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news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

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Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#51

Post by veyron »

kmfrk wrote: post #22
ConceitedCode wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Completely agree. I really don't get why some people complain about being charged any money for months of work. Do they expect it to be free? Reminds me of the ridiculous comments on the app store.

Were this in any other context - an inane weekend project, or faux start-up that is just a website - as we've seen a billion times before, people would spout the same mantras about charging from the start, hustling, going for it, and what not. I don't know if people are making a fuzz because it's about Hacker News, or if they just don't believe the mantra they keep repeating, when they finally have put their money wh…

Note: a complaint about price isn't a plea to make it free -- I wrote a longer response on another reply. It's opening a conversation about why the app deserves ____'s money

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#52

Post by swombat »

ot wrote: post #19

From the page [emphasis mine] > Why does news:yc cost $4.99? Isn't that too much for something already available online? Yes, it probably is. This is my first app in the App Store. I've never done this kind of pricing before, and I probably got it wrong. However, I do want to make sure anyone who wants to use news:yc can: feel free to build it from source or pirate it if you don't want to pay . Love this. I really wi…

Actually, I think there'd be less bitching about the price if he removed the paragraph.

Many things that are sold can be had for free if you're willing to put in the effort, but it's a poor salesman who starts his pitch by saying "You really don't need to pay me".

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#54

Post by prodigal_erik »

The audience for this is ... us? I'm dismayed at the idea HN readers are voluntarily choosing this hostile platform for their own use, rather than merely holding their nose and developing for hapless consumers, while personally using a platform that likes hackers.

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#55

Post by news-yc »

swombat wrote: post #52
ot wrote: post #19

From the page [emphasis mine] > Why does news:yc cost $4.99? Isn't that too much for something already available online? Yes, it probably is. This is my first app in the App Store. I've never done this kind of pricing before, and I probably got it wrong. However, I do want to make sure anyone who wants to use news:yc can: feel free to build it from source or pirate it if you don't want to pay . Love this. I really wi…

Actually, I think there'd be less bitching about the price if he removed the paragraph. Many things that are sold can be had for free if you're willing to put in the effort, but it's a poor salesman who starts his pitch by saying "You really don't need to pay me".

I actually added that after most of the price discussion (which now seems to have been voted to the bottom of the thread). I would really like to be able to say "pay as much as you want", but unfortunately the App Store doesn't support that. Overall, my goal is not to make a ton of money here. I just want to make as much as people want to give me, with other ways to get it if I don't.

(Again, though, I'm new to this: I'll definitely take your advice for the future, if I do another "open source but paid" app.)

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#56

Post by BenSS »

Congrats! You had similar logic to why I made an App specifically to read HN on the iPad. It's very odd that you initially had trouble getting it accepted, as mine didn't have an issue at all with the initial version. With more screen space on the iPad, I opted to leave mine free with an adbar. I'll probably provide iAP to remove the ads enough people end up interested in it.

(If you're interested, mine is at: http://itunes.apple.com/app/hacker-news-padreader/id42833141...)

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#57

Post by unwantedLetters »

A suggestion:

Have you seen the tweetbot app (http://tapbots.com/software/tweetbot/)? A recommended download. Swipe left, Swipe right on a tweet perform actions. This sort of thing is perfect for this app.

Swipe left: Comments

Swipe right: Article in browser

Double click article: Read Later in Instapaper

Great app, and congrats. First time I've taken the plunge on an iOS HN app, and not disappointed so far (a little afraid though, due to potential drop in productivity).

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#58

Post by kmfrk »

veyron wrote: post #51
kmfrk wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were this in any other context - an inane weekend project, or faux start-up that is just a website - as we've seen a billion times before, people would spout the same mantras about charging from the start, hustling, going for it, and what not. I don't know if people are making a fuzz because it's about Hacker News, or if they just don't believe the mantra they keep repeating, when they finally have put their money wh…

Note: a complaint about price isn't a plea to make it free -- I wrote a longer response on another reply. It's opening a conversation about why the app deserves ____'s money

Both our arguments can be generalized to a straw man; I haven't read your specific comment, but I am sure we agree with each other. I am saying that people are being jerks, when they would have sung the developer's praises in another context, and you are saying that it's fine to ask a developer about why their product is desirable and worth someone's money.

It's fine to ask a person about what sets the app apart, and how it works, when they pay for it, and because it's fun to have a developer pitch their product, as is our wont on HN. What bothers me is the immense hypocrisy when people get downright hostile like this - like some do in this thread.

If the hostile people could get their head out of their ass, they could discuss the app on the basis of whether it was a sustainable business model - not an affront to their delicate, incongruous sensibilities.

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#59

Post by tlrobinson »

prodigal_erik wrote: post #54

The audience for this is ... us? I'm dismayed at the idea HN readers are voluntarily choosing this hostile platform for their own use, rather than merely holding their nose and developing for hapless consumers, while personally using a platform that likes hackers.

I pick my battles carefully. I think actually working on making ther platforms better will do much more than choosing not to use a platform out of principle.

e.x. I believe if RMS were able to make free software more approachable / competitive with commercial software that would do much more for his cause than inventing silly names for DRM and alienating people.

Not that RMS hasn't done excellent work in the past, he has. But his current approach is awful.

Re: news:yc (iPhone HN client) finally accepted into the App Store

#60

Post by swombat »

news-yc wrote: post #55
swombat wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, I think there'd be less bitching about the price if he removed the paragraph. Many things that are sold can be had for free if you're willing to put in the effort, but it's a poor salesman who starts his pitch by saying "You really don't need to pay me".

I actually added that after most of the price discussion (which now seems to have been voted to the bottom of the thread). I would really like to be able to say "pay as much as you want", but unfortunately the App Store doesn't support that. Overall, my goal is not to make a ton of money here. I just want to make as much as people want to give me, with other ways to get it if I don't. (Again, though, I'm new to this:…

Lol... Oh well, in that case, I guess I'll fall back on the trusted Reddit meme:

Haters will be hatin'.

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