Apple to start re-charging for re-downloading apps directly on the iPhone
The iPhone Blog (via MacRumors) alerts us to a pretty disconcerting new item about the mobile App Store. Apparently Apple is going to start recharging users for re-downloading their apps? iPhone developers who are using the iPhone 3 OS are getting messages similar to the one you see on your right->
Strangely, it isn't all apps. Today, we re-downloaded 30 MB Golf GL ($5) on the iPhone 3 OS without having to repay for it.
Here's what we're hearing:
- Apps aren't being recharged if they 're downloaded on a computer and synched over iTunes
- There seems to be a certain size limitation to the charging currently. Somewhere between 5-10MB seems to be the cutoff. But, we were able to re-download a 30mb app so...
- There are theories that it might have to do with thwarting counterfeiters or people who use one account for many devices.
- UPDATE: commenters are saying that it might be due to the capability in iPhone 3.0 to have multiple sign ins. Therefore someone could just sign into your iPhone and install all of their apps. Speaking of which, anyone with a SlingApp in the NYC area?
- This new feature will be universally disliked by all but the most hard core Apple fanboy.
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- This is going to hurt:
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Comments (18)
What won't apple do to turn a buck. I bet they'll start charging for the boxes their products come in soon...
;-p
Easy there, cousin. Trust me, Apple ain't doin' this for the money. If it is true, it's because AT&T is killin' Apple 'bout the bandwidth hoggin'.
No reason to believe that Apple is trying to jack your change.
I've redownloaded several apps in beta 5 and haven't seen that. Not saying its not true, just that I haven't seen it...
Won't happen. There will be a huge drop in app store purchases then just because it's comforting to know you can re-download whenever you need the app again.
How is this about apple or AT&T making money when 70% of this goes to the developers? To me this seems like protecting developers from account sharing
The OP said it's to stop the cheats who use one account but have many devices, they are the people who have ruined the free re-download experience for all us normal people out there.
Get a Free iPod or iPhone at http://www.gimmeitfree.co.uk
Ok I have an iPod Touch and an iPhone ?
Should I pay the app twice ??!!! seems a bit crazy to me...
Ok I have an iPod Touch and an iPhone ?
Should I pay the app twice ??!!! seems a bit crazy to me...
I have an iMac and a MBP.... should i pay for Photoshop twice?
of course you have to...
Umm what?!?! Adobe must love you..
http://www.adobe.com/products/activation/
Nobody should have to pay for photoshop even once, unless they can write it off on their taxes.
Since iPhone OS 3.0 will allow changing accounts on the device, it could have been very easy to share one paid app with friends.
Therefore changing account on another phone and redownloading same app will not be free of charge.
Why is it so complicated for you folks? ;-)
This is all about AT&T network bandwidth. Your 30Mb app was downloaded over WiFi (check your screenshot) so you can probably download it as much as you want.
As usual here we go again. That damn AT&T, its all their fault. Apple would never do something like this. Blah, blah, blah. Ha
How often does anyone have to re-download an app anyway? Personally, never. And how much of a burden is it to do so on the computer?
I buy the protecting developers reason... to me the at&t reason seems a bit desperate... a couple of people who havnt had a good experiences and hence hate at&t. Could this be apple implementing their same policy as the itunes store... once you download a song and if you delete it and want it again you have to PAY. Same goes with tvshows and movies
There are two plausible reasons I can think of:
1. Apple doesn't trust the keys on iPhones. With jailbroken phones, the keys are compromised. But why restrict downloads to iTunes? To download even free apps today, you still need a valid iTunes account and password, backed by a credit card. So therefore, I'm not sure why this approach is beneficial to Apple or App vendors.
Of course, the game could be different if an iTunes account is no longer required to download some apps. This would be a major change to the iPhone platform, as it would imply that Apple is starting to relinquish control over apps.
2. Apple and its telecom partner(s) (AT&T? Others?) will provide some kind of free bandwidth (Wifi? 2.5G? 3G?) to iPhone (Touch?) users. Part of the deal is that bandwidth consumption must be minimized. Charging additional fees for high-bandwidth wireless actions will discourage misuse, but won't prevent people doing what they absolutely need to do when they don't have a computer in front of them.
just simply from the point of view of bandwidth usage you would think that Apple and AT&T would want to work together on this. Excessive app downloading can have a very big impact on 3G networks. So I see that as a leading issue. After all people still complain about AT&Tz service, this is one way to address the issue.
In any event what is with all these multiple downloads anyways? If it is thieving then that is likely another reason for this program.
Dave
I just got a new MacBook Pro and Apple had to reset everything so all the games and apps would download to iTunes again. They then sync's to all of my devices.
No charge, but I did get a new computer, and they did say they will only do this once a year, so if you're refreshing faster than that, then you can afford to buy everything again anyway, lol.
I will NEVER buy music or movies/video from Apple. I only buy the apps, and they are a big pain. Movies are a joke, because unlike the music, you can't burn them to disc.
I buy and rip my own CDs and DVDs.
Other music services don't protect their music, and until Apple learns this, a lot of people aren't going to buy. It should cost a lot less than a CD and be unprotected, otherwise, why buy it? Buy the disc and you can do anything you want with it. Rip it and file it away somewhere safe.
Don't forget to change your ripping settings to unprotected MP3 so it works on any device. Apple defaults to their own format.
You can't believe how many people don't understand this and make comments about how stupid Apple and the iPod is because it is a special format. If everyone knew it was just a setting, Apple would sell even more iPods to these noobs buying other poor quality iPod rip offs. I have had to explain this to many I.T. people as well. They just don't get it. The iPod plays and rips standard MP3 format. Just set it up right!