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App Store Ripping Off Some Developers

forums.macrumors.com — The App Store review process needs to go. This is unacceptable

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  • bridgeyman, on 08/03/2008, -32/+19Please Digg this! Maybe if I can bring some attention to the issue something it will be fixed!
  • BlueStarr, on 08/03/2008, -16/+67What a misleading title and Apple is not ripping anyone off. It's unfortunate what happen but it's obvious that it's not what you claim it to be. Continue to write to Apple and your case will be heard and most likely repaired. But this bitching and crying over something that wasn't intentional only make you look bad.

    hire someone with design experience to improve the graphics of your app. People are suckers for iCandy.
    • staticfish, on 08/03/2008, -4/+11I'm afraid I wholeheartedly agree with you. Whilst the situation /does/ suck that your application was delayed for a few weeks, and then a few more days, the fact of the matter is that Apple isn't 'ripping off' anybody.
    • bridgeyman, on 08/03/2008, -13/+20I realize the title is pretty sensationalist, but I had to get it noticed, right?

      I am afraid I have written and called Apple several times over the past two months. I haven't gotten a single reply from those emailsl. This is a different approach. Some applications have had millions of downloads since the launch of the App Store. I also had my application ready for the launch, but was not able to participate. No matter how you look at it, I am losing money from Apple's mistake (the messed up release date). I am just trying to get their attention.

      p.s. I agree on the graphics. I am talking to a great designer right now. Hopefully I can make enough money to pay him. :P
  • dmourati, on 08/03/2008, -13/+4Put a link up to your app here. Spend your time marketing your app versus going after Apple.

    Check these sites as well:

    http://www.appsafari.com/
    http://iphoneapplicationlist.com/

    Just get the word out man.

    Check out our free app, vSNAX for marketting ideas:

    http://www.vsnax.com
  • deadbaby, on 08/04/2008, -6/+24Sounds like someone just wants some free PR for their app. Lots of old apps are still top sellers/downloads. Doesn't matter when it was released.
    • bridgeyman, on 08/04/2008, -9/+8But how do you become a top seller when no one has ever seen your app? The only way I see apps is that they are either already a top seller, or appeared on the new apps page.
      • bitspace, on 08/04/2008, -0/+8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing

        I suppose in a sense this digg post is an attempt at exactly that. However, it's disingenuous at best, and really does make you look desperate.
      • amnesiac096, on 08/04/2008, -2/+3well you're sure to get some sales now, nice marketing...
      • shank2001, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1Patience, if your app is good, it will sell. Word of mouth is very good for iPhone apps. Everyone I know is constantly showing off new apps they find. If yours is cream, it will rise to the top. And if it isn't, lower your price, or make it better.
  • rocr69, on 08/04/2008, -6/+30I agree—misleading title and non-issue to begin with.
  • samsoffes, on 08/04/2008, -2/+3i know i have waited more than a week to get approved for an update before. i waited all week last week for them to fix the portal. you couldn't download certs last week at all, which means no codesign, which means anything you submit gets rejected.
  • digiguy, on 08/04/2008, -1/+6This is from the Macrumor forum?
  • judicar, on 08/04/2008, -1/+26I missed the part where he is being ripped off ...
    • sfrench, on 08/04/2008, -0/+9Just an unfortunate series of events it seems. Crappy yes, "ripped off" no.
    • FreddieD, on 08/04/2008, -0/+3If he thinks he's being ripped off now, wait until his game starts being made available DRM free with the app store hacked.
  • meclizine, on 08/04/2008, -5/+8Deciding to code an Apple app and complaining about the issues getting accepted as a developer is like moving to Cuba to start a new government and crying about getting thrown in jail. This is Apple, what did you expect?
  • MAGZine, on 08/04/2008, -1/+2Reasons why install.app was awesome and is missed. (This topic)
  • bridgeyman, on 08/04/2008, -10/+6I realize the title is pretty sensationalist, but I had to get it noticed, right?

    I am afraid I have written and called Apple several times over the past two months. I haven't gotten a single reply from those emails. This is a different approach. Some applications have had millions of downloads since the launch of the App Store. I also had my application ready for the launch, but was not able to participate. No matter how you look at it, I am losing money from Apple's mistake (the messed up release date). I am just trying to get their attention.
    • Spinducky08, on 08/04/2008, -3/+4"I realize the title is pretty sensationalist, but I had to get it noticed, right?"

      I wonder if they've come out with a newer, updated version of the "Boy who cried wolf". (the geek that cried "ripped off"?)

      I feel sorry for the dude who ACTUALLY gets screwed by Apple, but won't have his/her story read because too many people will dismiss it as some "whiner" tech-geek.





    • ocellnuri, on 08/04/2008, -0/+2Following that logic, your post is literally spam. Intentionally misleading title to get people to click through and see what you're actually trying to say.

      I understand your frustration with how long it took to get the app out, but one of your points of frustration seems to be that you're a few pages back at launch. With 1000+ apps in the store, it seems pretty obvious to me that the only way to drive users to your software is your own website and online marketing outside of the space of the App Store. Do that right, and it doesn't matter if your app is listed first or last.
  • braxley, on 08/04/2008, -8/+2found the ink to his app on his website - interesting and fun game.

