macnn/electronista
02/29/2008, 3:55pm, EST
Friday, February 29thSource: Apple may not restrict free iPhone apps
In spite of fears that Apple may impose tight restrictions on third-party iPhone applications developed with its upcoming SDK, the company may loosen those restrictions for free programs, Electronista has learned. Connected to the same sources which reported early access for select developers -- sources which have since been confirmed as accurate -- the new contact claims that free applications are not subject to the same rules that will guide paid software downloads. In this model, free software is unlikely to be subject to much if any scrutiny by Apple.
If accurate, the move is likely being made to encourage the development community for the iPhone as well as alternative business models that differ from services such as Handango, which often limit their downloads to paid content alone.
This system will change substantially for paid apps, however. In addition to a previously rumored review process and the necessity of sales through iTunes, Apple will reportedly take a portion of the cost of each app. The approach is similar both to its practices with the iTunes Store as well as to conventional mobile application services, many of which collect a share of the sales price as part of their core business models.
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posted by greenG4
Do you think Apple would allow freeware apps to also carry such a logo? A part of me says that they would because they host them and it draws more eyeballs to their site and products and sponsors. A part of me says they woudn't necessarily, letting, perhaps, .Mac users post aps of this nature.
What do you think?
posted by danviento
I think it also will keep quality high as you have to be serious to a) be willing to spend, and b) get approved to get your software into the store.
I just hope Apple doesn't censor functionality (e.g., rumored access to the dock connector for something like a GPS module, A2DP Bluetooth adapter, or Bluetooth connections to a GPS receiver)
posted by bfalchuk
Free software is "sweet-sweet nectar," but if it's crap that doesn't meet programming requirements and kills your iPhone, it probably should not even be made available.
The quality standards (which theoretically) Apple would like to enforce through guidelines and testing should be applied equally across free and commercial offerings.
Maybe that's all just me, but...
I'm just sayin'.
posted by Flying Meat
posted by nhmlco
$5 for a regular title, from that there is $2 for Apple, $1 for 'Soft-baby' and $2 for the independent programmer. Not that much but good titles can easily sell more than a million copy's via iTunes, its the perfect software store.
10 million iPhone/Touch users in 2008, 20 million in 2009, 100 million in 2012 ??
posted by Peter Bonte
As much as I hate that model, it would seem to benefit the developer.
posted by dmsimmer
Appears that Apple, when seeing how the phone market works, decided they didn't really want to change it, they just wanted their piece of it.
BTW, this still doesn't answer the question about personal development. If you come up with a little app for yourself, can you install it yourself, or do you still have to go through Apple to get it posted so you can download it? A big question, esp. if you just don't want anyone to have it (sort of like a custom-built business app for your company).
posted by testudo
posted by testudo
Yeh, I know, they can put any weird crap they want to in purchase contracts, but holy mother of Franklin that's warped.
posted by resuna