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Another sad thing is that a consumer can't tell their iDevice "hey, stop downloading updates to this app; I like it just the way it is" - the closest we can get
by jamescostian 9y ago
Another sad thing is that a consumer can't tell their iDevice "hey, stop downloading updates to this app; I like it just the way it is" - the closest we can get is turning off automatic updates for all apps, and then hoping we never accidentally tap on the "Update" button for that specific app.
Currently, both of the problems can be solved in one kludge: release a big upgrade as a new app. For example, I bought the app Things when it was at version 2. I liked it so much that when Things 3 came out as a separate app, I bought it too. And if I really loved the UI of Things 2 and hated the new UI in Things 3, I wouldn't have to do anything. I could keep auto-upgrade on, and never have to worry about my Things 2 app being upgraded to something I don't like.
- prawn 9y agoWorth noting that the makers of Things copped criticism from some users for that approach of a paid upgrade. And negative reviews can be very damaging in the App Store.
- jamescostian 9y agoI was not aware of this. It definitely would suck if Things 3 had a low rating, but I just looked it up on the App Store and it has a 5 star rating. Yes, negative reviews can be very damaging, but (at least on iOS 11) not only does it say "5.0", it also says "Editor's Choice" and "#38" so I would argue that Things 3 was not really damaged too much.
- prawn 9y agoThings just won an Apple Design Award in the last 1-2 weeks which gives them huge amounts of App Store support and general press. That would have put them in front of millions of new users unaware of the upgrade issue. @appstore has 4.5m followers for example. This boost is incredibly rare (10 ADAs per year). (Source: We won an Apple Design Award for our app Streaks last year.)
- jamescostian 9y agoCongratulations! I'll check out that app!
- wingerlang 9y agoYou can still download older versions of apps, it's a workaround but it can be done.
- pbhjpbhj 9y agoCan to do that on Google Play? I'd love to be able to undo app updates.
- wingerlang 9y agoNo idea, I meant App Store.
- jamescostian 9y agoHow does this work? It would be very helpful for me!
- wingerlang 9y agohttp://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/12/25/how-to-download-older-versions-of-ios-apps/ http://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/12/25/how-to-download-olde... Or if you have a jailbroken phone there are methods that lets you simply pick the version to download/downgrade/upgrade to within App Store.
- hellofunk 9y ago> Another sad thing is that a consumer can't tell their iDevice "hey, stop downloading updates to this app; I like it just the way it is" You certainly can do this, unless I misunderstand your point. Automatic Downloads are an option in iOS. You can turn them off if you don't wish an app to automatically update every time a new release comes out.
- veritas3241 9y agoI think it's an all or nothing setting. The parent is looking for app-specific permissions.
- hellofunk 9y agoWell, you can at least manually update each app in the update list, just takes a click, and skip the ones you don't want to update.
- jamescostian 9y agoRight, but like I said in my original comment, you're just hoping you don't make a very easy to make mistake. I can't count how many times I've updated an app on accident I'm currently on a version of Snapchat that does not recognize when I use iOS 11's screen recording feature, so I can record anyone's snaps and they don't get a notification. But I have to have automatic updates off, and be very, very careful when updating (when I tap "more" to read about other app updates, I accidentally tap like .5cm lower I can upgrade Snapchat), and hope none of my friends ever "helpfully" tap the "Update All" button on my phone. It would be so much nicer to just lock the version somewhere.