Comments on: Apple prepares to reset the bar in the mobile app market

Apple's new iPhone 3.0 operating system will allow application developers to charge for new services and merchandise within their applications.

[vlabmarketing]

Come listen to Matt Murphy of KPCB iFund Manager at Stanford GSB (http://www.vlab.org/article.html?aid=275) discuss more about this topic!

[DumbMacUser1]

I have a question: Who cares?

It's amazing that people can't figure out that crApple's biggest announcemnt has always been that they have no announcement.

Now lets gear up and watch them go on stage and parade more obsololete, already-existing, over priced "gadgets" that "they invented".

[The_happy_switcher]

Who cares?-- I could say the same about your pointless post. Thousands of developers care and millions of end users, too--that's who.

[topgunb2]

@AppleRocks1963 , thousands of bubblewrap apps developers do care, its a disgrace to call them developers.
[CNET editor's note: Personal attack deleted.]

[The_happy_switcher]

@Topgun, It would be fun to exchange insults with you but I wouldn't want you to lose your amateur standing.

[jabberwolf]

@AppleRocks1963

"Thousands of developers care and millions of end users, too"
[CNET editors' note: Personal attack deleted.]
They are a nightmare! not to mention penny pinchers that think anything that touches their products, they deserve a percentage of!

It can do some great things, but only one application at once, so many are bubblegum applications that barely do anything, they seriously are worth the 1-10 dollars they are selling for. No more!

While the other mobile OSes are there have great SDKs that are not locked and they could care less if/when/how you put your app on any device.

So yes the appropriate question is who cares!
And appropriate answer is: not many (except some naive apple fans).

[Seaspray0]

So now the fart app developers can now charge by the fart.

[shycelticwitch]

This is not news, LOL. Apple is always the one "raising the bar".!

[fshea]

You're right but this time they set the BAR SO LOW.

Copy & Paste after 2 years, no true multi-tasking.

Apple gouged the Market with a very impressive Market Changing Device 2 years ago.

The 3G update was a pathetic update. AT&T is horrible in my market

The Pre & Android are the FUTURE of the OS Market.

Steve, just incase you do come back (and that would be bad for Apple).

Lose the Turtle Neck. It's creepy and reminds me of Michael Jackson with his "TradeMark" Gloves.

You destroyed a historic building to get your dream home.

Name it Stevie Land like Michael. It's very fitting for another arrogant SOB that has passed his time.

Steve, this time "Don't think Different" Catch up with the rest of the MOBILE PLATFORM then do what Bill Gates did.
Give it up to the next Generation.

Donate your 2,000 black turtle necks to charity (that would be new).

[slapppy]

@fshea

"Copy & Paste after 2 years, no true multi-tasking."

Yeah just like the Newton that was around before Palm even copied it for their Pilot.

[jabberwolf]

Apple is raising their own bar, while smacking their foreheads on bars set by others years ago.

lol@slapppy "the newton" what a very very sad failure that was.
It was actually quite useful until Windows CE came on the scene and decimated them.
Newton was also written in C++ which allowed for tons of apps to be written to it loyalty free.

[newsreaderlol]

Of course this is not news, which is why it was listed in the OPINION section...........

[sanjayb]

Not sure if this is a good thing for the consumer. That 99 cent game that you paid for could cost $9.99 after pay to go through all the levels.

[JerryJDavis]

This was exactly my thought. The customer base is already used to paying once and having it all. If now they have a bunch of developers luring them in for 99 cents and then they discover they have to keep paying for incremental value, they will not stand for it.

I think it's going to lead to a backlash of customers crying "Rip off!" if the developers are not very mindful of the existing expectations.

[rglong9]

Honestly this sounds more like nickel and diming people when you could just charge for the app and let it be. Perhaps I'm wrong and don't quite understand, but this would steer me away from the app store to be honest.

[ikramerica--2008]

This sounds like the games that came free on my phone from sony. Play a few levels, pay more to upgrade. I never paid more to upgrade.

[technewsjunkie]

Nonsense. No one is forcing anyone to buy anthing - it's completely a personal choice if you want to purchase a particular add-on. That's business. If you want extra trim on a new car - you pay extra for it, etc. That's business.
No one "forced" people to buy homes they couldn't afford.

