Verge: "Pro Developers Opting out of iPad Pro"

[dyn]

The mentality issue is a big one. Smartphone and tablet users are now conditioned to buy only things that are either free or dirt cheap; generally speaking it's hard for a mobile developer to make money from direct sales if they're not visible in the top 10.

The Omni Group is doing great business because they got their apps on iOS. Their apps are by no means cheap, they are only a tad bit cheaper than their desktop versions. Navigation apps are of the same price and have no problem selling either. So no, consumers do not have a mentality issue. The some of the devs have a mentality issue. There is a lot of competition and anyone looking for easy money is jumping in on it. They are the ones who fail just as the ones that have no connection with the user or the device. In both cases it leads to crappy software. That's when consumers start to think "is this really worth this much?".

I think a good solution would be to have a "Pro" iOS App Store. The distinction is mostly psychological, but it would force iOS users into a different state of mind when they see a pro store with pro-pricing on apps.

The solution is to up your game as a developer. Stay in touch with users, be creative, play with the OS and play with the devices because that's the only way you can create userfriendly yet powerful apps. The only thing Apple can do is to add the option to trial an app and an option for upgrade pricing. Non-pro apps will also benefit from that and it probably also reduces the amount of refunds. It also creates less of a problem in the EU which has some legislation on this topic.

As a developer myself, I can imagine quite well the frustration that must go into spending so much money creating an app and facing the prospect of selling it at rock bottom prices to meet the unrealistic expectations of mobile users.

That might be because developers have unrealistic expectations of mobile users. Finger pointing generally means that they are not committed to solving things. A lot of people will not buy from anyone who doesn't want to resolve things and improve quality.

 

[aevan]

Simply some developers have abandoned the iPad pro when it was announced it would run iOS.

"Announced" it would run iOS? Was there ever any doubt an iPad would run anything other?

 

[AFEPPL]

I'm firmly on board with verge, they are spot on and i'd personally not touch the IPP for professional software.
iOS just sucks and its no different to what was said about SP and the two version (intel and ARM) it's just not a sustainable model going forward.

 

[Rogifan]

Simply some developers have abandoned the iPad pro when it was announced it would run iOS.

Apple wants everyone to go through the AppStore gate and take a chunk. As a developer you might as well focus development for OS X and Windows where you can sell you software for 10-20X the price and not be forced to give a cut.

14 day trials of software would be a good idea, just like you get 14 days to trial any Apple device

Who was expecting a larger iPad to run anything other than iOS? And developers are complaining about things like trials and paid upgrades not the App Store commission.

 

[turbineseaplane]

No demo's and no paid upgrades are huge issues when dealing with sophisticated applications and the requisite higher pricing.

This is especially pertinent if you're a newer name trying to get established (i.e. Not Omni or Adobe, etc)

And the person who said there is "free money to be had" is, I apologize for saying so, totally clueless and absolutely, completely, incorrect.

 

[dyn]

Apparently you haven't been in the App Store for some years now. We now have things like "freemium" and "in-app purchases". Just take a look at all the games and free apps. You want to do anything useful you have to buy some in-app purchase. You want to get rid of the ads? Buy an in-app purchase. And then there are the scientific researches regarding free apps where the conclusion is that the one buying it is simply selling his personal data and in most cases without them even knowing about it (nearly every privacy watchdog is investigating this matter). Not to mention all the clones of games like Angry Birds. Take a look at the MacRumors frontpage, there have been many articles about all of the above.

So yes, there are a lot of people thinking there is free money to be had. Thinking and stating otherwise is totally clueless and absolutely, completely incorrect and incredibly naive. It's how capitalism works and the App Store isn't the only one prone to it. Take a good look at The Netherlands when there is the European or world championship in soccer. It is one blinding orange madness. At first it was only 1 supermarket doing orange toys, the next year half of them did. Not going to the championship next year costs them millions because no one expected a complete elimination.

The problem is that you need to give people a reason for buying your app. You're not giving them any if it is just like every other competitor. Not something new and no rocket science either. It's how business has been working for centuries.

 

[dyn]

Thank you for this very useful post. Highly informative, you should post more of these! It's also very within the rules on this forum.

Anyway, for those who want to discuss the freemium thing, this is a nice topic: The dangers of "freemium" (i.e. free games)

 

[turbineseaplane]

Thank you for this very useful post. Highly informative, you should post more of these! It's also very within the rules on this forum.

When you make some sense with regard to this thread about pro level applications I'll respond.

 

[ke-iron]

The problem is developers don't want to build desktop class equivalent apps for iOS because they'd have to charge desktop class prices, and people don't want to pay those prices. A simple fix to this will be to allow in app upgrades to unlock the full potential, or a number limit trial. Like allow you to use the app 3 times a day for 5 days before you have to buy. Or how about buy the desktop version full price and get the mobile version at a cheaper price for people that use both systems. If you're a real professional using the app, after seeing the potential and if it's something you truly want or need, you'd shell out the money for the app like you would on a desktop. That's if it isn't pirated software you use on your desktop or laptop since it's much easier to acquire cracked software on those platforms than iOS.

