iPhone App Pricing Limits Developers 437
HardYakka writes "According to this post in the Fortune blog, the iTunes app store has been a boon for users but some developers are saying the number of free and 99 cent apps make it difficult for developers to create complex, higher priced apps. Craig Hockenberry of Iconfactory says the iPhone may never get its killer app like the spreadsheet was for the Mac.
If Apple does not do something, the store will be left with only ring tones and simple games. Some are suggesting that overpaid developers are the problem and the recession will soon lower the wages and costs for complex apps."
Re:Like spreadsheets for the MAC? (Score:4, Funny)
If we're going by sales, StarCraft and Half-Life crush VisiCalc :)
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:3, Funny)
(Score:0, Troll)
To be fair, you shouldn't have been modded troll -- you should have been modded flamebait.
What is this? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:3, Funny)
If you think all pixar does is animation, and that animation is not a category of graphic design, then maybe you need to break out a dictionary.
Re:Well, that is the problem right there (Score:1, Funny)
Re:It's a stupid rant (Score:4, Funny)
Boy will they be ticked when I release my competitor on the iPhone for $4.99!
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:5, Funny)
No, Macs are designed by programmers like every other OS.
The difference is: Mac OSX programmers have a very angry man in a black turtle neck furiously yelling at them as they develop new features. This "turtle necked fire," so to speak, is what drives the high quality components of the modern Mac operating environment.
It's a bit like a Katana forged by a master craftsman.
Re:Well, that is the problem right there (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:1, Funny)
No mother. I don't want to. She's nice.
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:1, Funny)
Yes but, you're software developers - being crap at maintaining your OS and any IT task other than code is almost a job requirement. /me ducks
Anon 'cause, you know.
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:4, Funny)
-1 Flamebait.
Poster has not accepted Linux as his Operating System and Kernel.
Now...why are we OS bashing? I wanted to read about iPhone apps damnit
Re:It's UNIX! I Know This! (Score:2, Funny)
Ones that want to buy their own hardware at a reasonable price?
Re:Spreadsheet (Score:2, Funny)
Clearly... (Score:3, Funny)
Once again, the obvious solution is to forbid developers from working too cheaply. I mean, how can I demand a high price for my complex, quirky app when someone else has the audacity to produce a better app for 99 cents? Sowing "you get what you pay for" FUD only works so far.
I'm thinking a software developers union. The union bosses would set prices, and consumers would be forbidden from using non-union-approved apps, on penalty of high fines or, you know, getting your kneecaps busted. In no time prices would soar, and we'd all get the full benefit of our efforts. Minus union dues and other applicable fees, of course.
And another thing. Software development tools have become way too cheap. When any pimple-faced geek can download a complete development environment for free, it gives them the impression that anyone can write useful programs. Compilers, debuggers and editors should be expensive, dammit, just like they were in the old days. And have fiddly license requirements. Software development should hurt so everyone knows why we're getting paid top dollar to do it.
Consumers? Hell, if they can't afford $79.95 for a fuel efficiency calculator, they can jolly well do without. They should be happy that their phone works as a phone.
it's called competition (Score:4, Funny)
I'm sorry, what? Are they complaining that it's hard to make money because there is competition? Hahahahaha. HAHAHAhahahahaha.