Developers Complain as App Store Feature Promotes Rip-Off Apps

[I7guy]

Since the argument is “you’re safer because we do X“ but they don’t actually do X, you’re free to think that doesn’t weaken their argument, of course, but I think most people will think it does.

No, it doesn’t mean they will. It also doesn’t mean they won’t. And “they won’t“ is Apple‘s argument.

We'll have to see. What people think might happen, may or may not happen as these are all opinions...including mine.

 

[Deguello]

We'll have to see. What people think might happen, may or may not happen as these are all opinions...including mine.

I’m not predicting what will happen. Most likely, Apple can prevent third party stores. That doesn’t make their argument about safety any more legitimate.

 

[I7guy]

I’m not predicting what will happen. Most likely, Apple can prevent third party stores. That doesn’t make their argument about safety any more legitimate.

I actually think it does. I don't know the economics of a third party app store, but in my mind I'm thinking they would do the least amount of work for fees that are slightly lower than Apples. And the least amount of work doesn't translate into a safer environment for consumers.

 

[TouchMint.com]

It’s always been like this and as a developer when our yearly survey comes out I report as many spam apps as possible. It really wouldn’t be that hard for even one person to go through the top apps for each category and remove 10% of them since they are spam ripoff apps but this never happens.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Very possible, but it’s unlikely. This is more likely just a gross oversight of Apple.

it’s a double edged sword though. We developers want supersonic reviews, but faster reviews mean more trash slips through the cracks. This can harm both the consumer and developers.

What if, to submit a review, FaceID or TouchID had to trigger? Or maybe a two factor code to your Apple devices? That would help weed out bad actors but it hopefully wouldn’t be too annoying to the customers.

I just think if there’s some sort of two factor process like that it could break the automated review bots that pump apps full of them.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Who the hell would subscribe to a mobile game for 700$US a year? That is crazy

My guess is that kids would accidentally do it with their parent’s credit cards on file. But yeah if you know what you’re doing that’s asinine. I wonder how many subscriptions they got from that.

 

[Dremmel]

A rival store that played fair with customers and developers would clean up. Apple's one is beyond rigged.

 

[Dremmel]

I actually think it does. I don't know the economics of a third party app store, but in my mind I'm thinking they would do the least amount of work for fees that are slightly lower than Apples. And the least amount of work doesn't translate into a safer environment for consumers.

I disagree. A rival store that was fair to everyone would be hugely successful. Real app charts where the best apps float to the top. Results not rigged according to how much a developer has spent on Apple Search ads, or how many IAPs and subscriptions they have. Paid apps are currently hard to find by design, yet they offer the best value. Everything at te moment is about fleecing customers.

 

[alex2792]

Apple can’t possibly afford to hire some recent college graduates in a low wage 3rd world country to monitor these things for only a 30% cut!

 

[Maconplasma]

I disagree. A rival store that was fair to everyone would be hugely successful. Real app charts where the best apps float to the top. Results not rigged according to how much a developer has spent on Apple Search ads, or how many IAPs and subscriptions they have. Paid apps are currently hard to find by design, yet they offer the best value. Everything at te moment is about fleecing customers.

Only if real life was as oversimplified as your hypothetical…

 

[cardfan]

Who the hell would subscribe to a mobile game for 700$US a year? That is crazy

And yet kids with apples blessing get subjected to these types of apps on a daily basis. Working as intended. As a parent I got caught once napping and kiddo managed to charge 200-300 before I was aware of it. Apple of course told me to go take a flying leap. Refund? Haha. Sorry.

Of course as a result the kiddos don’t have ability to install apps now period.

 

[Maconplasma]

And yet kids with apples blessing get subjected to these types of apps on a daily basis. Working as intended. As a parent I got caught once napping and kiddo managed to charge 200-300 before I was aware of it. Apple of course told me to go take a flying leap. Refund? Haha. Sorry.

Of course as a result the kiddos don’t have ability to install apps now period.

You won’t like my response but that’s the fault and responsibility of the parent 100%.

 

[Orson Farris]

Love Apple hardware. Like their MAC software. Tolerate their IOS software. Hate the App Store. Hate their hypocritical arguments against allowing other stores. Hate their 'privacy' BS. I know everyone will say good riddance, but I'm heading back to Android.

 

[Dremmel]

Only if real life was as oversimplified as your hypothetical…

There is no need to make something over complicated if it works better with simplicity. By better I mean better for consumers. I could design it in my sleep so I am sure somebody else could.

 

[Maconplasma]

There is no need to make something over complicated if it works better with simplicity. By better I mean better for consumers. I could design it in my sleep so I am sure somebody else could.

