Apple to Start Charging for Re-Downloading Apps Over-the-Air?

[GQB]

What if, say, you were to download an app that sucked big time and then deleted it. However, an update was issued and you wanted to try it out and decided to download it over the air. Normally, iTunes tells you that you've already downloaded this content and to press "OK" to download it again. Would this new implementation force someone to have to pay for it again when currently they are not required to do so?

Read the article. Doesn't affect download to computer.

 

[*LTD*]

yeah real smart in tough economy, especially when M$ is launching their own competitive zune and app store. Man Steve must have left the biggest boneheads in charge while he is away. Its like when your parents leaving the youngest kid in charge while they're out of town. LOL

People have been using the "tough economy" line so often, it's like Vista's UAC. You do realize that in this very economy Apple keeps posting record quarters, right? Their Mac business, which accounts for nearly half of their revenue is experiencing among the smallest computer sales contractions in the entire industry. There's just no let up of enthusiasm and desire when it comes to Apple, much less what Apple products cost. People on these boards complain, but the real numbers always show otherwise.

And then realize also that "competitive Zune and app store" at this time is an obvious oxymoron, and take the time to read the following:

I tested over and over and over. I get the same result every single time. I'm using 3.0 beta 5. I have all of the apps published by "Yet to be named enterprise" via promo codes (the guy is my friend).

Every single app from him, it gives me the dialog to buy it.

Every other app that I've purchased with money gives me the download for free dialogue.

 

[GQB]

For the iPhone only, I hope. Why would they charge you if you have an iPod touch for OTA when it uses Wi-Fi and not the Cell Network? Complete BS IMO.

This has nothing to do with wi-fi or Cell...
It has to do with there not being a mechanism for including mobiles in the 5-computer limit.

 

[hoonu]

Not sure if I can agree with that for 100% because I look at myself with my current devices and I often delete things just because they sucked initially, but later got better. My job requires that I'm driving or on planes literally 80% of the time so most of my downloading comes over the air and I depend on a lot of apps to get me through my personal and work day.

I'll agree that this probably affects a very small percentage of users, but it still affects people.

I don't know about you, but if I'm not using an app, I delete it. I don't need my phone cluttered with crap that I'm not using. But, just because that app sucks now doesn't mean it won't get better and I've reinstalled plenty that have made such a jump.

If this is true, though, means that it's just better to leave anything that you download on the phone despite whether or not it's currently being used in hopes that it gets better just for the sake of convenience.

And I doubt this has as much to do with DRM as it's probably a way for AT&T and Apple to help reduce network bandwidth and profit on it at the same time. Factor in how many downloaded apps there are and how many happen all the time and that's quite a bit of bandwidth. This is just a form of bandwidth control.

What he said. Apple is getting redic these days. As if they apple tax on my AT&T plan wasn't enough...

 

[RumorHasIt....]

Crap!

This is a crock! I'm so glad that those of you who download an app never delete or try to redownload it. I, however, have tried many apps. Sometimes, you come back to them and want to try again. My desktop has my itunes files. What a fricking pain to have to go home and use my desktop.


Some of us like the iPhone because it doesn't tether us to our desktops. Some times, I am not home for several days.

Where is the confirmation that it is only those apps with promo codes?

 

[The General]

Where is the confirmation that it is only those apps with promo codes?

Right here. Or, you might *GASP* just try re-downloading an app yourself before post your worthless banter about iPhones and what "some of us" like.

 

[GQB]

Just greedy.

I guess I will just never delete. I'll have a graveyard of junk.

This isn't about Apple's cash flow... its to protect the developers.
But oh yeah... its all about everything being free, isn't it?

If there's a legitimate case, it would be easy to allow mobile downloads of free apps, but restrict paid apps to computer download, which might be smart.

I'd be curious to hear from any developers of paid apps who think downloads to unlimited mobile devices is a good idea?

 

[Peace]

You're defending some very ridiculous decisions that Apple hasn't even made.