People are free to choose and show restraint based on there own finances.

[sanjayb]

@ technewsjunkie

Take this situation. You buy a game and you reach a certain level. Then in order to move to the next level you have to purchase it. Now what if the developer doesn't tell you this when advertising the game? You invested in this game and you want to see it all the way through but you get stuck. More than likely you will pay for the extra level.

[myles taylor]

"And if executed well, Apple could leave its smartphone competitors in the dust."

I found that line humorous. Apple already executed it's App store well and left it's competitors in the dust. At what point did they catch up? Sure, some nice App stores have come out, but nothing even close to the popularity and runaway success of the App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch. I think the greatest reason for the success of the App store is the fact that you can download the Apps on an iPod Touch or iPhone which effectively triples their market value. Apple economics make it a powerhouse in that area. At any rate, doesn't the competition have some catching up to do before they can even be in Apple's dust?

Disclaimer: I am only referring to the App store in this statement, not Apple's numerous other products and competitors.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I'm afraid the iPhone still isn't a smartphone. It's closer than it has been before, but it still cannot sync notes, make appointments or work with enterprise systems to the same level that Blackberry or Windows systems can. With no security on the device and all apps running as root, it isn't likely this will change any time soon. It's just too dangerous to allow on a network.

[myles taylor]

@Vegaman_Dan.

1) You're arguing semantics. Calling it a Smartphone or not calling it one doesn't change what it is. Just like if I call you a muffin doesn't make you one. ;)

2) You'll notice that in my comment I never once called the iPhone a smartphone. In fact, I didn't even use the word smartphone except when quoting the original article.

3) This wasn't about the iPhone; it was about the App store.

[ralfthedog]

"With no security on the device and all apps running as root, it isn't likely this will change any time soon. It's just too dangerous to allow on a network."

Security on the iPhone is orders of magnitude better than the security on Windows or Palm based systems. Code will not run on an iPhone unless it is signed with a key from Apple and a key from your own phone. Even if someone breaks Apples private key, they can't get malware to run on an iPhone unless they also have the private key of that phone. The iPhone also has very good sandboxing.

The only bad decision Apple has made for the iPhone is to start allowing blue tooth networking.

For security reasons I will not let any Windows devices or Palm/Blackberry phones to run on any of my networks.

[benjimenez]

Keep getting the theme, developer-focus. Heard it said about Google, Apple, and Microsoft. Attract developers! If developers will build it, they will come...

[B-Ri]

If I were one of those investors I would be pretty torqued at that last statement. Don't get me wrong, I like Apple products and am anxiously awaiting the next iPhone hardware so that I can jump from Sprint but if I was a software company I would think it best to get my software on as many platforms as possible. That's economic sense. I don't think there's much chance of Apple's store failing anytime soon but to take yourself out of the other markets completely seems shortsighted. The iPhone is a great phone but I don't think it is the top phone yet is it?

[artistjoh]

Apple is doing with the iPhone exactly what it did with the iPod. While other manufacturers (and quite a few in the geek community) concentrated on hardware and device limitations and many pointed out that Apple wasn't always first to market with various hardware things Apple was always first out the door with the things that really counted - an easy and better consumer experience with software. And all along competitors bring out what appears to be a competitive device compared to the existing iPod and just a few weeks later Apple would have the next generation out and everyone else wouldn't be seen for the dust of customers flocking to the nearest Apple store money in hand.

You gotta feel sorry for Palm. They have done a brilliant catch up job but in a couple of weeks Apple will have done enough to make it hard for consumers to want to change to a Palm device as a new lot of iPhone and App Store mania overtakes buyers eyes and minds. Palm and others might try to emulate the App Store but none of them have 5+ years experience with iTunes that Apple and its customers now have and which makes Apple's job so much easier.

Most people who buy digital music files online are already using iTunes. There is nothing easier when already there browsing to nip over to the App section and check out the goodies. This includes many who are being tempted to buy their first smartphone. To look at competing App Stores requires the effort of Googling then exploring an unfamiliar site which far fewer will do. If I were a betting man I would put plenty on Apple to extend its lead here.

There is a lot of logic in Apple focussing on the Apps and the App experience.

[jabberwolf]

Apple hasnt even figured out how to multitask well at all.

