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Apple Promotes Subscription-Based Apps With Free Trials in the App Store
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Ridiculous indeed, fully agree! It's crap like this that will destroy the app ecosystem if it continues to go unchecked.
There should be a mechanism for users in App Store to disable any future updates that have announced changes to Subscriptions. Honestly I feel any app that's been sold for a set price should:
a> Not be allowed to change into a subscription model, or,
b> developers should be forced by policy to
1) create a new app that allows for subscription model, and
2) the existing paid app continue to be made available and as well bug fixes and updates at no cost to the end user continue for 12 months AFTER the subscription model version of the app is released officially (not announced).
I noticed the Gymaholic app changed their premium paid feature into a subscription model. within a week allowed all future updates for free for those that had a premium model, yet only after considerable backlash. I find that crap dispicable.
I had the noaa hi-def radar app from weathersphere and paid about $4-5 for it a few years ago. it was one of the best weather apps and then they released an update that said it would bring a ton of new features with no mention of a subscription model. Sure enough, the update removed 95% of the app functionality. Want to see the radar in the future? subscribe. want to see local alerts? subscribe. It was extremely bothersome because the change log made zero mention of a subscription
Interesting idea to require a brand new app in order to use a subscription model rather than being able to force it after-the-fact. It'd be hard to enforce the requirement of continued bug fixes and updates for the existing app, though.
P.S. Here's a fitness app that does NOT have a subscription model, just a single, one-time In-App Purchase to unlock all advanced features (full disclosure: I am the developer
):https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gym-log+-free-workout-fitness/id871239624?mt=8
Actually, the opposite. App store revenues have been going up and up and up. So customers are complaining, but still spending more and more, a lot of in on iAPs. Profitable app development businesses follow the money, not the noise. At least in the short term.
App Store revenues going up and up doesn’t mean anything. Only that all other than users that require true feautures of an app that they paid, had then changed or were free before in-app fees or subscription fees after an update.
My suggestion still follows the money:
Keep customers happy for the money they paid for. The developer does not have to allow the free/1-time paid app available to new customers during that 12-month cycle. Offer new features newly accompanying the subscription model app. Unhappy customers leads to bad reviews, worse feedback and word of mouth that will affect future sales. Remember, reviews by trusted users or sites weighs heavily on a developers mobile app, more than you think.
How many apps has Apple pulled From the App Store without reason that we can understand? Also of the same apps the developer was featured for a reply and only part of the truth was actually given?!
Remember “he who has the gold, makes the rules” and it’s Apple that has the gold and makes the rules. Don’t think for a second Apple will only side with the developer.
This qualifies as fraud. Some of my apps have "Switched" to subscription model. But all the "pro" features are still available to me since I had paid full price initially.
[doublepost=1515993389][/doublepost]Pay-for-upgrades seems such a perfectly sound model. If a dev makes a ver 2.0 of his app, and offers enough new features that he believes people will pay, let him charge for it. Till then provide bug fixes for user retention.
Trouble is, most apps are developed for very narrow user requirement, hence have a limited feature set. So people will be perfectly happy with v1 and not pay for a v2, yet expect bug fixes, iOS compatibility for v1 forever. And that is not sustainable. So how do I incentivize a developer to provide regular updates, without users paying for it, if a v2 is not a possibility? That question needs to be cracked.
We are spoiled. Just a few short years ago:
Mac’s cost more then double and substantially less powerful then what they are today.
Office suite $60 minimum per year
A font pack $50 plus
$75 for a picture pack
Average software $40 no exchanges if opened
A 300 baud modem $200
And the list goes on.
Developers need to make a profit. We cannot expect everything for a one time fee or free. The subscription a good alternative to upgrading at list price yearly, the ability to try before purchasing, less clutter on our systems, naming a few. The net results of the subscriptions model, fewer apps (not a bad thing), better quality apps, more focused app development, we make better choices for our needs. A good thing.
Mac’s cost more then double and substantially less powerful then what they are today.
Office suite $60 minimum per year
A font pack $50 plus
$75 for a picture pack
Average software $40 no exchanges if opened
A 300 baud modem $200
And the list goes on.
Developers need to make a profit. We cannot expect everything for a one time fee or free. The subscription a good alternative to upgrading at list price yearly, the ability to try before purchasing, less clutter on our systems, naming a few. The net results of the subscriptions model, fewer apps (not a bad thing), better quality apps, more focused app development, we make better choices for our needs. A good thing.
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We’re not spoiled.
Cost of applications has almost always been feom$1-10US since UIQ, S60, Java based smartphones. iOS and Android has shown developers reaping in $10+ for games (FYI Nokia Ngage QD has games from GameLoft and UbiSoft for this price on MS cartridges) and other more complex and feature rich or niche applications that couldn’t be done before.
Subscription models are allowing even more incoming coming in. $6billion + paid out in less than a year (2017) by Apple alone to developers.
My hard earned dollars like everyone else will goto the app developer that makes a sound, working and good application that does what it’s supposed to do. If the developer listens to feedback for bugs or adjustments to those that paid for the app that’s a bonus to the developer able to make the app more appealing to others to reap in more sales.
You’re forgetting the economies of scale for one app deployed, time for updates worked on is benefited by millions of users globally. Most developers have several apps on more than one platform. Never before dis smartphone developers could have a luxurious lifestyle off of a smartphone app and they can build for TVOS WatchOS and consider iPads as well.
Freemium with ads are paid to developers as well. To be honest prior to 2010 I can’t recall a fermium desktop app that was not a virus lol. Seriously.
Subscription gives developers to take in a LOT more and hold users as a sort of hostage. If no new subscription then the end user cannot still use the app and it’s features. The app is rented like a service so even the data you use within it cannot be used fully any longer.
Example: Strong Gymaholic. Both allow for multiple workout schedules to be created if subscribed. The latter offers a pethora more exercises to use. Stop subscription and the former you cannot use more than 3 different workouts (plus 3 guided ones that come with the app and are completely different than what most experienced athletes can utilize). The latter prevents you even from using several basic exercises to be used. That’s BS to me if I have workout plans to follow and have been for a full year.
The data is locked in, routines and history of gains losses cadence etc. Cannot export this data and thus going elsewhere means I have to start from scratch. Apples HealthKit API doesn’t keep track of actual exercises only the heart rate caloric burn and other rudimentary data.
Nobody needs to make a profit.
However, if enough good developers don't make a significant profit for their time spent (e.g. a lot more than just fees, development hardware, and coffee money), consumers will end up with much less high quality end-user software (except for student written stuff, and open source linux-like mostly-nerd tools).
Support and keeping apps updated (for the latest iOS and expected UI features) often requires more time than initial app development. If the ongoing profit (after initial purchase) isn't enough, then lots of developers will go do something else with their time to pay the rent. And you will end up with outdated or dead apps (like all the 32-bit iOS 6 apps that no longer run under iOS 11, etc.).