I'm not "defending" any ridiculous decisions. Merely defending an idea and since this story can't be corroborated it doesn't matter anyway.

Even if it were true I see nothing wrong with it.

 

[The General]

This isn't about Apple's cash flow... its to protect the developers.
But oh yeah... its all about everything being free, isn't it?

If there's a legitimate case, it would be easy to allow mobile downloads of free apps, but restrict paid apps to computer download, which might be smart.

I'd be curious to hear from any developers of paid apps who think downloads to unlimited mobile devices is a good idea?

Are you sure it's to protect developers? Are you sure it isn't just NOTHING?

 

[moussekateer]

Every time you delete it ? How many times do you "delete" paid for apps anyway ? You make it sound like it's an every day occurrence. I've owned the iPhone since day one and have never deleted a paid for app. That's what..3.5 years ?

Deleting apps over and over isn't common sense either.

Get real.

Well good for you. That's how YOU use YOUR phone. Some people manage to download the maximum number of apps to the springboard and need to delete rarely used apps to make space. A lot of people run into the problem of apps crashing on launch (myself included, many times) which requires an deletion and redownload.

If windows mobile or android had imposed this, would anyone have called it common sense?

 

[ozyr]

Oh heck, I don't see anything wrong with this at all. I've never had to re-download an App.

Thus, for me, no problem.

As for others, just roll with it...

 

[jbrandonf]

This isn't about Apple's cash flow... its to protect the developers.
But oh yeah... its all about everything being free, isn't it?

If there's a legitimate case, it would be easy to allow mobile downloads of free apps, but restrict paid apps to computer download, which might be smart.

I'd be curious to hear from any developers of paid apps who think downloads to unlimited mobile devices is a good idea?

How is giving me the ability to change my itunes account on my phone going to protect them? Why don't they just place a 5 device limit to each itunes account?

 

[GQB]

Well, first off, this shouldn't affect free apps like Facebook, right? Free to download means free to download as many times as you like, I assume.

Second, this new rule could be a real bummer if you've ever had to delete an app on your phone, because its database got corrupted or something, and then downloaded it again right away in order to restore functionality. Having to wait until you can get to your computer would be painful.

Oh poor babies... have to use that troglodydic computer thing that breaks your nails.

I used to think posters on this forum were among the smartest, but I'm dismayed.
This has nothing to do with bandwith or $$ for Apple. It has to do with protecting developers.
They're addressing a non-obvious use-case with what will probably be an interim step. Add a method to make mobile devices register as one-of-five, and the problem goes away.

Such babies.

 

[Rocketman]

I thought Apple "owned the cloud now" and this would never be a problem again.

Doesn't each individual device have a unique IP address that iTunes server can see?

Rocketman

 

[arn]

Right here. Or, you might *GASP* just try re-downloading an app yourself before post your worthless banter about iPhones and what "some of us" like.

I've had a few people try it. Results are the same. Promo code or not doesn't change the message. You are the exception so far. Anyone else have the same experience?

arn

 

[Peace]

Well good for you. That's how YOU use YOUR phone. Some people manage to download the maximum number of apps to the springboard and need to delete rarely used apps to make space. A lot of people run into the problem of apps crashing on launch (myself included, many times) which requires an deletion and redownload.

If windows mobile or android had imposed this, would anyone have called it common sense?

You make it sound like you never sync your iPhone/iPod Touch to your computer after purchasing a "maximum number of apps". It would seem to me any person that downloaded that many apps via the mobile app store would want to sync it sometime. This saves a copy on your computer you know.

 

[sharp65]

Oh poor babies... have to use that troglodydic computer thing that breaks your nails.

I used to think posters on this forum were among the smartest, but I'm dismayed.
This has nothing to do with bandwith or $$ for Apple. It has to do with protecting developers.
They're addressing a non-obvious use-case with what will probably be an interim step. Add a method to make mobile devices register as one-of-five, and the problem goes away.

