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Apple Announces Countdown to 25 Billion App Store Downloads with $10,000 Gift Card Prize
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Use it on Mac app store too. Batman Arkham asylum and Rage are $40 each alone, non-sale prices. Use it on a bunch of HD movies, HD TV Shows, books, music, everything.
Since I buy all my media from iTunes I could definitely spend the money. Hell, my current iTunes wishlist is currently at over $4200 and that's not even including iOS apps, Mac app store, and books because I topped te maximum amount of items able to store in your wishlist.
Four oF NINE said:
Use it on Mac app store too. Batman Arkham asylum and Rage are $40 each alone, non-sale prices. Use it on a bunch of HD movies, HD TV Shows, books, music, everything.
Since I buy all my media from iTunes I could definitely spend the money. Hell, my current iTunes wishlist is currently at over $4200 and that's not even including iOS apps, Mac app store, and books because I topped te maximum amount of items able to store in your wishlist.
Any prize is better than nothing but I personally couldn't spent 10k in the App store 
I'd rather $1K in the real store.
I'd rather $1K in the real store.
Any prize is better than nothing but I personally couldn't spent 10k in the App store
I'd rather $1K in the real store.
It's not just the app store.
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Sad to see so many slagging off Apple over this. Yes, it would be a more desirable prize if it was an Apple Store voucher. And yes it isn't costing Apple anything like $10,000. And yes, they are probably doing it to boost downloads even more ( people downloading stuff they don't really want just to try and win the prize). But, if you only d/l what you would anyway and win then you'd be over the moon.
As someone has already said, think of all the OS X upgrades, Final Cut, Aperture etc. and, if Adobe ever put their apps on the App Store then you'll soon spend $10k
As for the US tax issues, do you really have to pay tax on this? If it was $10k cash I could understand it, but you can't redeem the voucher for cash so you'll have to find the tax $$$ out of your own pocket. Sounds a bit unreasonable to me - even for the taxman!
Sad to see so many slagging off Apple over this. Yes, it would be a more desirable prize if it was an Apple Store voucher. And yes it isn't costing Apple anything like $10,000. And yes, they are probably doing it to boost downloads even more ( people downloading stuff they don't really want just to try and win the prize). But, if you only d/l what you would anyway and win then you'd be over the moon.
As someone has already said, think of all the OS X upgrades, Final Cut, Aperture etc. and, if Adobe ever put their apps on the App Store then you'll soon spend $10k
As for the US tax issues, do you really have to pay tax on this? If it was $10k cash I could understand it, but you can't redeem the voucher for cash so you'll have to find the tax $$$ out of your own pocket. Sounds a bit unreasonable to me - even for the taxman!
Honestly, the people complaining about this promotion really need to get off their high horse.
Apple is not greedy, they are offering something that they otherwise did not have to. Just because a company is worth more does not have to mean that they owe you more prize money.
It's just like people who say "Why are you only donating $25 when you are making X amount of money per year?!"
Apple is not greedy, they are offering something that they otherwise did not have to. Just because a company is worth more does not have to mean that they owe you more prize money.
It's just like people who say "Why are you only donating $25 when you are making X amount of money per year?!"
Exactly. HD movies, HD TV shows, books, Newstand Magazine subscriptions, music, iOS apps, Mac apps, etc.
Damn, that's a good catch. I just assumed an Apple Store gift card and I was impressed at the generous amount. App store card is lame (for me anyway).
Me too. I barely buy any apps as is and I don't buy music/movies through iTunes. But new Apple hardware? I'd buy one of everything.
LOL, I'm entering but I guess I have a 1 in 400,000,000 chance of winning based on iOS devices out there. Maybe I'll have better luck with the powerball???
Don't forget to add the number of Macs out there as well. They can download iOS apps just as easy as an iOS device can.