Right. I’m certain you believe that to be true.

 

[Dremmel]

Right. I’m certain you believe that to be true.

As somebody with two past overall No1s in the app store (outselling Angry Birds for a while), and with experience developing some of the halycon days arcade hits ... yes I do 🙂

 

[I7guy]

I disagree. A rival store that was fair to everyone would be hugely successful. Real app charts where the best apps float to the top. Results not rigged according to how much a developer has spent on Apple Search ads, or how many IAPs and subscriptions they have. Paid apps are currently hard to find by design, yet they offer the best value. Everything at te moment is about fleecing customers.

I disagree about the fleecing part, but I understand YMMV. Any ill in the IOS app store will, imo, carry forward to alternate app stores and maybe be worse overall. Your assumption is alternate app stores want to do better than apple. My contention is the economics of an app store means that they will do the least they can get away with.

Years ago I looked at an enterprise app store for an app I had developed (and they were an established entity). They wanted to charge a yearly fee of $15,000 plus per download. I put the app on the ios app store. Good luck to alternative app stores.

 

[MobiusStrip]

This is just one example of the disgraceful app-discovery dysfunctionality in Apple's app store. You can search for an application by the exact name of its publisher, and it won't show up in the first several HUNDRED listings. Instead, Apple will "correct" the name you entered and use a misspelled version of it or ignore it altogether, and present apps whose listings don't even contain the string you searched for.

It's inexcusable at best, and a scam at worst.

 

[peanuts_of_pathos]

Looks like a money laundering app. There were many like that in early days and probably lots since.

It works like this.

You have a network of 1000 people. That’s a minimum number.

Each person subscribes to these apps.

5 apps per person. That’s 5 subscriptions @ $15 per week.

So that’s $780,000 being funnelled from your network alone and then there are strangers buying subs too.

That money might be laundered for many reasons. Could be a percentage of drug money that needs to be cleaned. Could be a network of immigrants who are sending money home by being asked to subscribe to the app. Could be a terrorist network. Anything.

And it’s that much easier to pull off if you have one or more reviewers willing (or properly “motivated” $$$) to look the other way. That one or more of the App Store curators (and I assume but could be wrong it’s some form of maker-checker) are now corrupted appears to be new.

 

[peanuts_of_pathos]

Police don’t make alternative methods, self-defense or private security, illegal though. Bad analogy.

Yes they do, police literally and legally hold a monopoly on the legal use of force on behalf of the state and it’s citizenry.

Interesting overall analogy though I also like your analogy re: private security though.

 

[Deguello]

Yes they do, police literally and legally hold a monopoly on the legal use of force on behalf of the state and it’s citizenry.

Interesting overall analogy though I also like your analogy re: private security though.

No, they don’t. Citizens legally can use force to defend themselves or others, up to and including lethal force. And, often, to defend property. This is not rationally disputable.

 

[Michael Scrip]

And you think allowing more stores and sideloading will fix the problem? It’s going to make it far worse.

That was my first thought as well.

If some bad scammy apps can slip through Apple's App Store review process... imagine what kinds of apps will be sold in a store with NO rules or review process... 😳

As for Apple promoting these bad apps... I hope they can fix this internally. It's definitely a black eye for Apple.

I'm unhappy with the findings in this story... and these developers have a right to be upset.

But I don't think more stores and sideloading is the magic bullet everyone thinks it will be.

 

[jefhai]

Too many bad players can destroy a free market in no time. There is no absolute freedom.

I have the freedom to make goods and offer them at a price. If you don’t like it you don’t have to buy it- as long as I’m not scamming you or charging something outrageous AND I’m the only option. But sounds like a lot of these apps aren’t the only competition. Consumers have a choice still

 

[DeepIn2U]

This poor review process really doesn’t help Apple’s argument that the App Store should be the only place to get apps for the iPhone & iPad. Not only do they “review” and allow these sham/scams, they actively promote them.

Agreed. However the alternative means no review or vetting process just glorification on a website 😉

the process at Apple MUST get better. This is atrocious!

 

[Shirasaki]

That was my first thought as well.

If some bad scammy apps can slip through Apple's App Store review process... imagine what kinds of apps will be sold in a store with NO rules or review process... 😳

As for Apple promoting these bad apps... I hope they can fix this internally. It's definitely a black eye for Apple.

I'm unhappy with the findings in this story... and these developers have a right to be upset.

But I don't think more stores and sideloading is the magic bullet everyone thinks it will be.

Wow, smh third party App Store = an App Store that has no rules and no review.
Guess that’s why so many people hates third party app store, because they default a third party one has no rules. no regulation, no safeguard, absolute ”freedom” App Store.