Comments on: 60+ iOS apps sold per device as Apple locks-in users

By: bemymonkey

bemymonkey — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:17:13 +0000

I’m quite anti-Apple myself, but your points are more than valid. Android apps have just as much lock-in as any other platform’s apps, and I don’t see how Apple’s approach is worse or more extreme in this respect.

OK, fine, Java applets are an exception to OS lock-in ;) :P

By: ImperfectLink

ImperfectLink — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:23:23 +0000

Sorry, I’m having trouble seeing how the itunes store is different than the android marketplace in that respect. iOS apps dont work on Android and vice versa. The user chooses what they want in the end do they not? Windows apps don’t run on a mac and vice versa. On top of that, most apps have their own file formats whatever the platform.
About being stuck, that’s true, but consider that many apps in the desktop world are licensed per machine. If owning an app makes you stuck cause you want to buy a new device to put it on that has to be iOS then perhaps in a way you’re right, but that’s only a recent freedom.
I for one appreciate the variety/choice that Android and Windows add to the computing world, but some may consider it a double edged sword.

By: morphoyle

morphoyle — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:30:46 +0000

Classic Apple strategy. Avoid truly competing by locking users in to your garden. Most Apple stuff isn’t compatible with any standards out there. Dock connectors, apps, airplay, etc. They lure the more tech-ignorant folks in with a shiny gadget and slick advertising (it’s cool, you have to have it) then once you are in, you are stuck.

By: Raniz

Raniz — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:42:37 +0000

Bemymonkey has a valid point, it’s a big difference between buying an app and downloading a free one.

I don’t know how it works on iPhone, but on the Android Market there are a lot of free versions of paid apps with limited functionality. If you try and then buy on Android Market it’s two downloads for one app – no idea how this works on the iTunes store, but I assume it’s the same.

Also, I’ve downloaded a lot of apps just because they were free and then uninstalled them again because I never used them/didn’t like them. If I’d have to pay for all apps on Android Market it’d be more of a decision and I’d have a lot less of them.

By: bemymonkey

bemymonkey — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:21:38 +0000

60+ apps DOWNLOADED, not SOLD.