Here's the Problem
So, if I understand this correctly, the winner will be taxed for the $10,000 prize. Let's say this was $2000. How many of us would really pay $2000 to have this shopping spree? Sure, I could imagine the person who needs some professional software that normally retails for hundreds or thousands of dollars, but in all likelihood, the person who is going to win this isn't going to be in that group. How many of us would fork over $2000 for the privilege of this shopping spree if it's just limited to apps, movies and music?
So, if I understand this correctly, the winner will be taxed for the $10,000 prize. Let's say this was $2000. How many of us would really pay $2000 to have this shopping spree? Sure, I could imagine the person who needs some professional software that normally retails for hundreds or thousands of dollars, but in all likelihood, the person who is going to win this isn't going to be in that group. How many of us would fork over $2000 for the privilege of this shopping spree if it's just limited to apps, movies and music?
I like the way you think!! But than again, I'm sure they would find a way to block that, I mean they really don't expect you to spend $10k on itunes. I wonder what the last person that won the gift card did?
I can't believe how many people are complaining about a company giving something away. Apple doesn't HAVE to give away anything. People are saying that Apple is greedy because they're only giving away a $10,000 gift card. Maybe you're the one that's being greedy, because you're complaining that a $10,000 gift card isn't good enough.
Yes, it's good publicity. Sure, they'll get more app sales out of it. Have we forgotten that Apple is a business, not a charity? Still, this is something nice that they're doing. Get off your high horses and quit whining. If you don't want to risk winning the crappy gift card, don't buy any apps for the next week or so.
Yes, it's good publicity. Sure, they'll get more app sales out of it. Have we forgotten that Apple is a business, not a charity? Still, this is something nice that they're doing. Get off your high horses and quit whining. If you don't want to risk winning the crappy gift card, don't buy any apps for the next week or so.
This is like any contest. If you win a car on the Price is Right, you have to pay the taxes on the car as well. That's why many contests now give you the option of receiving cash instead of the prize, so that you can pay the taxes out of the cash.
Irregardless, if you won the $10,000 prize, and could not come up with $2,000 (or didn't think it was worth it), simply accept the prize, pay the taxes on a credit card, then sell the prize on ebay to someone who would like it for say $7,500. Then pay off the credit card, and keep the remaining amount. It'll be a win-win for both of you.
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That's bad. I'm sure that here in the UK you don't have pay tax on prizes if they are non-cash - in fact I don't think you even pay tax on cash prizes.
How does it work in the US for Lotto wins? Do you pay tax on those? Here in the UK gaming tax is paid on the stake (the Lotto ticket). If you bet on the horses, football, etc. then you have the choice of paying tax on your stake or on the winnings if you win.
bbeagle said:
That's bad. I'm sure that here in the UK you don't have pay tax on prizes if they are non-cash - in fact I don't think you even pay tax on cash prizes.
How does it work in the US for Lotto wins? Do you pay tax on those? Here in the UK gaming tax is paid on the stake (the Lotto ticket). If you bet on the horses, football, etc. then you have the choice of paying tax on your stake or on the winnings if you win.
Yes. The IRS enforces it, by taking their tax money FIRST.
Say you win $10,000,000 in the lottery. First you only get that full amount if you take equal installments over a period of 20 years. (In this case $500,000 a year for 20 years). If you choose the lump-sum amount, you get an 'annuitized amount' (something around $6,000,000) - the lottery distributors were counting on earning interest on the money for 20 years, but since you want a lump sum, it's less.
Then, taxes are taken out FIRST, leaving you with a check somewhere around $4,000,000.
The UK sounds better. In Canada, you keep the full $10,000,000. But not in the U.S.
No unfortunately, my wife tried doing this to me when she had credit on her iTunes account, but it still deducted from her credit card instead.
Actually, I bet the way it'll work is you get 10,000 credit and you pay taxes out of that credit. So it's like you're actually winning 7500 but they "upped" it to 10000 to account for taxes. So you probably won't have any out of pocket expenses but your buying power will be subsequently reduced. Govt wouldn't care because they'd get their money either way.