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Top iOS apps available for free ahead of App Store 5th anniversary

103 points by blueveek 13y ago

simonbarker87 13y ago
So is this Apple making them free and so paying the developers the missed revenue or is it the developers making them free of their own accord/at Apple's urging?
- stevekinney 13y ago
  I suspect the developers are taking the hit in the name of free publicity. I know that when Marco Arment allowed Apple and Starbucks to give away Instapaper, he didn't receive any compensation. When I saw this link, I expected that Apple was making their apps (e.g. Pages, Keynote, Numbers) free ahead of the anniversary of their App Store. Apparently, that's not the case.
  - simonbarker87 13y ago
    Thanks and yes, that's what I thought - was looking forward to grabbing a free copy of numbers for iPhone - ohwell
    - mitchty 13y ago
      I've heard from other ios developers that the added exposure tends to cause huge effects later on in sales though. So it might not be so bad for them? From hearing about the free deals though it doesn't sound like it ends up a losing proposition. Can anyone thats done one of these free/featured apps on the store validate? I'm super curious now.
      - clarky07 13y ago
        I've done free deals in the past, and sometimes it works out nicely. Getting lots of downloads tends to move you up in the charts and search results, some of which lasts when it moves back to paid. There are also obvious benefits to having more users such as more word of mouth, more (hopefully good) reviews, etc.
- xsmasher 13y ago
  Contrary to the headline, Apple is not making them free. TUAW corrected their story already.
k-mcgrady 13y ago
AFAIK this is just speculation. Some apps are currently being given away for free when they are usually sold at a price. Their has been no announcement from Apple of the companies so it's been speculated they are free in celebration of the App Store's 5th anniversary. If Apple was involved in this they would most likely feature it on the store. As of now that hasn't happened so I doubt Apple is involved. Edit: If Apple was involved they would probably make some of their own apps free.
- sunnynagra 13y ago
  Heading over to the App Store will show a special section where they specifically say they are giving the apps away for free because of the anniversary.
  - smackfu 13y ago
    Yep. >To celebrate, we're giving everyone five landmark games and five groundbreaking apps for a limited time.
kmfrk 13y ago
List with even more apps: http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1humo9/ios_apps_and_games_go_free_ahead_of_app_stores/ http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1humo9/ios_apps_and_g....
- clarky07 13y ago
  Shameless plug. I made a few of my apps free for the anniversary as well. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/run-tracker-gps-fitness-tracking/id453027672?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/run-tracker-gps-fitness-trac... https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedometer+/id468447112?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedometer+/id468447112?ls=... https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/debt-snowball+/id516229756?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/debt-snowball+/id516229756?l...
  - hnriot 13y ago
    The sppedometer+ app has a weird logo, it seems to show a weigh scale, like in the bathroom, which is not only skeuomorphic, but misleadingly skeuomorphic?
    - clarky07 13y ago
      definitely not intended to be scale, but rather old analog speedometer.
thoughtsimple 13y ago
Apple did nothing--the app owners did. Why is this still on the front page?
- smackfu 13y ago
  I think it's still unclear. The fact that none of these apps updated their description to say they were free is odd and unusual.
  - mikeash 13y ago
    I believe you can no longer update an app's description without also updating the app itself.
    - xuki 13y ago
      Just the keywords and screenshots. Description can be changed without new submission.
      - mikeash 13y ago
        Huh, don't know how I got the impression that description was included. Thanks.
canistr 13y ago
I love Day One and had already bought it. But I wish it was the Mac version that was free. The price is rather steep.
Domenic_S 13y ago
Literally bought Infinity Blade II 2 days ago for $6.99. Kind of annoying.
- ctdonath 13y ago
  You gave them what you agreed it was worth to you.
- ameen 13y ago
  Truth be told, it's worth that much. One of the best games on a tablet ever. Not just visually, but the entire experience - Gameplay, Character progression, Replayability, etc.
joejohnson 13y ago
I always download all of these apps when they are free. Even if I immediately delete the app after downloading, it will always be free for me to re-download with the same Apple ID.

