The Dark Side of Unlimited Free App Updates
Apps that can't handle an update can get left behind ...
One of the amazing things about apps is that they are constantly being updated and improved. These updates, for iOS and other platforms, are available to anyone who has previously downloaded the app, free of charge. But like most things, free isn’t really free. The developers of these apps have to take the time to keep things up to date, particularly when the operating system of the device changes.
So what happens if the developer doesn’t want to continue to support a poorly performing app? Sometimes it has minor technical problems but still works. Other times the app is simply too unusable to run and either Apple or the developer simply removes it from the market. But what does that mean for the user? If the app is installed on your device, it may still work depending on the reason it was dropped from iTunes. And if it isn’t installed? The user is out of luck … for all intents and purposes, the app doesn’t exist anymore.
Since the launch of the new iPad and update to iOS 5.1 operating system, I’ve been removing reviews for apps from my database that are no longer available on iTunes. For a few days I was losing reviews faster than I could write new ones. We often hear about how wonderful an app can be, with its unlimited free updates and all, but there is a dark side. That digital purchase doesn’t feel tangible for a reason … it’s not. And the terms we buy our digital media under do not give users the same control they would have with say, a print book, for instance.
Is this a huge deal for most app shoppers? Not really. Chances are that apps removed from the iOS market are not wildly popular in the first place. My only 1/2 star review disappeared recently. No one complained. But this experience does impact consumer psychology, in a world where users are already a little skeptical about the digital revolution. So the next time you update an app, free of charge, consider leaving a quick review or rating if you like the changes/improvements. You may just make someone’s day!
What has your experience with app updates been like? Have you had an app you downloaded (and liked) get removed from iTunes? Other thought?
Category: 100+ Reviews ... What I've Learned So Far, All About Apps
Hi Carisa,
This makes me wonder if that could also be one of the reasons why consumers are not so willing to pay 10$ for an app, which actually costs more to produce than an ebook, whereas there are Many ebooks at this price. Is there a sense of “temporary ownership” when you buy apps, that affect the price you are willing to pay? I don’t think I could say my child reads his print titles more often than his app titles. But since kids are wear out any new stuff they have ( toys, movies, games, books), I could say the difference is that he gets a zillion new apps vs. print books, thanks to this low price. Therefore, apart from the books he brings home from school, I’d say in totoal he’s spent more time wreading his apps than his print books, which quickly become “old stuff”.
Sorry, for the mispellings an my ipad: reading, total, etc. Using plastic sheets on my ipad makes it even more complicated to type.
Interesting. I’d never thought about that angle before. And I guess that is one reason why people might not want to pay more than a few dollars for an app. Hmm…
I had never thought of that. So while I was able to continue using Appleworks long after it was no longer sold or supported by Apple, that would not be the case with an app from Apple. Hmmm. That will definitely impact my decisions in the future.