For most people that arent retardedly herded sheep, Apple hasnt caught up at all except for interface.

[SiliconValleyJoe]

@jabberwolf,

Multitasking is built-in, it is a matter of allowing it. There is no design to "figure out". Apple made that choice to conserve battery power and likely, for security as well. For now, I think people will tolerate it. Eventually, hardware will catch up and the software can simply open the "multi-task" spigot.

As for the Pre's multi-tasking method, did you know that the OS actually warns you when there are too many processes running? This means a multi-tasking approach that requires end user involvement. Some people can live with this, some people cannot and we will see how this works.

[fshea]

Apple can do it but they just aren't allowing it to be is my favorite FanBoy comeback.

When Steve tells you the rest of the phone market is multi-tasking and it's OK for you to get it on your phone with a piece of Fruit on it you'll say see... Steve says it's OK baaah, baaah, baaah.

Steve is calling the Sheep heard into the barn to get COPY & PASTE on Monday. Steve said it was OK after 2 years.

Can you say RAZR of the past...

[ikramerica--2008]

Pre's battery life is already said to be worse than current iPhone, from early reviews. Maybe they can improve that, but something tells me that Apple's "bogus" claim about battery life isn't so bogus. Not to mention the pauses and pokieness reported in the Pre, likely again to multi-tasking overtaxing the hardware. One of the biggest complaints about competing touch screen smartphones is that many are slow, or stall, more than the iPhone.

It would be nice if you could choose to turn on iPhone wide multitasking and sacrifice battery life if you wanted to, but something tells me that if you chose to turn it off, many apps wouldn't work right anymore, and then what?

It's going to take faster processors consuming less power to make it work like Apple wants.

[slapppy]

@ jabberwolf

Battery is slightly usable now on the Pre.

Thats because there are no apps to load up. Just wait till you load 100+ apps on that thing once apps are created. If the SDK ever gets out.

You'll have to carry 5 batteries and each one will last about 30 minutes.

[InklingBooks]

Some of Apple's success lies in offering a good deal. Cell phone companies have had the equivalent of app stores, but at $2 and up for mere ring tones, what they offered was hardly a bargain. Apple gives you more for that 99 cents, hence the popularity.

I suspect people who buy games will resent being nickeled and dimed for new features that should have shipped with the original. The real money may lie in selling new content for applications: books, movies, music, magazine subscriptions, corporate white papers and the like. A good iPhone ebook app that could be customized to buy from one or multiple stores of any size, could prevent the ebook market from being dominated by Amazon or Google.

And the clear link to a user and device could let ebook stores develop 'in the cloud" storage. Once I buy a book, it'll be nice to know it will always be there for me. I can install it on my iPhone, read it, erase it to leave room for another book, and later reload it on that iPhone, a new iPhone or even a laptop, all without hassling with DRM. Ebooks won't be solidly established until buying one is as real as buying a paper copy.

[cb3431]

How very sad. Great I can download a bunch of apps. Too bad I can only run one at a time. Too bad I have sit next to a power source because the battery only lasts 3 hours if that. Too bad I can't use 3G because it destroys battery life. Too bad AT&T's network is horrible.

Why is Apple being applauded simply for showing up? Why are people accepting iPhone limitations? People would have been outraged if the first version of the Storm didn't offer copy and paste.

The Pre does everything an entry level smart phone should do, and that's offering the basic functionality current smart phones offer.

[myles taylor]

@cb3431. So obviously you don't have an iPhone. Why would you need to run more than one app at a time? I'll admit sometimes for specific apps it would be handy, but it's not horribly not being able to and I agree that it would kill battery life if you could. That's already the biggest complaint about the Pre.

You lose a lot of credibility when you over-exaggerate. 3 hours? I couldn't get my iPhone to die that fast if I tried. I never turn off 3G, ever and I've talked on it for much longer than three hours and I'm constantly playing with the Apps. I haven't had any problems with AT&T's network. I'll admit that some people have and that's a regional thing, but that's more than you did. My biggest complaint about the battery is that it only lasts about a day and a half, where I would prefer if it lasted 1 day or 2 days even.

People WERE outraged when the first version of the iPhone and the second version didn't offer copy and paste. You could probably find billions of people ranting about it since the iPhone was announced.

