Apple Now Allowing Developers to Offer App Pre-Orders

[CarlJ]

As a customer, I don't see this as a positive. All I need to do is add an app to the wishlist.

Uh, if the app were not pre-listed in the store specifically to make it available to pre-order, there would be nothing in the store for you to put in your wishlist, unless you mean some completely separate list you maintain. Either I'm missing something or your plan can't work.

I see the main benefit being that it fixes this situation: "oh, yeah, I definitely want this thing I heard about (from a friend, article, etc.) that's coming out next month, but now I have to either set a reminder somewhere or hope I randomly run across it again once it's released". iTunes already lets you pre-order movies and albums before they're released, so it's just kind of completing the square. That said, I don't see myself using this much.
[doublepost=1513061329][/doublepost]

There is NO Gaurantee that the uploaded apps are fully working in an "acceptable manner" to the end users or that can be replaced with a junk app.

Presumably one would only pre-order stuff from a developer who has a proven track record, one where you're familiar with their previous work, say, a sequel to an app you love - if you wouldn't pre-order a movie or album that you didn't know anything about, why do you think people would do that with an app?

Also please DON'T QUOTE the ENTIRE ARTICLE when leaving a comment. We all know what the article says, it's up at the top of the forum thread. If you want to quote a particular part of it, then do that (editing the quote down to just the part you're referencing). Otherwise, just type your comment in the box at the bottom of the page.

 

[a0me]

What the heck is the point of a pre-order for a product that has basically unlimited supply?

Pre-orders make sense for manufactured products because this way the company can get an idea of demand and use that to determine how much product to manufacture. But for apps, which are basically unlimited, it is completely pointless.

Welcome to the video game industry. Digital pre-orders for games has been going on for years.
Edit: I am pretty sure digital pre-orders for new albums / singles has been a thing for a while too.

 

[FelixDerKater]

A little notification couldn’t hurt.

 

[Scooz]

There must be some statistics behind this. Otherwise I cannot explain the use.

Maybe the probability of hitting you on your three-monthly „spending and browsing day“ ist higher that way. And your cart filled with more oh-neats.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Presumably one would only pre-order stuff from a developer who has a proven track record, one where you're familiar with their previous work, say, a sequel to an app you love - if you wouldn't pre-order a movie or album that you didn't know anything about, why do you think people would do that with an app?

Also please DON'T QUOTE the ENTIRE ARTICLE when leaving a comment. We all know what the article says, it's up at the top of the forum thread. If you want to quote a particular part of it, then do that (editing the quote down to just the part you're referencing). Otherwise, just type your comment in the box at the bottom of the page.

"Presumably one would only pre-order stuff from a developer who has a proven track record, one where you're familiar with their previous work, say, a sequel to an app you love .."

Then how else would you, myself or anyone else discover great competing apps then when the preview and description looks sound? I'm saying even wtih this, where is the control to prevent fraud delivery of a crap application? I don't see this in the article so I'm skeptical of this new pre-order method. Yes the article states the app would have to be submitted already: current scrutiny for non custom API's and such I'm sure is done ... but if the quality of the app is garbage vs screenshots ... what is done by Apple if anything at all; as an example?


PS: Quoting the article in the forum gets automatically shunk ... unless your settings differ. That's how I'm experiencing it via desktop (Windows/Chrome) or mobile (iOS). Sorry for the inconvenience.

screenshot: this is how I see articles quoted by myself or anyone else on desktop or via iOS Safari (mobile).

 

[Pagemakers]

Why would you pre-order? Apps don’t sell out!

Stupid idea.

 

[CarlJ]

PS: Quoting the article in the forum gets automatically shunk ... unless your settings differ. That's how I'm experiencing it via desktop (Windows/Chrome) or mobile (iOS). Sorry for the inconvenience.

screenshot: this is how I see articles quoted by myself or anyone else on desktop or via iOS Safari (mobile).

Are you suggesting that this is a good reason for quoting the entire contents of the original article into your comment? I presume that you hope/expect others to read all the words you provide in your post. Why are you providing a complete extra copy of the article? It's pointless, it wastes everyone else's time, and it clutters up the thread.

 

[MH01]

Hope I can get it day one and avoid 4-5 week wait .... more Kuo rumours about how there are constrained coding issues for launch .

Forget how silly this is , whoever from apple approved the concept is getting sloppy.

Wish list etc work fine - this is a solution to a problem that does not exist
[doublepost=1513068587][/doublepost]

yup, this. the nike app (not the snkrs app) allows me to look ahead to upcoming shoe releases, but it doesn't allow me to purchase them. I actually don't even think it lets me set a reminder. You have my attention, you have something i want, why are you asking me to come back later and risk that i never will? take my money now.

Cause Nike is showing you upcoming products , not commiting to them. Final product may very well change.

When apple takes pre-orders for an iPhone , it's not a prototype, the final product has been built , stock in place , hence why pre-orders are not taken in a keynote . Two different use cases here .

 

[mabhatter]

Why would you pre-order? Apps don’t sell out!

Stupid idea.

