Why is Apple re-charging for re-downloading apps on iPhones?

admin
|
May 31, 2009
Share
Bandwidth isn't free suckas! AT&T just throwing salt
29% (563 votes)
They are prepping a new delivery mechanism, new model for app distribution
8% (162 votes)
Upcoming Apple Tablet will behave like Kindle. You are paying for mobile ISP
4% (85 votes)
To thwart counterfeiters
22% (430 votes)
A little extra money for the Steve Jobs welcome back party
25% (493 votes)
We really don't know - but if you do, tell us in the comments
10% (203 votes)
Total votes: 1936

Comments (8)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 31, 2009 - 10:35pm

Yea i just got nailed by redownloading "save benjies" The lame part was thats the first ive seen it and when i called them to say i bought it before, it rewrote the data of when i purchased it! even on my mac, i went to the library before i synced and it said the latest date!

Bad Move apple

i pay for my apps, mostly which i dont even use past a day.

9to5Mac Noob diogo (not verified) | May 31, 2009 - 11:50pm

Im thinking because we are going to be able to use multiple iTunes accounts on iPhone 3.0. So this will keep people from buying an app and redownloading at their friend's iPhone

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 01, 2009 - 2:09am

As on firmware 3.0 you would be able to log in and out and change iTunes accounts it's issue to use a friend one to get the app free !

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 01, 2009 - 5:15am

but downloading on a computer I'd free. What's up with that? It's like they don't want me to use wireless bandwidth. This isn't kindle.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 01, 2009 - 6:40am

Seriously, how many people will actually download the same app more than once. I've been downloading apps since day one and only re-downloaded the same app because I forgot that I had downloaded it months before.

This is one of those things where everyone gets upset over something that will affect only a small percentage of people! The new 3.0 software will be great and all us iPhone owners will be getting it for free. Let talk about how lucky we all are. :)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 01, 2009 - 7:49am

This just popped up in a random beta - I doubt it's going to see the light of day.

jflipb (not verified) | June 01, 2009 - 8:41am

My wife and I each have an iPhone. She logs on to iTunes under my account on her own computer. I buy an app on my computer, download and install it. She "buys" the same app on her computer, but it currently re-downloads for free. That's the scenario Apple may be trying to address.

Is it possible that Apple would be asking me to pay for the second download without requiring it? It would be a similar model to purchasing a "family pack" vs. a "single user" product like Leopard: it's not required, but if you're honest you'll purchase the correct product.

Just a thought.

Gazoobee (not verified) | June 01, 2009 - 9:22am

This makes sense to me. I don't see why the forums are all trying to make out that this is a bad thing this morning. There are only two scenarios wherein this would get in your way:

1) You deleted the app from iTunes on your computer (your choice), and so you have to buy it again.

2) You are using the (current) ability to download apps multiple times as a way of managing the apps on your phone and rely on the ability to download something as a hedge against actually having the app installed on the phone.

The first is fairly straightforward, the second is a dumb idea that only a few people will be caught out by. This is just more tempest in a teapot stuff from blog sites that are hungry for any kind of controversy.