3 ms·

Windows Phone and Windows 8 marketplaces are the best of the app markets in this regard. There is almost always a "try" mode and it can be time, transaction or

Windows Phone and Windows 8 marketplaces are the best of the app markets in this regard. There is almost always a "try" mode and it can be time, transaction or feature restricted or just the full app with ads. It's in one way a drawback to WP developers. They have full control on whether to provide 'try' option or not but almost every user expects the app to have the option before putting in money. So not providing a 'try' option will be a lose-lose situation for the developer. But it's a huge boon to the user. I've tried countless of apps only to end up not purchasing many as they are poor or sometimes the trial app is good enough to use.

freehunter 14y ago
With one app, I remember a stink being raised over them not having a trial for their game. It was Infinite Flight, a flight simulator app. The developers announced the game on reddit, and many of the comments were related to not having a trial for a game which cost a few dollars rather than 99c. The developers mentioned they did not include a trial because they were afraid people outside their target audience would try it, realize it's a flight simulator and not a traditional game, and leave poor ratings based on misconceptions. I believe they eventually broke down and released a trial, but it does underscore the point that trials are very much encouraged on Windows Phone coupled with the idea that sometimes not having a trial can be for good reasons.
- reiichiroh 14y ago
  Isn't the Xbox/Windows Live/Zune/Microsoft billing back end a nightmare? I remember there being a EU-centric website protesting the lack of data portability that is mandated by EU law. To be fair, being in different countries trying to access/retain (you lose all your purchases with the MS stuff if you switch countries) your "purchased" content is still a clusterfuck even with Apple and Amazon, but I recall my experience with MSN/Live being totally fucked up for just wanting to change my address. Their recent shuttling of Games For Windows Live redirected users to vague no-detail error messages on Xbox.com for stuff like having to login and accept new EULA terms.

freehunter 14y ago

With one app, I remember a stink being raised over them not having a trial for their game. It was Infinite Flight, a flight simulator app. The developers announced the game on reddit, and many of the comments were related to not having a trial for a game which cost a few dollars rather than 99c. The developers mentioned they did not include a trial because they were afraid people outside their target audience would try it, realize it's a flight simulator and not a traditional game, and leave poor ratings based on misconceptions. I believe they eventually broke down and released a trial, but it does underscore the point that trials are very much encouraged on Windows Phone coupled with the idea that sometimes not having a trial can be for good reasons.

reiichiroh 14y ago
Isn't the Xbox/Windows Live/Zune/Microsoft billing back end a nightmare? I remember there being a EU-centric website protesting the lack of data portability that is mandated by EU law. To be fair, being in different countries trying to access/retain (you lose all your purchases with the MS stuff if you switch countries) your "purchased" content is still a clusterfuck even with Apple and Amazon, but I recall my experience with MSN/Live being totally fucked up for just wanting to change my address. Their recent shuttling of Games For Windows Live redirected users to vague no-detail error messages on Xbox.com for stuff like having to login and accept new EULA terms.