Want to legitimize my pirated apps, best way to do it?

[RetiredInFl]

This has nothing to do with the OP just a statement. You can buy a $3000 watch, wear it for a month (or in some cases more) and if you don't like it return it for a refund. You can buy a $40 shirt, try it on, and return it if you don't like it or the color doesn't match. You can buy a $800 iPad, try it for 14-30 days (depending on seller) and return it if you are not satisfied BUT if you buy a $5 app that is a piece of crap (as MANY are) you're screwed and people tell you "tough sheet." I could never understand the logic of that. A purchase is a purchase. If it is lousy, works poorly or you just don't like it you should be able to refund it.

I can see where those who are jailbroken could take advantage of it but the vast majority of the 10's of millions of iDevice owners are not.

I've been involved in personal computing since the early 80's and before I pay/paid my hard earned money for ANY application for a PC I'm going to try it out.

Call me pirate if you want, that's OK. I know that if I keep it I pay for it, if I don't like it I delete it. I don't feel the slightest tinge of guilt. Unfortunately that cannot be done with iDevices (unless jailbroken) but it should be because some of the stuff out there is total gar-bage.

 

[anjinha]

I can understand your argument, but if the pirate had to choose between pirating the app or not getting it at all, -even at the time of the app's initial launch- the developer would benefit more from the pirate, (Though, obviously, still less than a legitimate purchase) because of the publicity that he could receive, and publicity, as well as profits, is important to app hype and success.

Don't get me wrong, pirating does hurt the community, consumers and developers alike, which is why I turned around and purchased the $400 of pirated apps that I had, and let me just say, I have bought quite a few apps that I would not have bought had I not had the ability to test it out.

It's the people that have the money and ability to actually purchase the applications, yet still choose to pirate, that cause the damage. Unfortunately this is 95% of the pirating community, but the owner of this thread is not one.

Legitimate Purchase = Money and possible publicity for the developer
Pirate = Possible publicity
Refraining from getting the app = No developer benefits

You're obviously an educated person, and arguing will get us nowhere, so let's agree to disagree and give this guy his thread back.

How about all the pirates that even though they didn't pay for the app email support when they have issues? Providing software support isn't free.

How about developers that need servers for their apps (for push notifications, sync services...)? Pirates are using resources that they haven't paid for.

It's not really a victimless crime, even if you weren't going to pay for the app anyway.

 

[TheWheelMan]

How about the fact that because people do pirate apps likely is part of the reason Apple won't allow us to get refunds for them?

 

[Mrg02d]

How about the fact that because people do pirate apps likely is part of the reason Apple won't allow us to get refunds for them?

How is that logical?

----------

Gestapo terrorized and murdered innocent people. We're not murdering him and he ain't innocent.

I think we're just annoyed because he's shown no signs of remorse whatsoever. And by the way, readily admitting that you pirated apps destroys your credibility too.

They weren't innocent people to the Gestapo. Try to catch my drift.

 

[gnasher729]

This has nothing to do with the OP just a statement. You can buy a $3000 watch, wear it for a month (or in some cases more) and if you don't like it return it for a refund.

A while ago I looked on eBay for expensive watches. One was on offer for £75,000. The seller offered to take it back and refund the money if you don't like it. As long as the seal that proves it wasn't worn hadn't been broken. With the seal broken and the watch worn he offered to take it back for £50,000.

They weren't innocent people to the Gestapo. Try to catch my drift.

Strong claim.

 

[Mrg02d]

A while ago I looked on eBay for expensive watches. One was on offer for £75,000. The seller offered to take it back and refund the money if you don't like it. As long as the seal that proves it wasn't worn hadn't been broken. With the seal broken and the watch worn he offered to take it back for £50,000.



Strong claim.

Strong drift!

 

[RetiredInFl]

How about the fact that because people do pirate apps likely is part of the reason Apple won't allow us to get refunds for them?

People rob banks, we can still borrow money.

 

[Mrg02d]

People rob banks, we can still borrow money.

Boom, that just happend!

 

[donnaw]

I too wish Apple had some sort of return policy. When I started using smartphones back in 2004 the apps I downloaded for my winmo phone had trial periods and would allow a timed use of the entire app or a stripped down version for free with paid upgrade for the full app. This was nice because I could use the app and then decide if it worked, or if it fulfilled my needs.

