to design guidelines, maybe. I will…

> I have mostly found that all app store apps, no matter what app store, are 100% garbage unless they come from a Fortune 500 company and even then, a lot of those are garbage. Hard disagree. My favorite apps are made by either a solo developer or a small group/company. Some examples: - Overcast (Podcast Player) - Prologue (Audiobook App) - Octal (HN Client) - Apollo (RIP, Reddit) - Drafts (Notes app) - Any Zach Gage…

I chat with a successful app dev one time long ago. His formula is rather simple. If it takes time to develop the app don't do it. In stead publish 10-20 apps in a day. Hire some people on the cheap to search and organize data. Even after a long time his idea what might be successful and what probably wont be is way off.

Ideas are like, an app that is just a list of some kind. Ill make up an example: An app that has searchable list of cities in Denmark with a typical picture for each. Here you could allow the user to write a note with each entry or allow sorting by distance from- but it is more effective to move on to the next "app". You make 20 country apps like that, non of them get any downloads except from one country that gets 10 per month/120 per year. That makes it a productive day.

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