The weirdest thing is, your comment had nothing to do with the OP. Were you just trying to get on page one and so replied to a random comment?

[OscarWeb]

@cb3431: have fun trying to look up something on the web for that friend you're talking to on the Pre.

[DumbMacUser1]

I have a question: Who cares?

It's amazing that people can't figure out that crApple's biggest announcemnt has always been that they have no announcement.

Now lets gear up and watch them go on stage parade more obsololete, already-existing, over priced "gadgets" that "they invented".

[docster87]

For a company that can't compete on any level, Apple really seems to have you (and a lot of others) running scared... So glad so many people that have never seriously used any Apple product can find so much to bash about Apple.

[montex66]

Oh yes, Apple has nothing. Nothing at all. And that's why they have 30 Billion $ in cash, zero debt and the highest profit margins in the industry. Clearly, Apple is on it's last gasp and will go out of business very, very soon.

Meanwhile, Dell sold 12 Billion $ in product last quarter, but only made 250 Million in profit (that's 2% profit in case you didn't know). Clearly, they are the leaders of the PC industry.

[jpg27]

lol @ dumbmacuser....Montex66 raises a very good point.

[DumbMacUser1]

sorry for the delayed reply. But I see your point, so you are trying to say is that apple charges WAY too much money. Thanks for pointing that out - I will get my next laptop at either the HP (or Dell) on-line store, get great deal on a computer that actually gets the job done has tons of professional applications and costs a fraction of the price of an obslete-out-of-the-box crApple product based on freeware unix code from 35 years ago thrown together and recompiled by highschool dropouts.

[DumbMacUser1]

sorry for the delayed reply. But I see your point, so you are trying to say is that apple charges WAY too much money. Thanks for pointing that out - I will get my next laptop at either the HP (or Dell) on-line store, get great deal on a computer that actually gets the job done has tons of professional applications and costs a fraction of the price of an obslete-out-of-the-box crApple product based on freeware unix code from 35 years ago thrown together and recompiled by highschool dropouts.

[ckh1272]

@DumbMacUser1--Not that it matters to a nut job who's tinfoil hat is on way too tight, but you say that Apple is full of HS dropouts and you also say that you used to work there. Sounds like they have one less dropout working for them. Would you like some sour milk with your sour grapes?? Perhaps you can share with "Blackjellybean".

[Cyhder]

Great! Now Apple gets 30% of any transaction anyone makes with an Apple device!

Restaurant owners get upset that the credit card companies get 4% of their transactions!

***?

I want to use a device that gives the device maker absolutely nothing if I use it to make a payment. That's what I have right now for my desktop PC. That's what I want for my handheld device, too.

[cb3431]

It's sad that Apple thinks they deserve a portion of the transaction.

[tech_crazy]

@BogusBasin

Copy/paste of your earlier reply to @cb3431 ? Atleast change something to look original when you reply to some comment.

[SiliconValleyJoe]

cb3431,

Apple runs the server, provides 24/7 back-up and support, handles the financial transactions, creates, updates, supports and maintains the store front (AppStore) and of course, tons of marketing prowess. For all that, Apple deserves nothing?

Is this ignorance? Or is this just meaningless hot air?

[jm18668]

If you think that 100% of the money you pay for software goes to developer than I have some bad news for you. A portion of that money will go to the retailer, the distribution company gets a cut. The developer gets the rest for profit. A 30% cut for distribution on Apples part does seem a bit steep, but it hasn't stopped 1000s of developers from participating.

[DrtyDogg]

@SiliconValleyJoe: But there are many situations you don't want your app hosted by Apple, or even available on a store front, but with the iPhone it isn't possible.

[fshea]

Quote by ignorant user.
Apple runs the server, provides 24/7 back-up and support, handles the financial transactions, creates, updates, supports and maintains the store front (AppStore) and of course, tons of marketing prowess. For all that, Apple deserves nothing?

Is this ignorance? Or is this just meaningless hot air?


No, it's called trying to RAPE a good thing. It's already been proven "Apple Loses Money on the APP Store, Even after 1billion apps downloded

They are trying to now cash in on developers RAPING the end user to download XX widget for another 99 cents.