103 points by blueveek 13y ago

So is this Apple making them free and so paying the developers the missed revenue or is it the developers making them free of their own accord/at Apple's urging?

stevekinney 13y ago
I suspect the developers are taking the hit in the name of free publicity. I know that when Marco Arment allowed Apple and Starbucks to give away Instapaper, he didn't receive any compensation. When I saw this link, I expected that Apple was making their apps (e.g. Pages, Keynote, Numbers) free ahead of the anniversary of their App Store. Apparently, that's not the case.
- simonbarker87 13y ago
  Thanks and yes, that's what I thought - was looking forward to grabbing a free copy of numbers for iPhone - ohwell
  - mitchty 13y ago
    I've heard from other ios developers that the added exposure tends to cause huge effects later on in sales though. So it might not be so bad for them? From hearing about the free deals though it doesn't sound like it ends up a losing proposition. Can anyone thats done one of these free/featured apps on the store validate? I'm super curious now.
    - clarky07 13y ago
      I've done free deals in the past, and sometimes it works out nicely. Getting lots of downloads tends to move you up in the charts and search results, some of which lasts when it moves back to paid. There are also obvious benefits to having more users such as more word of mouth, more (hopefully good) reviews, etc.
xsmasher 13y ago
Contrary to the headline, Apple is not making them free. TUAW corrected their story already.

k-mcgrady 13y ago

AFAIK this is just speculation. Some apps are currently being given away for free when they are usually sold at a price. Their has been no announcement from Apple of the companies so it's been speculated they are free in celebration of the App Store's 5th anniversary. If Apple was involved in this they would most likely feature it on the store. As of now that hasn't happened so I doubt Apple is involved. Edit: If Apple was involved they would probably make some of their own apps free.

sunnynagra 13y ago
Heading over to the App Store will show a special section where they specifically say they are giving the apps away for free because of the anniversary.
- smackfu 13y ago
  Yep. >To celebrate, we're giving everyone five landmark games and five groundbreaking apps for a limited time.

kmfrk 13y ago

List with even more apps: http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1humo9/ios_apps_and_games_go_free_ahead_of_app_stores/ http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1humo9/ios_apps_and_g....

clarky07 13y ago
Shameless plug. I made a few of my apps free for the anniversary as well. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/run-tracker-gps-fitness-tracking/id453027672?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/run-tracker-gps-fitness-trac... https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedometer+/id468447112?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedometer+/id468447112?ls=... https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/debt-snowball+/id516229756?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/debt-snowball+/id516229756?l...
- hnriot 13y ago
  The sppedometer+ app has a weird logo, it seems to show a weigh scale, like in the bathroom, which is not only skeuomorphic, but misleadingly skeuomorphic?
  - clarky07 13y ago
    definitely not intended to be scale, but rather old analog speedometer.

thoughtsimple 13y ago

Apple did nothing--the app owners did. Why is this still on the front page?

smackfu 13y ago
I think it's still unclear. The fact that none of these apps updated their description to say they were free is odd and unusual.
- mikeash 13y ago
  I believe you can no longer update an app's description without also updating the app itself.
  - xuki 13y ago
    Just the keywords and screenshots. Description can be changed without new submission.
    - mikeash 13y ago
      Huh, don't know how I got the impression that description was included. Thanks.

canistr 13y ago

I love Day One and had already bought it. But I wish it was the Mac version that was free. The price is rather steep.

Domenic_S 13y ago

Literally bought Infinity Blade II 2 days ago for $6.99. Kind of annoying.

ctdonath 13y ago
You gave them what you agreed it was worth to you.
ameen 13y ago
Truth be told, it's worth that much. One of the best games on a tablet ever. Not just visually, but the entire experience - Gameplay, Character progression, Replayability, etc.

joejohnson 13y ago

I always download all of these apps when they are free. Even if I immediately delete the app after downloading, it will always be free for me to re-download with the same Apple ID.