Well, it absolutely wasn't a scam. It was actually about the farthest thing from a scam.
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Eight people purchase "I am Rich"
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Well, it absolutely wasn't a scam. It was actually about the farthest thing from a scam.
You're right, those are the terms of sale. Is that going to stop any purchasers from refuting the charges? No. ...And in the case that Apple refused to rescind the charge, they would most likely loose a customer for life. Is that what they want? Is that what Apple stock-holders would want?
Why did Apple chose not to allow porn? Because it wouldn't sell? (Yeah, right.) No, it's because it would reflect poorly on them as a company.
You need to remember that public perception for business can lead to either success or bankruptcy. ...You can't just run a business based on ideal-world situations.
This is a great technological manifestation of capitalism.
If women can buy purses worth thousands without too much ruckus, why can't geeks purchase applications worth hundreds?
If women can buy purses worth thousands without too much ruckus, why can't geeks purchase applications worth hundreds?
Or perhaps he's just a grownup and doesn't play computer games. Myself, I have better things to do. Like read these forums!
Well, buying a T-Shirt from a retail store is totally different. There's this thing called "Returns," and Wal-Mart takes it back. The iTunes Store is different, in which once you click the "Buy" button, it's yours. You can't take the app back to Apple and return it, it's like me going into Wal-Mart, buying an iPod touch, and returning it 29 days after purchase.
Could Apple possibly invoke a "Restocking Fee" concept in the App Store, like how they have in there retail stores for items already purchased? Possibly, but then again, why can't we be smart and just not buy the freaking $1000 app to begin with.
This brings up a good point. I wonder if the reviewers are even aware of the price when they are looking at the app. If they aren't, it might explain why they let this through.
So, explain how any customer would have ever been "taken advantage of" by either Apple or the developer of this App? The App stated everything that it did on the store page. It didn't try to scam anyone, it was very clear on the matter: it was just a picture, and if you click on the "i" you get a message. It wasn't in the fine print or anything.
There is no way to "accidentally" purchase an app. If you click on Buy, and enter your password, and tell it that yes you want to purchase the app, then you obviously wanted to buy it. If you set it up for one-click purchases, than you obviously know what you are doing. And BTW, refuting the charge wouldn't do much - the bank would contact Apple, who would show them proof that you legally purchased the App and that the App does everything it was advertised to do, and your bank would still charge your account for the full amount.
It doesn't have to be a scam to take advantage of a customer. I could take advantage of a customer's wealth, for example, or likewise their ignorance, mistake, gullibility, etc. I never implied that this app was in any way dishonest.
Regardless of the outcome, does Apple want to deal with the hassle?
Bottom line is that this guy was genius in making a basic app that sold for a buttload of money, and 8 people bought it. anyone who got burned with 1-click is a dummy and should not blame anyone but themselves. Apple should not have pulled this app from the store.
Doesn't matter if they want to deal with the hassle or not. The app in question (unlike NetShare) did not violate any of Apple's terms at all, so there is no reason they should have pulled it from their store. They do not require (or guarantee) quality, they do not have any rules about value, and their pricing scheme is very clear. This app isn't any worse than one of those $2 flashlight apps that just display a white screen, except in terms of price.
If Apple is going to start taking down apps for reasons of perceived value, then they'd better make it clear in their SDK documentation that they will be doing so, and explain what they will be using to determine these standards. Even a company with a super-closed system like Nintendo and the DS doesn't allow/disallow games based on quality/value, and they let you price your games at whatever the heck you want. Nintendo used to police quality and pricing, and got smacked with anti-monopoly suits. Now they just care if your game crashes, or uses the correct terms to refer to buttons, doesn't cause seizures, things like that. And they have an exact list of everything they will ding your game for.
Apparently, they didn't like it. That's all that's required. Anyone who knows what they are talking about would know that. It's plain as day in the iPhone developer agreement.
You've got to be kidding.
