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In 2010 I wanted an iPhone Twitter client with a nice UI and no ads, so I paid $2.99 for Tweetie 2. This was after I bought Tweetie 1 for $2.99. Tweetie 2 wasn

by kcl 16y ago

In 2010 I wanted an iPhone Twitter client with a nice UI and no ads, so I paid $2.99 for Tweetie 2. This was after I bought Tweetie 1 for $2.99. Tweetie 2 wasn't a free upgrade. In 2011, after acquiring Tweetie 2 and making it free, Twitter adds paid advertisements and wrecks the UI.

flyosity 16y ago
Reminds me of many Android apps: instead of selling the app on the Marketplace the developers opt to include advertisements which cheapen the overall experience.
- code_duck 16y ago
  Angry Birds is a great example. I would gladly pay the piddly .99c they ask on iOS, if given the choice! The iOS version is paid only and ad free, while the Android version is free only, with intrusive ads.
  - blinkingled 16y ago
    Which are easy to bypass btw - just turn off data connection while you play it.
    - guywithabike 16y ago
      Android sounds like a great experience.
      - code_duck 16y ago
        What does this have to do with Android? The issue is the application.
        hrabago 16y ago
        The issue is the market. From what I've seen and read, Android owners are less likely to pay for apps, so devs have to resort to advertising to get their revenues.
        code_duck 16y ago
        That's the perception, and I presume that's why Rovio is taking this tactic. Is it true, though, for them? My impression is that they're testing the advertising method. If anyone could sell a ton of Android apps, they could. Pretty much any Android phone owner interesting in downloading Angry Birds would be willing to pay .99c for it. It's a shame they won't treat Android like iOS in this respect - a must-have app is exactly what the Android Market needs. Get people into the Market with a serious intent to obtain a specific app, and they'll set up their account and payment method, paving the way for future purchases. Rovio could be priming the marketplace in general and giving it a big boost. Instead, they're giving Android users a 2nd rate user experience, as well as contributing to the perception that you can't sell apps on Android.
        igorgue 16y ago
        Most good applications are available for free on Android, but not on iOS. You should try an Android phone before making conclusions.
        statictype 16y ago
        They don't have to resort to advertising so much as choosing the advertising model because it yields more revenue. At least for the specific case of Angry Birds. http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/03/angry-birds-android-1-million-ad-revenue/ http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/03/angry-birds-android-1-m...
        devinfoley 16y ago
        The issue is the Android platform. The Android market is very difficult to sell apps on because the "open" Android platform makes it ridiculously easy to pirate apps.
      - blinkingled 16y ago
        Yeah it is for the people who are not bent on bashing anything and everything that doesn't come from 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA. ;)
      - statictype 16y ago
        What part of the parent comment lead you to any conclusion about Android's user experience? I think he was just talking about a way to get rid of ads in games that have ads. Presumably the same would work for iOS games that use ads as well.
    - jeffreyg 16y ago
      from my experience you can only play 1 level before it requires you to be connected to a network
      - blinkingled 16y ago
        Not on my Xoom.
raganwald 16y ago
I would email Dick and ask for a special ad-free version that goes out to all paid Tweetie customers.
- PanMan 16y ago
  Unfortunately, that isn't possible in the AppStore, afaik. You can sell to everyone, or give away for free, but not to a limited group (beyond the 100 promo codes thing.)
  - michaelfairley 16y ago
    The app is free for everyone, but previous Tweetie owners could have their ads disabled.
    - pmjordan 16y ago
      The Tweetie app "upgraded" to Twitter for iPhone; they're treated as the same app by the App Store. I don't think it's possible to tell apart upgraders from new users. (I paid for Tweetie)
      - apgwoz 16y ago
        I'm sure they have a list of email addresses that have paid for Tweetie (or the ability to acquire it). Given this, it seems possible that they could do something to disable it in the app.
        jerome_bent 16y ago
        No, they don't. Apple keeps all that information from developers. (By the way, that's the same information publishers are clamoring for).
        HenkPoley 16y ago
        The Shazam developer collected device IDs, so that beta testers can now install the free version and still get to the things you could do in the beta (unlimited tagging). So, with a bit of preparation they could have handled Tweetie customers differently in the Twitter app.