Such babies.

Protecting the developers? LOL please, you don't need to defend everything Apple does. You honestly can't say this isn't motivated by money at all.

 

[skwoytek]

First, yes this is an inconvenience. But despite all the gripes, Apple is only doing one thing here, preventing unlimited of users from getting an application which was only paid for once.

This does affect all paid-for apps; the app being re-downloaded below is Band which I bought without a promo code. This does not affect updates, I updated Things this evening.

Apple is not attempting to save AT&T's bandwidth:
A) The same rules apply whether you use 3G or Wifi.
B) Free apps can be re-downloaded for free over 3G or WiFi.

Apple is not attempting to save their own bandwidth:
A) Purchased apps can still be downloaded unlimited times to the computer.
B) Free apps can be re-downloaded for free over 3G or WiFi.

Apple is not attempting to get more of your money:
A) Purchased apps can still be downloaded unlimited times to the computer.
B) Free apps can be re-downloaded for free over 3G or WiFi.

Pandora on Left, Band (purchased normally) on Right​

 

[The General]

I've had a few people try it. Results are the same. Promo code or not doesn't change the message. You are the exception so far. Anyone else have the same experience?

arn

Have you tried it?

First, yes this is an inconvenience. But despite all the gripes, Apple is only doing one thing here, preventing unlimited of users from getting an application which was only paid for once.

This does affect all paid-for apps; the app being re-downloaded below is Things which I bought without a promo code. This does not affect updates, I updated Things this evening.

Apple is not attempting to save AT&T's bandwidth:
A) The same rules apply whether you use 3G or Wifi.
B) Free apps can be re-downloaded for free over 3G or WiFi.

Apple is not attempting to save their own bandwidth:
A) Purchased apps can still be downloaded unlimited times to the computer.
B) Free apps can be re-downloaded for free over 3G or WiFi.

Apple is not attempting to get more of your money:
A) Purchased apps can still be downloaded unlimited times to the computer.
B) Free apps can be re-downloaded for free over 3G or WiFi.

http://appleservedup.com/images/Download2.png[IMG] [IMG]http://appleservedup.com/images/Download1.png[IMG][/QUOTE]

So which one gave you the buy dialogue and which one gave you the free dialogue? Your post is missing this 100% vital information.

 

[GQB]

Are you sure it's to protect developers? Are you sure it isn't just NOTHING?

That's not beyond imagining either.

 

[jaw04005]

Don't you think it's a bigger pain to delete and redownload apps directly from ur iPhone compared to syncing with a pc?

No. It's more of a hassle to fire up iTunes, wait for my iPhone to "backup" and sync, click the iTunes store link, search for an App, add it to my shopping cart and click buy.

On the iPhone, I open the App Store, search for the App, select buy or download and enter my password. Much quicker.

 

[skwoytek]

Have you tried it?

If not, I did. See above post #118.

 

[slicecom]

No. It's more of a hassle to fire up iTunes, wait for my iPhone to "backup" and sync, click the iTunes store link, search for an App, add it to my shopping cart and click buy.

On the iPhone, I open the App Store, search for the App, select buy or download and enter my password. Much quicker.

Amen.

 

[The General]

If not, I did. See above post #118.

Which one gave you the buy dialogue and which one gave you the free dialogue?

I've been trying all sorts of apps, I just tried to get Super Monkey Ball and it gave me the buy dialogue. It seems like small apps are giving me the free one, but big ones are giving me the buy one.

This is kind of bad. People that redownload apps a lot (like me) might never even notice that this dialogue is different. It's always annoying to have to hit OK JUST DOWNLOAD THE APP, and I wouldn't have even read the dialogue, and then unknowningly bought the app again.

This must change. Lettering sjobs@appl.com right now.

It's kind of like theft by deception.

 

[arn]

Have you tried it?

I don't have 3.0 installed on my iPhone. But multiple people I trust have said the same thing.

arn