You are expecting a corporation to be responsible for a customer's spending?
Precisely what I am thinking. The word that sums all the negative comments about this guy and his awesome app...JEALOUSY.
Admit it he's smart and got paid for it. He did nothing wrong he just know how people would react to his idea. By the way, what he did was an art form, being able to demonstrate how people would react to some silly idea.
Apple was right taking the app off as it is unfair to some developers that put blood sweat and tears to come up with an idea what to sell, but then again the simplest solution they say is the best, in this case Heiny's idea is best
By the way, the whole idea for this app is to display how wealthy you are, this is not an app for everyone to buy to some its useless but for the people who actually have money to spare then the cost is peanuts and having the app confirms their status. We are just angry at the idea of one person spending so much for something useless to us beause we are looking at it at the point of view of somebody who have less to spend. Hey but if you are earning say 20 thousand per day a mere 1k won't dent your budget (if you have one)
.I used to abhor the idea of the obscene spending by the rich but since I thought about it in their own view their spening habis are justified.
I hope apple instates some sort of refund program for people who purchased this application on accident. Let this be a lesson to everyone. But it's still a great story.
And no I don't think Heinrich is smart or even creative for developing such a program. He was simply lucky enough to get a silly idea through the system. Hardly a respectable way to earn a profit. Everyone has thought of something equally as scandalous at one point in their life, this guy just got lucky his idea slipped through the system for a day.
And no I don't think Heinrich is smart or even creative for developing such a program. He was simply lucky enough to get a silly idea through the system. Hardly a respectable way to earn a profit. Everyone has thought of something equally as scandalous at one point in their life, this guy just got lucky his idea slipped through the system for a day.
Exactly! It's the same thing as the real diamond industry! Instead of selling shiny rocks, they sell PICTURES of shiny rocks!
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I have no problem with this app being available in the app store - the way I see it is if a person has that much money that they can carelessly throw away for an app like that that's fine - it's their money, they get to do what they want with it. Also, I don't understand how people "accidentally" purchased the app - if you don't have that much money then as far as I'm concerned your mouse/finger shouldn't be anywhere near the purchase button...
Apple needs to either a) review apps better before publishing them or b) quit removing them once they've been approved
Apple needs to either a) review apps better before publishing them or b) quit removing them once they've been approved
developer post
Hi. I´m a sdk developer for the iphone.
To state it shortly . The developer behind this app is an Ass****
Its wrong in any way to fool customers. Even if you say that Apple have a responebility and they have, no doubt .its still wrong .
All developers have a respnebility themself not to make this kind of things that it ment to fool people.
but there will always be people trying to exploit any systems out there for there goal to make a buck.
I feel realy bad for thouse people who accedently bought the app and I hope they get there app back and that the developer gets nothing or is forced to pay back the money.
I can not discuss the legal terms of putting apps on itunes app store but read the legal terms yourself and you will found out more...
Hi. I´m a sdk developer for the iphone.
To state it shortly . The developer behind this app is an Ass****
Its wrong in any way to fool customers. Even if you say that Apple have a responebility and they have, no doubt .its still wrong .
All developers have a respnebility themself not to make this kind of things that it ment to fool people.
but there will always be people trying to exploit any systems out there for there goal to make a buck.
I feel realy bad for thouse people who accedently bought the app and I hope they get there app back and that the developer gets nothing or is forced to pay back the money.
I can not discuss the legal terms of putting apps on itunes app store but read the legal terms yourself and you will found out more...
regarding your b) answer.
any good developer can develop what I would call mutating code.
In easy terms. You can develop code that is not harmfull but after a surtain time it can mutate and do something else that was not clear when Apple reviewed the app.
I think that its great that Apple can blacklist apps, remove harmfull apps and outher apps that may compromise any security issues .
I dont think the developer is a genius or smart in anyway .. are you smart if you do something illegal ... i dont think so ...