by kcl 16y ago

flyosity 16y ago

Reminds me of many Android apps: instead of selling the app on the Marketplace the developers opt to include advertisements which cheapen the overall experience.

code_duck 16y ago
Angry Birds is a great example. I would gladly pay the piddly .99c they ask on iOS, if given the choice! The iOS version is paid only and ad free, while the Android version is free only, with intrusive ads.
- blinkingled 16y ago
  Which are easy to bypass btw - just turn off data connection while you play it.
  - guywithabike 16y ago
    Android sounds like a great experience.
    - code_duck 16y ago
      What does this have to do with Android? The issue is the application.
      - hrabago 16y ago
        The issue is the market. From what I've seen and read, Android owners are less likely to pay for apps, so devs have to resort to advertising to get their revenues.
        code_duck 16y ago
        That's the perception, and I presume that's why Rovio is taking this tactic. Is it true, though, for them? My impression is that they're testing the advertising method. If anyone could sell a ton of Android apps, they could. Pretty much any Android phone owner interesting in downloading Angry Birds would be willing to pay .99c for it. It's a shame they won't treat Android like iOS in this respect - a must-have app is exactly what the Android Market needs. Get people into the Market with a serious intent to obtain a specific app, and they'll set up their account and payment method, paving the way for future purchases. Rovio could be priming the marketplace in general and giving it a big boost. Instead, they're giving Android users a 2nd rate user experience, as well as contributing to the perception that you can't sell apps on Android.
        igorgue 16y ago
        Most good applications are available for free on Android, but not on iOS. You should try an Android phone before making conclusions.
        statictype 16y ago
        They don't have to resort to advertising so much as choosing the advertising model because it yields more revenue. At least for the specific case of Angry Birds. http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/03/angry-birds-android-1-million-ad-revenue/ http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/03/angry-birds-android-1-m...
        devinfoley 16y ago
        The issue is the Android platform. The Android market is very difficult to sell apps on because the "open" Android platform makes it ridiculously easy to pirate apps.
    - blinkingled 16y ago
      Yeah it is for the people who are not bent on bashing anything and everything that doesn't come from 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA. ;)
    - statictype 16y ago
      What part of the parent comment lead you to any conclusion about Android's user experience? I think he was just talking about a way to get rid of ads in games that have ads. Presumably the same would work for iOS games that use ads as well.
  - jeffreyg 16y ago
    from my experience you can only play 1 level before it requires you to be connected to a network
    - blinkingled 16y ago
      Not on my Xoom.

raganwald 16y ago

I would email Dick and ask for a special ad-free version that goes out to all paid Tweetie customers.

PanMan 16y ago
Unfortunately, that isn't possible in the AppStore, afaik. You can sell to everyone, or give away for free, but not to a limited group (beyond the 100 promo codes thing.)
- michaelfairley 16y ago
  The app is free for everyone, but previous Tweetie owners could have their ads disabled.
  - pmjordan 16y ago
    The Tweetie app "upgraded" to Twitter for iPhone; they're treated as the same app by the App Store. I don't think it's possible to tell apart upgraders from new users. (I paid for Tweetie)
    - apgwoz 16y ago
      I'm sure they have a list of email addresses that have paid for Tweetie (or the ability to acquire it). Given this, it seems possible that they could do something to disable it in the app.
      - jerome_bent 16y ago
        No, they don't. Apple keeps all that information from developers. (By the way, that's the same information publishers are clamoring for).
        HenkPoley 16y ago
        The Shazam developer collected device IDs, so that beta testers can now install the free version and still get to the things you could do in the beta (unlimited tagging). So, with a bit of preparation they could have handled Tweetie customers differently in the Twitter app.