I wish consumers sent a message to developers that we don't want Freemium apps. Make a great app and I will pay a premium for them, but I am not going to buy a "bag of jewels" to be able to play the game.
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App Store Developers Form a 'Union' Ahead of WWDC Calling for Free App Trials, Better Rates
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They don't. You download their apps and sign in to your sub account.
If the company is using customer's iTunes account, then yes, Apple deserve some cut. Apple's doing the transactions.
In addition, Apple is lowering it to 85:15 share after a year. I believe it is lower for certain video companies, I don't remember the number, it may be lower than 85:15.
Retailers have limited physical space to display products. Part of that 40% goes to pay for the lease on their building and the parking lot in front of it that allows customers access to buy the products. They also have all the utilities for the building and a staff of employees to keep that store running.
Apple has bills for the App Store, too, but the cost per product within the store is just a little bit different. Especially when they have "unlimited" shelf space and product stock.
You could almost say your argument is an "Apples to Oranges" comparison. LOL.
I agree and Apple already does 15% if the customers are using apps for more than a year. Apple needs to make it true for all apps, not just subs and they need to drop the one year requirement.
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They don't have unlimited shelf space, that's what Featured tab is, it showcases new apps and stuff every day. Many developers said they've seen a major spike of downloads whenever their app shows up curated in Featured tab.
Don't like Apple's reasonable 30% cut?
Then develop apps for Microsoft and Google. Simple.
Jeeez, time for people to take some responsibility.
Then develop apps for Microsoft and Google. Simple.
Jeeez, time for people to take some responsibility.
I would like one click refunds. If I don’t want the APP why should I keep it?
A group of App Store developers calling themselves "The Developers Union" today published an open letter to Apple asking the company to commit to allowing free trials for apps and a "more reasonable revenue cut."
The group says that it is first aiming to get Apple to implement free trials for all apps in the iOS and Mac App Stores by this July, with plans after that to advocate for other changes.The initiative is led by Brent Simmons (MarsEdit, Vesper, and NetNewsWire creator), Jake Schumacher (App: The Human Story documentary maker), Loren Morris (product designer), and Roger Ogden (software designer).
The Developers Union is not a "trade union" in the traditional sense of the word, but it is aiming to bring developers and supporters together to advocate for App Store changes.
In an interview with WIRED, the team behind The Developers Union said the aim is to gain a thousand members this week and 20,000 by early June, when the Worldwide Developers Conference takes place.
Free trials for apps in the Mac and iOS App Stores have been something that developers have wanted implemented for years. Right now, apps that offer subscriptions are able to provide customers with free trials before requiring payment, but for apps that do not have a subscription offering, there is no way for a free trial to be offered.
This is a major downside for apps that are on the more expensive side that people might not want to purchase without trying first, and it has been a major issue for Mac App Store developers in particular.
The Developers Union is hoping to persuade Apple to expand free trials to all apps, not just those that offer a subscription-based service. Free trials also must include an authorization for payment at the end of the trial, something developers would also like to see eliminated.
Revenue sharing, another topic the group hopes to broach with Apple, could be trickier than convincing the company to implement a free trial feature. Apple currently receives a 30 percent cut of all revenue developers earn from the App Store, and the App Store makes up a huge portion of its services business.
Apple has, however, made some tweaks to its revenue split in recent years. For subscription apps where a customer maintains a subscription for more than a year, developers are entitled to an 85/15 split, with Apple taking a 15 percent cut rather than a 30 percent cut.
The Developers Union has not yet outlined specific changes it would like to see to Apple's revenue sharing scheme as the focus right now is on recruiting new members and pushing the free trial agenda.
At the current time, just over 60 apps and 50 people and are supporting The Developers Union, but more developers are likely to join as word spreads. Both developers and non-developers can sign up on the Developers Union website to support the initiative.
Article Link: App Store Developers Form a 'Union' Ahead of WWDC Calling for Free App Trials, Better Rates
Why should Apple get a cut of the monthly fee someone pays to Spotify? Apple doesn’t allow apps to offer their own payment system in-app or even provide a link in-app to take you to a website to pay.
I'm not a fan of any public unions, but private unions are usually a great thing. The only way Apple would reduce its cut is if there is enough pushback from the other side, and there could never be enough pushback from the developer community unless they organize. It's just a way to negotiate, and it's all in the free market, I don't understand why people think it's dumb. Apple has the weight on their side to be able to dictate the terms, why shouldn't others try to increase their negotiating position just like Apple has?
Calling it a "union" is silly since they have no way to follow though if Apple rejects their demands. I have my doubt that Apple really cares about small devs anymore. iOS app catalog has progressed to the point it doesn't really need them now. Most of them just create clutter. The breakthrough apps do seem to get promotional support from Apple.
Apple 30% cut is really on-par, even less, that what other distributors require. Retail is brutal and the seller usually ends up with less. It's a cruel reality but ultimately it is the store that makes the sale. Especially with some of the smaller devs they'd never get the eyeballs on a private or collective site they can get in the App Store.
Apple 30% cut is really on-par, even less, that what other distributors require. Retail is brutal and the seller usually ends up with less. It's a cruel reality but ultimately it is the store that makes the sale. Especially with some of the smaller devs they'd never get the eyeballs on a private or collective site they can get in the App Store.
