Discuss IAPs and what we can do about them at Mobile Music App Marketing
A new post at Mobile Music App Marketing on what we can do to improve the perceptions of IAPs. If you're a developer please take a look and leave your views.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
"what we can do to improve the perceptions of IAPs"
Hmm.. improving perception.. hmmm that's going to be a tuff one.. how about NOT USING IAP???
IAP infested apps are just not worth it. Its so annoying to buy an app only to learn you have to spend more for basic features or extra kits/sets (which you CAN NOT GET ANY OTHER WAYS).
Good luck trying to change the people's perception of IAPs, you guys are in the same boat as the people hoping to change the perception of DRM.
I especially love IAPs that are not automatically transfered to a new device, forcing to buy the IAP stuff again!
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
no, you are not forced to buy IAPs again. you can restore IAPs on new devices.
@Anon
Well excuse me for having an app that didn't transfered my IAPs correctly...
As long as app descriptions in the App Store are crystal clear in which features are included and which are IAP, there is no deception or trickery involved.
As far as I've seen, this is generally the case. Can someone point out specific cases that are actually confusing? If not, why is there a "problem"? That just sounds to me like sour grapes -- a wish to get something for cheaper than a developer wishes to sell his effort for.
The only suggestion I can make to "improve perceptions" would be for Apple to revise their store to more prominently list the IAP components and prices associated with an app.
I think IAP can be useful if done correctly. Correctly means at the right price point. Good examples are iSequence, Studio HD, TableTop, and Hokusai. These apps give you the basic functions that you would expect, but then offer more for those who want to dig a little deeper. The IAP are optional and the prices are reasonable.
In that same breath a bad example is making a person pay for audio copy/paste, but giving them export by email for free. You are basically saying "I know what you really need and its going to cost you." I really feel that all music apps should use the pasteboard as a standard. What if I'm not near a hotspot, or only have a wifi enabled iPad/iPod Touch? Creativity crashed is what. With the pasteboard I can keep on flowing and it opens up the creative process. I don't want to feel like Tom Hanks in "Castaway" when I am mobile.
Another bad example happens to be a developers who recently fell into my good graces. Retronym's Synth IAP prices are crazy. The total package comes up to $15.00 and when you compare that to other recently released synths you are not getting the most bang for your buck. Why even waste money on it when Retronym offers a synth in TableTop ?
"Good examples are iSequence, Studio HD, TableTop, and Hokusai. These apps give you the basic functions that you would expect"
Tabletop? Really?.. doesn't this 5$ app forces you to buy basic functions (like a delay) for 5$ a pop?
I thought the delay was .99.
If it is $5.00 standard then shame on Retronymn for trying to milk the customer to death. I hope the developers are reading this. When you get negative reviews on your app for IAP price gouging and you see another similar app doing well, it should be a serious indicator that you are doing something wrong!
"I thought the delay was .99."
Tabletop's IAP modules were 99c when they were on sale, regular price is 5$/module
I forgot to say, 5$ canadian dollars :D lol
This is a weird way to pose the question. It's not always an issue. For example. I have yet to hear anyone complain about Harmonicdog Multitrack DAW or Nanostudio IAPs ...
A few clarifications about Retronyms apps mentioned here.
Synth is 0.99 for a very basic Casio-style synth. Due to user requests, we added two IAPs, a patch editor for 8.99 and a set of skins and additional presets for 4.99. Both of these are optional. If you want a simple synth with presets, it's only a dollar. If you want to manipulate all the presets, you can spend more. If you want more presets, you can likewise spend more.
Tabletop is just beginning as an environment. We felt that launching at a low price point with the majority of devices included was a good way for users to see if they like the app and if they wanted to expand into other devices at their own pace. The effects were priced a certain way at launch, but we added them to the sale promotion for an indefinite time. The alternative is to include all devices at a high price point.
Whether or not effects are basic functions is a matter of opinion, I admit, but we felt that everyone should be able to generate sound and make songs right away, therefore we included the instruments and excluded the extras like effects.
Lastly, I can say that Retronyms is very definitely looking at all feedback and will continue to address these concerns as the app develops and adds new content and devices.
Delay is a basic function. At least one comes basic in Reason, Protools, etc. And even if it wasn't in the first release, it should be free in an update.
That is a strange comparison to make.
Reason is $300-$400. ProTools is $600.
Just some clarifications:
1. In-App Purchases (IAPs) will never have to be paid twice for unless they're consumable. So far I know of no music app that has consumable IAPs.
2. If users don't like IAPs, they don't buy them. Developers know one after a new feature has gone live if it's a winner or not. And then they react to that.
3. Users comparing music apps that cost less than 20 bucks with full blown studio applications that cost 500 bucks or more is flattering. But please cut us indy developers a little slack when it comes to features that aren't as polished as on software that is dozens of times more expensive.
I'm not saying you should not complain at all if something does not work as expected but please, keep it civil. Otherwise we tend to ignore you, even if you make reasonable suggestions.
4. iOS music app developers do NOT make fortunes. Making tools like Tabletop, Polychord, Nlog Pro or our own SoundPrism is a work of love. If we were in for the big monies, we'd be making games.
You as the enlightened customers and users have it in your hands to either support us in what we're doing so that we can usher in a new era of affordable and useful tools that are available wherever you can take your mobile phone/table with you.
Or you can keep on expecting us developers to be flawless, never make errors and know exactly what everyone wants and be omnipotent in delivering it to everyone in a perfect way.
We're human, just like you. Lets work together on this, ok?
"That is a strange comparison to make.
Reason is $300-$400. ProTools is $600"
Okay. Nanostudio, Beatmaker, Thumbjam, Argon. That's just off the top of my head. All came with it.
For the record, I don't have an issue with and have bought IAP's. Just don't get ridiculous with them.
Keith was kind enough to post this link for me regarding IAPs, I found it very helpful, as I was confused and thought that I had to buy them twice for Tabletop running on 2 iPads. Anyway, It might help explain it for others.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4009
As for me, I understand it must be a difficult issue regarding content, features and price. I think we can all agree though (to one degree or another), that we are very fortunate to have these iOS apps, and the developers that create them. Thank you.
Post a Comment