The price for an App on the App store is 99 cents or FREE. Both are a Rip Off for the 99.99999% of the crap in the app Store.

The should rename it "CRAPPLE STORE" I already have 9,000 flash lights and apps that fart.

Apple is gaming and crap Apps.

Give the users a FRICKING SECURE BUSINESS PHONE AND AN APP THAT I CAN USE FOR BUSINESS".

[TerrinBell]

So when you go into Walmart and buy your toothpaste you don't' think Walmart takes a cut of the sale?

[DLexVC]

I think the real break through will be for other micro payments. Buy your Wall St Journal each morning from Apple. Pay for your e-books via apple. Subscribe for your GPS service via your iPhone. Buy pictures/prints/flowers/snacks/vending machine with your iPhone. Pay for your lunch with your cell phone courtesy of Apple. Anybody who has a phone and an Itunes account has a payment system. Next thing there will be an Apple credit card.

You have seen the small business ad, using the iphone to process credit cards. The next step will be to turn the iPhone into a credit card. With blue tooth, wireless, and phone, there are lots of ways to authenticate identity and communicate micropayments.

[anilsudh]

It already exists in Japan.

[ckh1272]

"by anilsudh June 5, 2009 3:38 PM PDT
It already exists in Japan."

And South Korea as well.

[pjhenry1216]

I'm ready for this to completely ruin the app ecosystem. One thing thats runined games are micotransactions. In fact, this is probably going to **** of customers. How come no one is looking at the HUGE downside of this. Consumers are going to end up getting pissed off at not getting what they thought they were getting. A lot of apps will be free now, but the user will find the app is almost useless unless you buy this or that. Moreover, I wouldn't be surprised to see developers trying out recurring fees either.

If this were any other company, I think they wouldn't be considered "game-changing" but it would be looked at with a wary eyes. This could completely destroy the experience, especially now that Apple said it's going to relax its censorship.

I'm not saying its going to happen, but this "game-changing" and "innovative" feature has the potential to completely ruin it for the user. And unfortunately, there will be users that care and users that don't get it. I suspect it'll ruin the experience for the user, but no other phones will gain traction because it'll still be "ok."

::sigh:: Why does everybody love Apple so much? They're practices are on par with Microsoft (and worse in some cases). I wish the Palm Pre success as I hope to have that when it decides to go to Verizon (i'd drop my iphone 3g for a pre, but not on a sprint network... i desperately miss verizon. also to note, my service *did* degrade when i went from a simple at&t phone to the iphone 3g. guys... the phone isn't perfect).

[OscarWeb]

Sometimes a recurring fee is exactly what a developer would want. An electronic newspaper or magazine, for example, would definitely require some sort of subscription model and if it can be handled within the app itself, at no additional cost to the developer, then why not?
Developers would not be allowed to charge for additional purchases within a free app, so the situation of downloading a free app that is useless without paying for upgrades would be no different than it is right now.

[CreativeMalcolm]

At the same time the credit card company isn't the ones who are selling you the product. To give you a better idea, Best Buy gets a cut of that software you buy from their store. It's the exact same thing.

By the way I think micropayments will be great since they'll offer developers a reason to create new levels and new maps for already existing products. Imagine an RPG game that finishes up and for five bucks more you get another two days worth of dungeons?

[montex66]

Today is the day the Palm Pre is available and what story is on the front page of cnet? Yup. It's a big picture and long story about the iPhone. Gotta LOVE it!

[Perry_Clease]

Speaking of the Pre going on sale how is Palm's stock doing today?

[joelFiser]

Put everything you have in Palm and Adobe. I did. Let's talk at the end of this year. I'll buy.
Palm stock is tanking today. Down more than 10 percent. As a Palm investor, this is perfectly predictable and playing right into my hands. The Apple sheep will ramp up today because it's Apple Day. Palm's stock is tanking on news of Apple now ALLOWING (Oh thank you, great Steven) developers to cash in on their own software.
But look at the big picture. Palm is going to have Flash by end of year. Palm has multi-tasking and a replaceable battery. With Flash, Palm will get 1 million salivating Artist / Developers which no software community can rival in creativity and productivity when it comes to User Interfaces.
Game over - until the rest catch up.

[Renegade Knight]

Bah.