We need to pre-order our $99.99 packs of Gold Gem packs!!!

 

[aleni]

This thing is useless for digital media as it’s practically infinity in supplies. How about adding a feature to refund apps within the next 30 minutes??!

 

[recoil80]

Indeed. It actually seems a bit strange; wouldn't it be better to wait for some reviews to come in before dropping money on an app?

I find it weird too.
It is an app, not a phone you need to pre order in order to have chances of getting it on day one. You can download a new app the minute is published on the store.

 

[Rocketgarden]

This might work for my app. I have a lot of potential customers waiting for a new app, they already have an older app and I'm finding it hard to fund updates. If I could gauge the size of potential interest it would potentially also unlock investment money to fund an additional developer etc.

On my customers side, I know they are keen for the new app and this would solve the problem of remembering when the app is becoming available. In addition it takes away the uncertainty, there is a time limit, 90 days, this lights a deadline under the developer. There is also the possibility of running a promotion. If I'm going to have a low introductory price then the existing pre-orders would get that price and I could raise the price after I'd say sold 1000 at the introductory level. I could make the promotional price apply mostly to the pre-orders.

 

[SBlue1]

What the heck is the point of a pre-order for a product that has basically unlimited supply?

Pre-orders make sense for manufactured products because this way the company can get an idea of demand and use that to determine how much product to manufacture. But for apps, which are basically unlimited, it is completely pointless.

I use it on a regular basis to purchase music from my favourite bands. I dont need to know the product I just want it as soon as it is released.

 

[recoil80]

This might work for my app. I have a lot of potential customers waiting for a new app, they already have an older app and I'm finding it hard to fund updates. If I could gauge the size of potential interest it would potentially also unlock investment money to fund an additional developer etc.

On my customers side, I know they are keen for the new app and this would solve the problem of remembering when the app is becoming available. In addition it takes away the uncertainty, there is a time limit, 90 days, this lights a deadline under the developer. There is also the possibility of running a promotion. If I'm going to have a low introductory price then the existing pre-orders would get that price and I could raise the price after I'd say sold 1000 at the introductory level. I could make the promotional price apply mostly to the pre-orders.

That's an interesting point of view from the developer perspective and you make a compelling argument on funding future apps.
I don't see the potential advantages for customers though. Some sort of wish list or remainder would help getting noticed when a new app comes out, without spending your money until you decide you really want to buy it.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

In case they run out?

 

[MR-LIZARD]

As a customer, I don't see this as a positive. All I need to do is add an app to the wishlist.

.

Wish list etc work fine - this is a solution to a problem that does not exist
[doublepost=1513068587][/doublepost]

Wish list is gone in the iOS 11 App Store.

If you’ve updated to iOS 11 and haven’t used it since then I’d say this might be symptomatic of why Apple killed it off and went down this route.

 

[nburwell]

Unless it's an app that I really, really want. I really don't foresee myself pre-ordering an app.

 

[CristianM]

As a customer, I don't see this as a positive. All I need to do is add an app to the wishlist.

Right, the wishlist.

 

[CarlJ]

Unless it's an app that I really, really want. I really don't foresee myself pre-ordering an app.

You've just justified the existence of this feature: you're saying you would be willing to pre-order an app you really, really wanted. That's why this feature exists.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Are you suggesting that this is a good reason for quoting the entire contents of the original article into your comment? I presume that you hope/expect others to read all the words you provide in your post. Why are you providing a complete extra copy of the article? It's pointless, it wastes everyone else's time, and it clutters up the thread.

Man you're taking a crap on me for this? ignore the post or ignore the quote. The ability to quote the article is there as part of the rest of the forums features. I've shown what I'm seeing which differs from what you're stating and right now ... you're the ONLY one complaining about it! So it's either your issue with settings within your forum profile that either differ from the standard settings -or- you can block from seeing my posts.

I'm not changing what I chose to do which falls in line with the forum features and rules, I'm not asking YOU to do such a thing. I'm not asking/expecting anyone to read ALL the words I provide in my post. Clearly it seems you haven't but that's not bothering me.

Maybe you should stop trying to change others actions and look towards your own, I'm not hurting anyone; except maybe 1 action annoying you. Time to get off the high chair and look at options that you can control.

Have a coke and smile and have a very nice day

 

[MH01]

Wish list is gone in the iOS 11 App Store.

If you’ve updated to iOS 11 and haven’t used it since then I’d say this might be symptomatic of why Apple killed it off and went down this route.

Still on iOS 10 , until such time that Apple gets 11 stable .

 

[dampfnudel]

Pre-ordering only makes sense if it’s a physical item that could potentially be in short supply, at least at launch and shortly after. With apps, games, anything digital, I want reviews, word of mouth from family/friends, etc. before spending my money. That’s the logical approach at least.
[doublepost=1513145400][/doublepost]

Still on iOS 10 , until such time that Apple gets 11 stable .

I finally updated at 11.1.2 from 10.3.3. I consider it now “stable enough” for me when it comes to performance and battery life. Sure there’s room for improvement, but usually the answer to that with almost anything is yes, it could be better.