    http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/ ...
  • artfuldodga, on 08/04/2008, -2/+4apple ripping people off? its just a rumor, it can't be true
  • fintheman, on 08/04/2008, -2/+12dugg down - not frontpage worthy AT ALL
  • umbriago, on 08/04/2008, -1/+10OH THE INJUSTICE!
  • fintheman, on 08/04/2008, -2/+8dugg down - not news worthy by and stretch or measure.
  • elcaminos, on 08/04/2008, -3/+13I hope Apple continues to rip you off for being such a whiny prick.
  • repruhsent, on 08/04/2008, -2/+8Buried for whining ***** gaming digg for free publicity for his app.
  • RidgeWalker76, on 08/04/2008, -0/+11As a long standing member of MacRumors I would advise against taking anything posted by an anonymous newbie at face value. This is basically an unsubstantiated claim that has been main paged on Digg, there doesn't seem to be much validity to this claim. It seems that, occasionally, a determined group can get just about anything to the main page in order to push their agenda. Try competing with Apple by developing a better product, it's not like Apple doesn't stumble every now and then.
  • MMaster23, on 08/04/2008, -2/+5What? Noone yet ? .. Ok I'll start:

    ***** THING SUCKS
  • Auzy, on 08/04/2008, -4/+1I'm surprised this article isn't about how Apple believes they deserve 30% of all developers profit, despite giving developers no free rides anyway, not allowing much flexibility, and charging developers for their iPhones.

    Thats why I refuse to program for it. Because I don't believe if I make $200, that apple deserves to make half of what I make.
    • WaterMedia, on 08/04/2008, -0/+3Your stupidity is blinding.

      Many of the apps have been downloaded well over a million times since launch. At a $1 a pop this small 30% fee to support the infrastructure is well worth it.
    • psylence, on 08/04/2008, -0/+230% != 50%. You expect Apple you give you a free iPhone for the priviledge of having you as a developer? Have you completely lost your mind?

      30% on a revenue sharing deal is actually pretty good. Considering the infrastructure, bandwidth, minor marketing, transaction processing, etc you are getting that you didn't have to lift a finger for.
  • totorototoro, on 08/04/2008, -1/+6Seriously, with that headline I thought this would be about Apple not paying developers their 70% or something.
    Plus its a thread on a messageboard?
    And it was submitted by the guy who wrote the thread on the messageboard?

    C'mon.
  • greganalytic, on 08/04/2008, -0/+2So is it better to apply as an individual instead of a business?
  • Picard102, on 08/04/2008, -1/+8More like App Developers ripping off iPhone users.
  • Raian, on 08/04/2008, -1/+8The app store is filled with junky little throw-away applications, much like the game in this post. I'm sure it has elements of fun, and I am sure it has an interesting angle.... but is it something I am going to rush home from work to buy?... probably not. Look at what a company like Nintendo is doing with the DS... and compare it with what many developers are doing on the iPhone.... or just compare Lumen with Enigmo.

    Your app isn't high on Apple's radar.... no *****? Welcome to reality.
  • inkswamp, on 08/04/2008, -1/+3Ripping off implies it's intentional and I doubt that. It sounds like Apple has a few kinks to work out with how the App Store functions, how apps flow in to the system, and how and when payments start for developers. I'm sure if this guy gets this story to the right person at Apple and keeps a level head about himself, they will address it in a fair way. I don't think reactionary Dig-style headlines will help the guy much though.
  • iericg, on 08/04/2008, -1/+2Agree with the inaccuracy of the title however this does bring up some valid issues with the App Store. In theory the iTunes Application Store is a great idea... both for apple and the developers. However there are some serious issues with it...

    * Browsing through the store is sluggish and extremely time consuming.
    * Everyday I see they have added new apps however it's a bitch trying to find them.
    * Most of the description & screen shots give a horrible presentation.
    * You can only download the apps through WiFi. I rely mostly on 3G and found it annoying to have to plug in my iphone just to download a simple game.

    * I've heard there are thousands of application submitted and still pending. It's annoying knowing that their are some great applications and games being held up in the pipeline by another flash light utility program.
    * When an iphone app is updated it is then ranked as a new program.

    It's obvious that Apple does not have enough resources to manage the new iTunes App... which makes me wonder if it was such a great idea. This is leaves a huge gap than another mobile device could easily fill.

    I still think the iphone is one (if not THE) best phone out there today but it is f-a-r from perfect.
    • CMiYC, on 08/04/2008, -0/+2"* You can only download the apps through WiFi. I rely mostly on 3G and found it annoying to have to plug in my iphone just to download a simple game."

      You sure about this one? I've downloaded apps through 3G and Edge. In fact, I just turned off WiFi, went to the store, and downloaded the first free app I saw.
      • iericg, on 08/04/2008, -0/+1I just tried it... I guess your right. Two weeks ago I tried downloading Aurora Faint and it said I could only download through WiFi.

        I guess they fixed it. Cool...
    • yabos, on 08/04/2008, -0/+2You can download up to 10MB over the cellular network and up to 1GB I believe over wifi.
  • WaterMedia, on 08/04/2008, -0/+3I love all of the whining we see about the app store.

    Apple just launched the first service of its kind (from a wireless and UI point of view), with over 100 apps added per day, and many million unit sellers only a month in. I'm going to hazard a guess it will continue to grow and Apple will adjust to make sure these issues are ironed out.
  • DigitAl56K, on 08/04/2008, -0/+4I have to say that sucks for the developer, but I also have to say that Lumen looks like a rehash of several other games using the same concept (laser emitters, reflectors, filters, targets, tile-based puzzle game).

    Here are just a few:
    http://blogs.sun.com/kevin/entry/laser_prism_and_m ...
    http://www.twilightgames.com/mac/aargondeluxe/aarg ...
    http://taufanlubis.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/linux- ...
    http://mobicritic.com/2006/11/18/absolute-puzzle-m ...
    http://mobimaniacs.blogspot.com/2007/12/free-downl ...

    • psylence, on 08/04/2008, -0/+2For every original game there are countless unoriginal ones. Both make money.
  • jeffehobbs, on 08/04/2008, -0/+2I believe Winston Churchill said it best, at his climactic speech to the united Axis powers, when he said "CRY MOAR, NOOBZ."

    As true today as it was then.
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