Apple Tablet Operating System Claims: 'A Good Bit of New Sexy'

[NT1440]

Why is there an assumption that tablet apps are going to have to cost more? I see apple just allowing devs to make tablet versions and still having the same control they do now. They aren't going to put up new limitations when they could just further the incredible success and popularity they have now with the app store.

 

[MikhailT]

Why is there an assumption that tablet apps are going to have to cost more? I see apple just allowing devs to make tablet versions and still having the same control they do now. They aren't going to put up new limitations when they could just further the incredible success and popularity they have now with the app store.

Nobody said that Apple will force the price increase nor did anybody say that it has to cost more. Read our posts again and understand why the assumptions.

 

[cmaier]

Why is there an assumption that tablet apps are going to have to cost more? I see apple just allowing devs to make tablet versions and still having the same control they do now. They aren't going to put up new limitations when they could just further the incredible success and popularity they have now with the app store.

All I suggested was that in order for developers to spend the effort to port their apps to what is likely to be a much smaller market than the iPhone market, they would need financial incentive to do so. Most of the 100,000 apps in the appstore haven't made their developers enough money to convince them to spend a lot of effort re-optimizing for the tablet. I know that I'll only be porting those apps that either make financial sense or which I, myself, want to be able to use on the tablet.

 

[charlituna]

i just sure hope that a lot of the current apps will work with it

my roommate is jonesing for a big screen several player version of Words with Friends. he's addicted to that game

Required, no, but any dev who isn't an idiot will immediately convert their apps so that they can hit their new market.

true that. although some apps might not need a redo. all depends on how they scale up to the larger size (I suspect more will need it than won't)

i wouldn't be shocked if the tablet prices are a tad higher than the iphone ones. or even if some of the free apps bumped to pay ones

two things I would be pleased to see (if developers would buy in on it)

1. model on the tv show gig and have an iphone only download or an iphone and tablet download, just like how you can get the SD only or get both for only slightly higher and have the HD for the computer and the SD for your ipods.

2. do an apps plus upgrade. they know what we've bought so how about letting us get the tablet version for a cheaper price. so like lets say for my roommate who paid like $2.99 to get Words with Friends for his phone. and then there's a new tablet version that's $4.99 (or even a tablet and phone version thing like in point 1). instead of him having to pay $4.99 and perhaps redownload an app he doesn't need and already bought he can 'plus' up and get just the tablet one for the $2.00 difference. At least perhaps for a limited time right at the beginning.

Nobody said that Apple will force the price increase nor did anybody say that it has to cost more. Read our posts again and understand why the assumptions.

Apple doesn't price the apps, the creators do. so the question would be if Apple allows them to charge more. and I can't imagine why they wouldn't (within reason) since they want the apps to go tablet friendly. but out of fairness to the consumers, they might try to encourage programs like what I suggest above to help out those that bought in at the iphone level.

 

[MikhailT]

...
Apple doesn't price the apps, the creators do. so the question would be if Apple allows them to charge more. and I can't imagine why they wouldn't (within reason) since they want the apps to go tablet friendly. ....

Did you read my posts? Because it seem like you skipped through the entire conversation.

I never said Apple price the apps. I mentioned several times of the developers and not Apple for pricing the apps.

Apple have pricing limitations for the iPhone stores around the world, in USA min price is .99$ to the max price of 999$. Other than that, the developers can charge whatever they want for the app, so the question is will they do it higher for the tablets and is there a way for them to offer discounts for their iphone customers.

 

[cmaier]

Apple doesn't price the apps, the creators do. so the question would be if Apple allows them to charge more. and I can't imagine why they wouldn't (within reason) since they want the apps to go tablet friendly. but out of fairness to the consumers, they might try to encourage programs like what I suggest above to help out those that bought in at the iphone level.

Huh? Yes, developers price the apps. Apple doesn't "allow" or "disallow" them to charge more. Apple quantizes the prices and sets a cap in each market, but other than that developers charge what they want, and will do so on the tablet. The problem is that the app store economics are such that apps on iPhone cannot cost more than $10 or so and still sell any copies. This is due to many factors, including the ability for people to sell knock-offs, difficulties in marketing, inability to do things like upgrade pricing, etc.

The question is whether these same forces will result in tablet software being priced to low to encourage developers to do quality ports.

 

[hitekalex]

Originally Posted by hitekalex
And by the way, MacBook Air is NOT a netbook. I am surprised someone with an Apple-centric techno blog doesn't know that And no it won't be gone - I will bet $500 against your $50. However, something tells me you won't be around on Jan 28, when I show up to collect.

Really? What tells you that, my macrumors join date? I'll be here. You should have seen the laughs at my predictions well before the iPhone showed. But they were much more right than wrong.
(...)

And the Air will go. I wouldn't be surprised if Steve pulls the tablet out of a _small_ envelope this time.

So Lepton.. Looks like the Air is still alive and well. What a surprise! I hope my $50 dollar check is in the mail!

Did you really think a toyish iPod Touch on steroids can replace a real computer?

Any other bets you want to wager for the next Apple media event?

 

[Lepton]

So Lepton.. Looks like the Air is still alive and well. What a surprise! I hope my $50 dollar check is in the mail!

Did you really think a toyish iPod Touch on steroids can replace a real computer?

Any other bets you want to wager for the next Apple media event?

Are you kidding? It's a surer thing than ever that the MacBook Air will go. Several pundits have agreed today, did you hear them say it on TWiT Live today, for example? I did.

The MacBook Air is a goner!

 

[hitekalex]

Are you kidding? It's a surer thing than ever that the MacBook Air will go. Several pundits have agreed today, did you hear them say it on TWiT Live today, for example? I did.

The MacBook Air is a goner!

Wow.. you my friend are truly clueless.

 

[charlituna]

The problem is that the app store economics are such that apps on iPhone cannot cost more than $10 or so and still sell any copies.

well that depends on the app.

A game that is over $10 is not going to sell unless it is something super killer good and then it still won't likely sell much. but a more professional app, like TomTom or a textbook app where you can buy a digital version of that book you need for class, highlight, take digital notes etc. Something like that will certainly sell for over $10. Perhaps not much over but still

As for tablet apps being higher in price, I'm not talking going double, but perhaps (depending on the iphone price) 50 cents to a couple of dollars. Allowing that little bump might encourage develops to take the time to redo an app instead of just relying on this pixel multiplying trick. And if Apple sets up a system where they can do a discount for having bought the iphone version already (even to make it free if you paid for the iphone version), and/or package both like the SD/HD tv episodes, users are less likely to freak out.

Wow.. you my friend are truly clueless.

I have to disagree with you. Lepton and others are right. The Macbook Air is dead. At least as it stands now. It has been an underpowered, overpriced item for a while. It isn't really good for much more than checking your email, a little iwork and playing your itunes. Basically the same things the ipad can do.

So Apple should drop it or do something to bring it up to way better specs. I will not be shocked if they drop it (but perhaps not right away) and focus on lighting their Macbook/Pros and getting SSD to the point of being cost effective as THE storage and not an option.