Having said that, pirating of any sort is wrong. It's stealing - period. For any of you who justify this behavior I have to ask, are you in the habit of going into your local Best Buy or Fry's or Target and just picking something up off the shelves and walking out? You know - shoplifting? Because when you pirate app that's exactly what you're doing. There is no excuse, no reasoning that makes this right or acceptable. The fact that this behavior has been given another name (pirating) doesn't change the true nature. Stealing is stealing and in no civilized society is stealing acceptable behavior.

Grow up and learn that you are not entitled to the use of an app because you can't afford it. This is the real world. Learn some personal responsibility and pay for what you use.

Sorry, rant over.

 

[Mrg02d]

I too wish Apple had some sort of return policy. When I started using smartphones back in 2004 the apps I downloaded for my winmo phone had trial periods and would allow a timed use of the entire app or a stripped down version for free with paid upgrade for the full app. This was nice because I could use the app and then decide if it worked, or if it fulfilled my needs.

Having said that, pirating of any sort is wrong. It's stealing - period. For any of you who justify this behavior I have to ask, are you in the habit of going into your local Best Buy or Fry's or Target and just picking something up off the shelves and walking out? You know - shoplifting? Because when you pirate app that's exactly what you're doing. There is no excuse, no reasoning that makes this right or acceptable. The fact that this behavior has been given another name (pirating) doesn't change the true nature. Stealing is stealing and in no civilized society is stealing acceptable behavior.

Grow up and learn that you are not entitled to the use of an app because you can't afford it. This is the real world. Learn some personal responsibility and pay for what you use.

Sorry, rant over.

Arrhh!

How would it be any different than using it on someone else device instead? How about playing music through speakers instead of headphones so others, that didn't pay for the song, can hear?

We could go round and round with this. There needs to be a return policy, plain and simple. Some places make it illegal to limit someone's ability to return something. Your feelings are by no means the alpha and omega of what's right and wrong.

I set sail right after paying for some apps that didn't do what they claimed.

 

[likemyorbs]

I like how he mentions how he used to pirate apps like its no big deal.

Did you want me to make a federal case out of it? Yes, I pirated apps. No, I'm not doing it anymore. No big deal.

I can understand your argument, but if the pirate had to choose between pirating the app or not getting it at all, -even at the time of the app's initial launch- the developer would benefit more from the pirate, (Though, obviously, still less than a legitimate purchase) because of the publicity that he could receive, and publicity, as well as profits, is important to app hype and success.

Don't get me wrong, pirating does hurt the community, consumers and developers alike, which is why I turned around and purchased the $400 of pirated apps that I had, and let me just say, I have bought quite a few apps that I would not have bought had I not had the ability to test it out.

It's the people that have the money and ability to actually purchase the applications, yet still choose to pirate, that cause the damage. Unfortunately this is 95% of the pirating community, but the owner of this thread is not one.

Legitimate Purchase = Money and possible publicity for the developer
Pirate = Possible publicity
Refraining from getting the app = No developer benefits

You're obviously an educated person, and arguing will get us nowhere, so let's agree to disagree and give this guy his thread back.

thank you. I didn't mean for this thread to turn into another moral battle over piracy, we've already had enough of those. I just wanted to know the most efficient way to rid myself of pirated apps and start with a clean slate (or pad). And my question has been answered, so I thank everyone who sparred me the lecture and simply answered my question.

 

[psonice]

There is a returns policy, and you can get a refund. It's just... hidden

Speaking as a dev: the OP is getting rid of his pirated apps and buying the ones he uses - to me that's good news. Many others are pirating and never paying - and yes, using servers, emailing support, and costing devs plenty of money.

TBH I wouldn't care if he was keeping the rest of his apps, if he's paying for the ones he uses. There are a lot of apps out there that simply aren't worth paying for, and the developers don't really deserve much in the way of reward for shoddy work. The good apps get used and people buy them.

What I'd really like to see is more support from apple for 'demo versions'. They basically banned them, although lots of 'lite' or 'free' versions are pretty much the same thing. There are lots of apps with no way to try before you buy though, and with the amount of crap on the store I think that actually pushes people to pirate.

 

[TheWheelMan]

People rob banks, we can still borrow money.

And robbing banks is still illegal. Do you think it's all right to rob a bank once in a while too?

 

[Mrg02d]

And robbing banks is still illegal. Do you think it's all right to rob a bank once in a while too?

Oh, so now that's also elitist?Negative one, scalawag.

 

[awair]

A couple of tips that may help with some of the issues:

Create a new iTunes library (which won't have Apps in)
Use a new Apple ID
Use an App such as PhoneDisk to copy data from the iOS directory from each App you are going to upgrade.