The problem with apps and prices has always been there before the iPad pro, people just don't want to pay high prices for apps. People are to blame for being cheap and developers are to blame for not finding or creating an attractive business model for people to make that purchase. Just look at Apple, some how they continuously make us buy their hardware, accessories and over and over again. Developers need to find a way to do the same with their software.

As for the Verge just like Engadget, the quality of their journalism has progressively gotten worse. In the Engadget full iPad review the second sentence states "Apple, the same company that once swore off styluses, and dismissed hybrid PCs as experiments gone wrong, is now selling a laptop/tablet mashup of its own." This is horrendous journalism and understanding of Apple as a company and the products they make. The iPad pro is not a hybrid or a laptop/tablet mashup. They simply made a keyboard for people who need to type for extensive periods when they need to. As for the pencil I won't call it a stylus since it serves as a precision tool for specific needs, where as a stylus was originally designed to be the main input for touch devices.

Why is this so hard to understand? I'm tired of the crap journalism.

 

[dyn]

Then how do you explain all those desktop class apps with desktop class prices that are in the App Store right now and making quite a lot of money? I don't think it is realistic to think that people don't want to pay for it, they do but it has to have a certain value to them. Having a trial helps them to find out of the app has that added value or not. That's the biggest issue (and it isn't just the App Store). In a business world you'd build a proof of concept to sell the product. People need to be shown why something is worth the amount of money. This isn't an App Store exclusive either, it is with everything. Luckily we have screenshots, videos, reviews, podcasts talking about it and so on which greatly help.

One of the current methods devs do to circumvent is by using in-app purchases. The only downside to this is that the free version usually lacks a lot of the pro features and you run the risk of people staying with the free version. Some are adding ads to get people to buy but it doesn't show "quality" and with the current state of ads you are more likely to scare off people (look at the enormous increase of adblocking tools). With a proper trial option like Microsofts store has there won't be need for all this.

The first questions people ask when you offer a certain solution: why this one and why you?

 

[MH01]

Who was expecting a larger iPad to run anything other than iOS? And developers are complaining about things like trials and paid upgrades not the App Store commission.

You read no rumours about an iPad pro running OS X ? I doubt that , you frequent a lot of tech sites, especially apple stories.

Apple commission is one of the issues, read the story.

 

[MH01]

"Announced" it would run iOS? Was there ever any doubt an iPad would run anything other?

Of course there was. Many rumours speculated at it running a version of OS X . People were expecting apple might pull a version of the surface. Plenty of posts on MR and others sites about it.

 

[dyn]

And references to the ModBook.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You've yet to ever argue with me.

Was the other day in the now flagged and moved thread about "why are people so mean"

 

[aevan]

As for the Verge just like Engadget, the quality of their journalism has progressively gotten worse. In the Engadget full iPad review the second sentence states "Apple, the same company that once swore off styluses, and dismissed hybrid PCs as experiments gone wrong, is now selling a laptop/tablet mashup of its own." This is horrendous journalism and understanding of Apple as a company and the products they make. The iPad pro is not a hybrid or a laptop/tablet mashup. They simply made a keyboard for people who need to type for extensive periods when they need to. As for the pencil I won't call it a stylus since it serves as a precision tool for specific needs, where as a stylus was originally designed to be the main input for touch devices.

Why is this so hard to understand? I'm tired of the crap journalism.

Absolutely true. Really tired of all those 'Steve Jobs who needs a stylus' remarks. Whoever says that is either intentionally malicious or just not thinking things through.

 

[aevan]

Of course there was. Many rumours speculated at it running a version of OS X . People were expecting apple might pull a version of the surface. Plenty of posts on MR and others sites about it.

I'm sorry, but no one with even basic understanding of Apple doubted even for a second it would be anything other than iOS. MR is, sadly, full of people who either let their personal wishful thinking cloud their judgement or are, simply, uninformed. Also, journalists who claim such things are equally uninformed or, more often, just making click-bait articles.

While no one knows Apple's plans, some things are really easy to see if you just take a second to think about it. No, there won't be a touch based Mac. No, future iPads will not run OS X. No, iPad will not get mouse support. And, in the near future, we won't see an ARM based Mac. Simple.

 

[masotime]

Then how do you explain all those desktop class apps with desktop class prices that are in the App Store right now and making quite a lot of money?

I know right? They're making so much money that they consistently fill up all the spots for the top 50 grossing apps in the iPad App Store.

