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Apple Launches $0.99 Mac FaceTime App on Mac App Store
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They don't charge for Safari, Quicktime or iTunes, or some of their iOS apps like Remote and Keynote Remote.
It is not the amount that bugs me ... 99c is close to nothing .... it is the gesture ... something like that should be free (plus .. i never really got facetime working between phone / mac) .... and frankly even iChat - iChat calls have become so wobbly that I told people often 'let's change to skype' ...
until they have it town to what I used to expect from apple ... no dice ...
until they have it town to what I used to expect from apple ... no dice ...
Anyone who really pays for this $1 deserves to have an Ultimate Fan Boy medal in MacRumors forum
Also this, from iCreate Magazine, shows that Macs will have FaceTimeHD Cameras. Awesome!
I hope you're right, but strictly, this could mean that you can receive the calls on certain Macs, but only make them on hardware (iPhone 4) with a built-in 720p cam.
Nothing here about making calls from a built-in HD cam on a Mac.
They do charge for iLife. It comes free with new Macs (as I'm sure FaceTime will too) but whenever there's a big update you have to pay for the new version.
They charge $0.99 for Keynote Remote.
Anyone who really pays for this $1 deserves to have an Ultimate Fan Boy medal in MacRumors forum
Make an App for that and charge a buck, you will be rich
If Apple makes it free anytime in the next couple months they will have to give everyone their money back. There is no way it's gonna be free anytime soon. I could see it eventually becoming free, but it would be something where it is only "free" if you buy a new Mac. Kind of like how they give iLife with new Macs.
When you bought your Mac, you had no expectation of receiving FaceTime service, as it was never advertised. Apple owes you nothing.
Note that on the new MacBook Pros, where FaceTime IS an advertised feature (rebranding of iSight to FaceTime Camera), the service is offered for free.
Exactly. You have hit the nail on the head. The more idiots that stump up the cash for FaceTime will justify many more types of micro transactions in the future.
We all know it's only $0.99 but it's setting a very dangerous precedent moving forward.
So get over that!
I wonder if it will be free with new Macs, à la iLife. While 99¢ is doable, it's weird they're charging for this. I'll wait for the free version (or for someone else to use the FREE -- isn't it? -- standard and create their own).
I get it that people think this should be free. I don't think it's Apple being greedy though.
Apple could care less about making several million from people buying FaceTime HD for $1 when their revenue is 20 billion a quarter.
This move is all about getting more people into the Mac App Store and getting used to buying software there.
Anyone who has used the iOS and Mac App Stores clearly understands their benefits.
Apple could care less about making several million from people buying FaceTime HD for $1 when their revenue is 20 billion a quarter.
This move is all about getting more people into the Mac App Store and getting used to buying software there.
Anyone who has used the iOS and Mac App Stores clearly understands their benefits.
I agree but for an IM client? I can say that FaceTime >>>>> Skype, interms of quality and ease of use but...
Oh well, I think it deserves $0.99. Whatever, I'll pay a buck if they need me to. :|
iLife 11 apps (for people who upgrade the apps, but don't buy a new computer) are $14.99 each in the app store. Also a traditional iLife (boxed CD) has never been free; if you don't buy a new computer. 99-cents is pretty cheap. Since iChat does not work on iphone or ipod-touch, I may download just in case. But most of my peeps are on Aim and the video chat seems to work fine on that.
As for those complaining about the App store. I kinda like it and have a bunch of free and paid apps. The only thing I do not like about it, is you do not get the original DMG or PKG to backup your software; making you reliant on time-machine or re-install. I mean even iOS apps give you the ipa in your itunes library. It would not be that hard for Apple to download the DMG / PKG to our downloads folder and have a script downloaded to do the install automatically (like it does now). MS gives you the option of Run or Save. Most of the time I chose save so that I have the executable / software.
Unbelievable
Unbelievable. Charging for Facetime? I know this issue will go away over time, as it will be included in new computer, phone, tablet, and iPod purchases, but it's pretty shocking for now.
Unbelievable. Charging for Facetime? I know this issue will go away over time, as it will be included in new computer, phone, tablet, and iPod purchases, but it's pretty shocking for now.
No, you consider the broader picture.
THIS is how it starts. First Apple start charging 59p for something which should be free (and available for Free from 3d parties ie. Skype). Apple see that millions of idiots are willing to pay and decide to adopt a "pay per update" model for things that used to be (and should be) free.
What's next, 59p for every OS update? 1.99 for new desktop images?
THIS is exactly what people where scared about when Apple introduced the Mac App Store and fears for a "closed" system. Closed in this case could imply a "pay per feature" model in the future.
It is extremely ridiculous that Apple would charge for this, but it's only the start of things to come.
If MS ever pulled this crap, everyone would go nuts. Apple have really gone down in my estimations with this.