Morality:
Not my place to judge, although some of the early replies may have been humour???

Legal:
Theft="intention to permanently deprive"
That may be worth reflecting for all the armchair judges

 

[Night Spring]

Use a new Apple ID

How would that help? It's not like the pirated apps are associated with any Apple ID.

 

[awair]

OK, I could admit to being ignorant about how pirated apps are installed.

But I'll go with argumentative

If you're (re)installing Apps via iCloud, only those paid for (associated with that account) will appear for download...

 

[bufffilm]

If you're (re)installing Apps via iCloud, only those paid for (associated with that account) will appear for download...

i don't think that's entirely true. if the pirated app and the version in the itunes store are the same version, then there is nothing in the download section.
.
.
.
as for the OP, the best way to do it is to make a list of the pirated apps, uninstall them and purchase them from the app store. if you accidentally unistalled an app that you purchased, they'll still show in the app store as available for download.

 

[Fruit Cake]

Lol the moral police are out in force today. Having said what's being said though, it would be ideal if apple implemented some sort of trial before you pay incase your dissatisfied with the app. I suppose not having it makes them more money thou (and encourages piracy to some extent)

 

[blueroom]

Pretty sad the trouble folks go to so they can steal a $1 app.

 

[shinobi-81]

So you think it's ok you stole the rest of them. Sorry, you're still a thief.

I agree that devs should get paid for the use of their software, but as long as the software was only copied and not taken away, how is it stealing? And if the OP couldn't use the apps, why should he pay for them? Because the EULA says so? A bit far to call him a thief for that, eh?

He still doesn't seem to understand what he did was steal from people.

What does it matter what he "seems to understand" as long as he's taking action to pay for what he uses?

I think we're just annoyed because he's shown no signs of remorse whatsoever.

Why is OP expected to show remorse in the thread? Is this a Christian forum or something? "Father, forgive me, for I have sinned..."

 

[Badrottie]

write a letter to the creators of the apps you've pirated and offer to pay them additional interest for the time you've enjoyed with their hard work.

1+

 

[tiptopp]

Weak...

Arrhh!

How would it be any different than using it on someone else device instead? How about playing music through speakers instead of headphones so others, that didn't pay for the song, can hear?

We could go round and round with this. There needs to be a return policy, plain and simple. Some places make it illegal to limit someone's ability to return something. Your feelings are by no means the alpha and omega of what's right and wrong.

I set sail right after paying for some apps that didn't do what they claimed.

Completely different, unless you were stealing someone else's device to use it on. Someone has legitimately bought it, and you're trying it out and will, hopefully, pay for it later if you like it. Music is designed to be played, and if you bought it, and let others hear it, they might go and buy it too.

But yes, trial periods should apply, or easier returns. I have a folder full of apps claiming to do something, only to find that they're not really up to the job I want them for. It makes me cross that I can't try them and return them more easily. I'm actually certain that I'd spend more money if I could be sure that what I was buying worked for me. And as Apple have the ability to disable apps on your device, I don't see that it's that difficult to implement and manage.

Anyway, the OP has an answer, and I'm happy that he came and asked the question, and is now in a position to go straight. And I quite enjoyed the read...

Tiptopp

 

[throAU]

buy them on the app store, un-jailbreak your phone and move on?

 

[RobesNo1]

Apple could solve this issue by having a decent refund policy.

People say "but people will use it for Piracy", but this is BS; you’re not telling me Apple couldn't have something that when you connect to get your refund it wipes the app off the iPhone/iPad? Yes there'll be ways that people will figure out around this and pirate but they do that anyway!
All that's happening now that's different is that innocent people are paying good money for rubbish apps that don't do what they're meant to do, but have little or no recourse.

A good example is the "TV premium" app. This app was top on the Chart for a couple of days, it claimed to give access to premium TV channels (SKY Sports ETC), which is did, for about 48 hours! Apple then pulled it. All the people who paid for that app are now left with nothing, but the people who made that app (and Apple for that matter) made a good few quid. It takes around 20000 purchases a day to put something top of the app store in the UK, this app was top for at least 2 days, that's around £27000 of people’s money, how many people do you think will bother jumping through Apples hoops for the refund!? This is just one example of many instances like this.

I do not blame people for Jailbreaking and using it as "Try before you buy", as there is so much dross on the app store that doesn't warranty even the £0.69/$0.99 price tag.