Take EA. While a 99 cent game may entice me and 99 cents extra content might be nice, I don't want an EA account along with 200 other "micro" accounts to do this kind of thing with. I can't track my passwords as it is and the more accounts that slurp up my credit card info the more risk I run of identity theft.

[pjhenry1216]

I'm assuming it'll all be tied into your iTunes account. Hopefully none of the EULAs say that all our email addresses get passed on to these folks. Or if they do, what kind of policy is in place to stop them from abusing that info.

[baconstang]

I've had an active iTS account for 6 years and never had spam or anything related due to that account.

[OscarWeb]

It's all handled through your one iTunes account.

[cftilley_dotmac]

Is the iPhone a phone or is it a gaming platform or is it something else?

For me, they need to improve it as a communication device. Most of my calls go straight to voice mail, most of the ones I make are dropped .....

Until that improves, who cares that they're allowing micro payments?

[Perry_Clease]

Let me make sure that we understand you correctly:

1. You are an iPhone user?

2. Most of your incoming calls go to voice mail.

3. Most of your outgoing calls get dropped.

So where do you live that you have such poor AT&T coverage, what city and state, or township/county as the case may be?

[WileySkier]

I have AT&T and my calls get dropped all the time. I've also heard of call quality issues on the iPhone but I will probably still buy one when they announce the next version. BTW, my current mobile is completely paid for by work and I'll lose that after getting an iPhone...and I still want one.

I say to each their own. I don't get why people feel the need to bash a product just because it's doing well. If you don't like it, don't get one.

[gba2000]

Never had a dropped call and I have AT&T and an iPhone

[Mark_Anderson]

Hey neat!

So is this like the episodic content that you can already get through Nokia's N-Gage or what?

Americans, eh? Utterly clueless.

[SiliconValleyJoe]

Well, Nokia has been making millions of phones too before iPhone right? Wow, they must still own the entire market? Their UI is still the best? Their SmartPhone market share must be smashing everyone else?

Oh no, yes, Nokia is losing market share! They have the Ovi, an AppStore imitation? Hmmmm... the Finns! Why would they want to imitate the Americans, eh?

[mynameiscoffey]

I would hardly call the N-Gage a success in the face of the iPhone. What are we up to now, a whopping 36 titles to choose from on NGage 2.0?

As for Americans being totally clueless, while I agree with you for the average person, it clearly is not the case when it comes to business: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product

[seven7dust]

the N-gage was a joke that even Nokia agrees with
why else would they launch a App store of their own ?
Look like you Europeans will always remain clueless about software !

[aer2345]

I love my Iphone and can't wait for the new one, the biggest complaint I have is AT&T they suck. I hope Apple holds them to a higher standard when they renew there contract. If the IPhone was on Verizon it would be the greatest.

[twitter_1963]

Give us a phone that works all the time. AT&T (or Apple 3g chip) SUCKS... Sometimes, I feel I have gone back 20 years with AT&T poor quality/dropped calls. I have love/hate with my iphone.. Please dtitch A&T..

[contradel]

The app-store is so filled with crap it's unbelievable, often there isn't a free version to try, and if there is, the functions you want to test out isn't even there. So in the end you bought some crap, with functions that doesn't work, maybe it suffers from instability or compatability issues and whatnot. Waist of money.

Let the apps that doesn't get downloaded die out, DIE OUT, delete anything under and at the level as "bubblepop" (or what the..). Give (the real) developers the opportunity show their worth, not being overshadowed by useless apps. Make it a requirement, that the costumers would at least be able to tryout the app for 1 day, before buying it, the developers could add more days, if they found it necessary. I'm pretty sure this would also reduce the need to make a free version of everything, with limited functions, which in the end, will affect the innovative, creative and well designed apps, cause people would actually BUY THAT, instead of getting dissapointed so often when shopping in the store.

Also many ppl jailbreak their iPod/iPhone just to try out the apps, then they buy it if they like it and to get updates.

Seriously, in-app buys are in a way frightening, like you buy an app, but to use the functions within you have to buy those aswell. Sims 3 is a good example, iv'e alrdy spent my $$$ on that, why wouldn't i get new updates for free, instead of couches and stuff for extra dollars -.-

[Perry_Clease]

"The app-store is so filled with crap it's unbelievable,"

Projection