Campaign against Ads in PAID apps

[optophobia]

Free apps have to make their money somehow, be it through ads or through in-app purchases. That is great, and for those people who don't want to shell out money for applications it is a good model.
However some of us don't like these sometimes annoying pop up ads, or ads blocking half of the screen. This is where some versions of applications (sometimes just with the added prefix "pro" ) come to play. You pay $4.99 for the app instead, and don't have these ads shoved in your face.

However as some other forum members have also pointed out, some of these companies are "double dipping" - Paid apps WITH ads ...

Do they really have to do this, or are they just getting greedy? What are the alternative solutions? Charging even more for the apps ?

Whatever it is, I can't stand ads on TV, and I can't stand ads on my iPhone, especially if I have paid for it.

 

[Unspoken Demise]

This thread is useless without a Twitter petition.

 

[Tilpots]

Really? Your against your app being subsidized? Would you have gotten the $4.99 app if it was $20? Would you have gotten the phone if it cost $600? Probably not. And then you'd complain that it cost too much.

If you have a problem with the app, contact the maker and ask them to offer an ad free - unsubsidized app. Good luck with that.

 

[Jeremy1026]

Even the big boys are doing this on consoles. EA has been selling ad space on Madden and NHL for a few years now. Do you still buy their stuff?

 

[optophobia]

Really? Your against your app being subsidized?

The FREE app is subsidized by the ads, therefore the PAID app shouldn't have ads....

Would you have gotten the phone if it cost $600?

I did pay $600 for my 1st iPhone, so Yes.

Even the big boys are doing this on consoles. EA has been selling ad space on Madden and NHL for a few years now. Do you still buy their stuff?

Actually NO, I don't

 

[robbieduncan]

Did you know (or have the chance to know and not do enough research) about the ads before you bought. For example are there ads shown in the screenshots? If so then you don't have a leg to stand on: you chose to buy an app with ads in. If you don't want them don't buy the app.

 

[Tilpots]

The FREE app is subsidized by the ads, therefore the PAID app shouldn't have ads....

Think of it like cable TV. You pay the cable companies to watch, say ESPN, but ESPN still has commercials in it. They have to do it to keep delivering the content.

Ad-free is great, and the devs know that's what people prefer, but to do so has to make financial sense to them. They need to make money, too. It's a fine balance between price and ad supported models and sometimes the crossover method is the way to go to maximize their profit. If that's too much for you, then as another suggested, just don't buy the app.

 

[err404]

Did you know (or have the chance to know and not do enough research) about the ads before you bought. For example are there ads shown in the screenshots? If so then you don't have a leg to stand on: you chose to buy an app with ads in. If you don't want them don't buy the app.

I think you are missing OP's point. He's not surprised about a given app having ads, rather he wants to create a demand for ad-free apps by raising awareness. While it's not a big deal now, he seems to be afraid that if the trend in double revenue models is successful, it could lead to ad free options just not being available.
Ads are particularly intrusive with the small screen size of a phone and as they are implemented today, hurt functionality; either in speed, screen real estate or just plain information clutter.

While it doesn't keep me awake at night, I agree with OP and would like developers to experiment with a third option for app revenue:
1) Free ad-supported version with limited functionality.
2) Standard low cost and ad-supported version with Full functionality.
3) Premium high cost and ad free version with Full functionality.

 

[paulcdb]

If the paid app doesn't doesn't require a server, like a lot of games then i don't think it should have ads.

I have no problem with programs like GPS trackers which require a server to have ads in though since those servers have to be paid for somehow.

 

[strike1555]

Even the big boys are doing this on consoles. EA has been selling ad space on Madden and NHL for a few years now. Do you still buy their stuff?

Ads on a billboard are completely different than one that occupy permanent space on your screen.

The iPhones screen is already tiny...ads take up an awful lot of that precious space. And it frequently interferes with some apps too.

OP, I suggest you jailbreak and install a hosts file that blocks ads. Works great for me and it auto updates too.

 

[Mac N Tosh]

Even the big boys are doing this on consoles. EA has been selling ad space on Madden and NHL for a few years now. Do you still buy their stuff?

NO..In fact I dont even go to the movies for the same reason...I am not paying for commercials..

 

[Sparky9292]

OP, I suggest you jailbreak and install a hosts file that blocks ads. Works great for me and it auto updates too.

I was just about to mention that. I'd simply install the hosts file and say bye bye to the ads.

 

[err404]

I was just about to mention that. I'd simply install the hosts file and say bye bye to the ads.

Unfortunately that requires a jailbreak, which many people seem ideologically against, and still wouldn't recover the UI concessions that an app may have dedicated for ads.

As I said before, If an author cant make a profit from selling an app for $1.99, then I'd prefer that they just charge more for an ad free version.

My tolerance for ads varies by application type. For most apps they don't really bother me; however for apps that I use frequently and in small bursts (like twitter) ads can be a significant nuisance.
I don't want a task that should take a 5 seconds to take 10 because I have to see an ad, but if I'm going to be in the app for 5 minutes, I don't care about a 10 second ad at launch.

 

[DeuceDeuce]

The FREE app is subsidized by the ads, therefore the PAID app shouldn't have ads....

That is an assumption and is the whole premise for your argument. Many people, if not the majority, don't feel the same way you do.

 

[err404]

That is an assumption and is the whole premise for your argument. Many people, if not the majority, don't feel the same way you do.

I'd say that the premise is that in most cases ads compromise the quality and experience of using an app. Would you disagree with that?