 

[ddrulez]

I think developers can make more money with cheaper apps. I will definitely not buy a 50€ draw app but will buy one for 10€. And I think I am not the only one how think so.
As example Procreate. This is a really good draw app for a good price. It get good reviews in YouTube and here too. They will make a lot of money with this "cheap" app because everyone can afford to buy it.

 

[aevan]

You read no rumours about an iPad pro running OS X ? I doubt that , you frequent a lot of tech sites, especially apple stories.

Of course we all read rumors. I also read rumors that iPhone will run Android, that Apple is abandoning the Mac, that Apple is hanging onto a thread and will fail soon and that sungazing and homeopathy work.

You can read anything on the internet and, sadly, the state of online tech journalism is dropping rapidly (because tech is becoming more mainstream). People like to read news like that. The general public is not interested in things like "Skylake is 15% more power efficient" but news like "Apple is building a new holographic iPhone that drives cars" will get you clicks.

Once again - no one who follows tech and Apple seriously thought even for a second that any iPad will run OS X. In some wild, crazy dream you could maybe make a theory about branching iOS and making a specialized iPad version (also unlikely), but OS X? No. It wouldn't make any sense and anyone with even the basic understanding of how things get made in tech world would never compare it to Microsoft making the Surface. Sorry for being harsh, but it's all true.

 

[aevan]

I think developers can make more money with cheaper apps. I will definitely not buy a 50€ draw app but will buy one for 10€. And I think I am not the only one how think so.
As example Procreate. This is a really good draw app for a good price. It get good reviews in YouTube and here too. They will make a lot of money with this "cheap" app because everyone can afford to buy it.

There are apps worth $50 to a smaller group of people and apps worth $10 to a larger group of peope. It depends on the app. An app that does Unwrap of 3D models is useful to a much smaller group of people than, say, an app that beautifies your photos. Also, that small group of people earns money with such an app so it's a good investment to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars for it. For some apps, "cheap" is just not viable.

For Procreate, I'm actually surprised it doesn't cost at least $29.99. Great that they can price it so low (it's litteraly a steal if you ask me) but not anyone can get away with it.

 

[macfacts]

IMO, I think the problem is the number of pro artists and musicians are small compared to the number of normal users who are happy with $0.99 apps and IAPs.

 

[xPad]

Was the other day in the now flagged and moved thread about "why are people so mean"

Quote the rest of the message you just replied to.

I'm getting tired of your straw man, selective editing.

 

[xPad]

IMO, I think the problem is the number of pro artists and musicians are small compared to the number of normal users who are happy with $0.99 apps and IAPs.

The same dynamic is true for OS X and Windows.

People spend more money on apps on iOS than they do on any other OS. There's a market for high priced apps, but high priced apps will never be the norm, just as they aren't the norm on desktop systems.

 

[MH01]

Of course we all read rumors. I also read rumors that iPhone will run Android, that Apple is abandoning the Mac, that Apple is hanging onto a thread and will fail soon and that sungazing and homeopathy work.

You can read anything on the internet and, sadly, the state of online tech journalism is dropping rapidly (because tech is becoming more mainstream). People like to read news like that. The general public is not interested in things like "Skylake is 15% more power efficient" but news like "Apple is building a new holographic iPhone that drives cars" will get you clicks.

Once again - no one who follows tech and Apple seriously thought even for a second that any iPad will run OS X. In some wild, crazy dream you could maybe make a theory about branching iOS and making a specialized iPad version (also unlikely), but OS X? No. It wouldn't make any sense and anyone with even the basic understanding of how things get made in tech world would never compare it to Microsoft making the Surface. Sorry for being harsh, but it's all true.

I'm sorry, but no one with even basic understanding of Apple doubted even for a second it would be anything other than iOS. MR is, sadly, full of people who either let their personal wishful thinking cloud their judgement or are, simply, uninformed. Also, journalists who claim such things are equally uninformed or, more often, just making click-bait articles.

While no one knows Apple's plans, some things are really easy to see if you just take a second to think about it. No, there won't be a touch based Mac. No, future iPads will not run OS X. No, iPad will not get mouse support. And, in the near future, we won't see an ARM based Mac. Simple.

Ummm a few years back you would have added "apple will not release a stylus" simple fact is no one knows what apple will do. That includes yourself. Did you predict apple would create a range of computer products that would be glued together and non user serviceable? No apple users knew what was going to happen, or were informed . You , me, everyone is uninformed when it comes to future apple products. All we can do is debate and speculate . Easy to take the high ground post launch. Sorry that is the harsh truth .

 

[turbineseaplane]

Quote the rest of the message you just replied to.

I'm not going to re-post an argument from a totally unrelated thread, and I've intentionally omitted the rest of your last reply because it was rude and I prefer not repeating anything of that nature.

I only replied at all to remind you where our last "discussion" was since you claimed to not remember it.