"We believe that people who create great software should be able to make a living doing it"
Because getting 70% for just writing the app is not enough? All they have to do is write the app and submit it. Apple takes care of vetting it, putting it in the store (visually to see), storing it, paying for the bandwidth for everyone to download it, and dealing with the whole financial transaction and then pays you.
If you write great apps you can easily make a living if not become rich.
I do get the trial app argument.
Because getting 70% for just writing the app is not enough? All they have to do is write the app and submit it. Apple takes care of vetting it, putting it in the store (visually to see), storing it, paying for the bandwidth for everyone to download it, and dealing with the whole financial transaction and then pays you.
If you write great apps you can easily make a living if not become rich.
I do get the trial app argument.
I think some of this is great and I would love to get a free trial of something and decide whether or not to pay for it rather than get bombarded by IAP's software which I flat out refuse to download.
I would have no problems paying $9.99 for a quality game and I've taken chances on Grid Autosport, Life Is Strange, Mario Run, Oddmar, Thumper, MH Unite and many more games for 99 cents to $2.99. Any time I see IAP's and it's gems, power, crystals etc. I immediately pass. I know that some of these games are probably pretty good but I won't be a $1,000 whale but would pay a subscription as I did for WoW for years and years.
There are lots of other pieces of software I won't touch if it competes against an Apple product and that includes stuff I know like MS Office. I've purchased BeCassa and Procreate on the productivity side.
In short I am a very active app searcher/buyer/user but what I will download to try or purchase is greatly influenced by Apple's current policies.
Last but not least 70% is a great split. I can't think of any time in history that game companies that relied on cartridges, console makers or brick and mortar retail distribution where 70% of the gross ended up in the developers pocket. Until digital distribution took over you were lucky to get 30% of the retail price.
BTW, not being a developer, what does Steam take out of the sale price?
I would have no problems paying $9.99 for a quality game and I've taken chances on Grid Autosport, Life Is Strange, Mario Run, Oddmar, Thumper, MH Unite and many more games for 99 cents to $2.99. Any time I see IAP's and it's gems, power, crystals etc. I immediately pass. I know that some of these games are probably pretty good but I won't be a $1,000 whale but would pay a subscription as I did for WoW for years and years.
There are lots of other pieces of software I won't touch if it competes against an Apple product and that includes stuff I know like MS Office. I've purchased BeCassa and Procreate on the productivity side.
In short I am a very active app searcher/buyer/user but what I will download to try or purchase is greatly influenced by Apple's current policies.
Last but not least 70% is a great split. I can't think of any time in history that game companies that relied on cartridges, console makers or brick and mortar retail distribution where 70% of the gross ended up in the developers pocket. Until digital distribution took over you were lucky to get 30% of the retail price.
BTW, not being a developer, what does Steam take out of the sale price?
IMO, it's more about being appropriately compensated for ones intellectual expulsions. Apple sure as hell has none these days.
These devs just lack common business sense.
I learned early that, yea you can make a great app and people will buy it. But then you’ll get imitators. So your app has to go from good to great. Some imitations will be free so you’ll have to go from great to amazing. Not many devs will get there. Being an indie dev is about passion and patients. Not abut a career.
I learned early that, yea you can make a great app and people will buy it. But then you’ll get imitators. So your app has to go from good to great. Some imitations will be free so you’ll have to go from great to amazing. Not many devs will get there. Being an indie dev is about passion and patients. Not abut a career.
But it would also nearly double the storage requirements, or every app would become an annoying "pesterware" until you paid.
Just?
A little harsh maybe. Writing software, depending on how good it is of course, takes a huge amount of effort, knowledge and time.
I could not agree more. IMO, there is plenty of room for paying more for higher quality apps without all the dam in app purchase crap.
Apple pays out tens of billions to app developers all over the world. A massive amount. The problem is, there are also many millions of developers competing for the money. There is no barrier to entry, with Apple providing free high-quality dev tools and almost free access to the app store. So it is up to you to provide a reason why your app is more successful than the competition. That's hard in such an open and efficient market. I see no way everyone can be happy and earn a decent living (depending on where you live of course) from apps. Apple's 30% cut is not the problem.
Sure, Apple can clean up the App Store. It's nearly impossible to discover indie devs these days. But if your app is good, it will get picked up by reviewers and will take off. A small dev that's making 10 bucks a day isn't gonna make a living if Apple decreases their take from 30% to 15% lmao. These devs STILL need to make a good product. Not a Candy Crush or Clash of Clans clone.
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Could not agree more with this comment. Absolutely true.
it's so "Simple" that you completely misunderstood what they are asking for
They want people to be able to do limited trials of their Applications before buying. This is important because people who are on the fense about certain applications might not buy the application if they can't try it first to find out if it's any good, OR if it fills their need.
Right now, you have to pay up front for an app, test it within a few minutes, and then if it's NOT a good App, or an App that doesn't solve the persons need, they have to go through the refund process.
Free Trials of programs has been a thing since the very early days fo computing and is a big method developers have to get word out on their programs. Apple seems to be very alone in their desire to prevent free trials.
Yep agreed. I think the challenge for most indies is the big boys have so much money to spend on marketing that they can't compete. I also think it was the developers fault from the outset when there was a rush to the bottom to undercut every other app in price. Before they knew it, they had shot themselves in the face because they had to give their software away for free!