3 ms·

While I don't agree with the original poster (and FWIW, my company is currently working on an iPad app) but your arguments are sorta silly too. You can process

While I don't agree with the original poster (and FWIW, my company is currently working on an iPad app) but your arguments are sorta silly too. You can process your own payments and get the money much faster and with less hassle for less than 3%. If you're monetizing your app, 1GB of downloads is a trivial cost as well. Ask any Facebook developer, Apple's raping you on those two for 30%. The distribution is good and bad. Good if you get high on the lists, bad otherwise. Overall I'm not sure you can call it a win, half the reason the App Store is the best distribution method is because Apple prevents all others. I'd disagree with OP largely because of technology. You can't build a compelling 3d game using web technology yet. You can't take advantage of the GPS chip or gyros or camera, etc. Most apps worth having will be more than a website can accomplish right now. You're paying Apple 30% because they built the platform, which was an enormous gamble for them that paid off handsomely.

protomyth 16y ago
"with less hassle for less than 3%" - not really, there is always a transaction fee. So on $0.99 the cost is a much greater % than 3.
robryan 16y ago
There is also the buying mentality that an app store user has when browsing for apps. It's hard to measure this but is probably bigger than anything else you get for your 30%. You sell an app store app and people don't mind droping 99 cents or a couple of dollars for something that preforms a few functions. In contrast I think web apps are a much harder sell at those price points, so for a similar app your only real choice is advertising supported.