Serious question, do you read the descriptions before you download?

[detz]

This is not a joke or am I trying to come of like an ass but this kind of disturbs me as both a developer and a human living in a society with others.

So, my iOwn app(see sig) is on the store and I think the description and screenshots give a pretty good idea of what the app does and what it can be used for so I was a little shocked to get a comment today saying...

how does this game work????

No joke, someone submitted feedback on my website(which has description,screenshots, etc..) with this quote..and it appears to be an honest question. So, I'm asking if the average user actually reads descriptions before they download things?

 

[Rayfire]

I read the description, top reviews AND most recent reviews, go to the dev's/app's website and check their privacy policy (if applicable) and also how it works, not to mention their support page.

Maybe some were just in a hurry, go to their App store on their iPhone and just simply download anything without reading then they complain at the end.

 

[detz]

It's also amazing as a developer how many basic questions I get...people use me as Apple tech support. I'm a nice guy so usually I respond but some of the basic questions people ask(and think it's my app fault) are insane.

Just another funny example of this, I got an email last week that a guy couldn't figure out how to take a picture. So, I talked him through and he kept telling me the button was grayed out in my app which usually means that there is no camera. After talking back and forth and asking him question after question including what kind of device he had he finally realized that he only had an iPod Touch...BUT he thought he actually had an iPhone so when I asked them that he said iPhone thus I thought something was broken with my app. Umm...how do get those confused..the things I have to put up with!!

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

Well, I rarely browse the app store, period, so perhaps I'm not an "average consumer." I find out about apps by reading Macrumors, and very rarely, from checking out the app store. If I see an app that sounds cool, but I'm slightly confused by it, I read the description. If I can't figure it out after I buy it, I read the description. Otherwise, I usually just try to figure something out I find on my own.

 

[Rayfire]

It's also amazing as a developer how many basic questions I get...people use me as Apple tech support. I'm a nice guy so usually I respond but some of the basic questions people ask(and think it's my app fault) are insane.

Just another funny example of this, I got an email last week that a guy couldn't figure out how to take a picture. So, I talked him through and he kept telling me the button was grayed out in my app which usually means that there is no camera. After talking back and forth and asking him question after question including what kind of device he had he finally realized that he only had an iPod Touch...BUT he thought he actually had an iPhone so when I asked them that he said iPhone thus I thought something was broken with my app. Umm...how do get those confused..the things I have to put up with!!

Haha, got mixed up with an iPhone and an iPod Touch, now that's

 

[Maxington]

Hmmm. I guess it could be easy to confuse a touch and iphone... <boggled>

But yes I do think the descriptions do help decide to buy the app or not, but for some especially pay apps it's nice to have a better demo than just the standard pics.

 

[bruinsrme]

I frequent other sites for the descriptions.

 

[kas23]

True, some people write very strange reviews. It's interesting to read them sometimes. For example, I was reading the reviews for a GTD app, ToDo Lite I think or maybe RTM, but this is what he wrote after giving it one star:

"This apps weird. It's just weird."

Really, WTF.

 

[sushi]

I read the app description on all apps that look interesting to me.

Most are pretty good. However, I've found some to be hard to understand.

 

[extralarge]

Hmmm. I guess it could be easy to confuse a touch and iphone... <boggled>

But yes I do think the descriptions do help decide to buy the app or not, but for some especially pay apps it's nice to have a better demo than just the standard pics.

Agree this, after all iphone's screen is not that big, especailly when you read the descrption. and it will be much better, if it can indicates an youtube demo videos for the customers.

 

[hellomoto4]

Always do.
I don't understand why people don't.

 

[liptonlover]

I always read through very carefully, I view the screenshots, I read the reviews, (usually just the lower rated ones) and sometimes look for demos on youtube. But then again, I can't buy apps left and right without a care, I want to make my dollar count.

I have seen more than enough reviews that clearly say that person didn't read the description though.

 

[mkrishnan]

It depends on the app...

If the app has lots of press about it (e.g. I just bought Hero of Sparta), I read forum threads and full online reviews (e.g. IGN, etc) first, and in most detail, and I skim the developer's description and the App Store reviews.

If it's an app for which less descriptive info is available through these more detailed sources, then I read the developer's description in more detail and the App Store reviews in more detail.

It is, I guess worth saying, though, that I have never paid for an app that was not made by an established development house (EA, Gameloft).

There are some idiots on the App Store. There are idiots on forums too... I don't think you can win against that kind of thing. It would be nice if Apple had moderators, though, and let you complain about OT reviews and have them pulled. A review like the one in the OP example clearly should be deleted.

 

[akacaj]

I am a developer as well and I get plenty of similar comments. How do I play back what I just made? The whole point of my app is to shake the phone to play back what you just made! If only they would have read the description. I am afraid that I may have gotten some bad reviews simply because they didnt know what to do. Speaking of reviews, what pisses me off most is a good review with a 1 star rating. C'mon dude if you are taking your time to write a review, please, please be careful and do it right! And to top it off, I just downloaded this thing and it wont install! Thank god it was free. 1 star. Thats what I get for giving away my app free for one day! A bunch of whiny people, it was all 5 stars before that.

 

[Gokunama]

After wasting a bit of money on a couple apps that I found useless, I always read the descriptions carefully, and I often look up that app here on MacRumors to see what people say about it.

 

[venicedan]

sometimes, depends on the app. if its checkers, i figure it out

 

[gospel9]

Personally nope. I do tend to skim through them... I am guessing most people probably don't.

 

[TheZimm]

I read the description, top reviews AND most recent reviews, go to the dev's/app's website and check their privacy policy (if applicable) and also how it works, not to mention their support page.[/SIZE]

I do the exact same thing, I make sure that every aspect of the app is decent.

Zym

 

[dccorona]

This is not a joke or am I trying to come of like an ass but this kind of disturbs me as both a developer and a human living in a society with others.

So, my iOwn app(see sig) is on the store and I think the description and screenshots give a pretty good idea of what the app does and what it can be used for so I was a little shocked to get a comment today saying...



No joke, someone submitted feedback on my website(which has description,screenshots, etc..) with this quote..and it appears to be an honest question. So, I'm asking if the average user actually reads descriptions before they download things?

I always look at screenshots, and unless the app is free, I also read the description
not so much need to read the description when you don't have to pay for the app, and can try it risk free
but if it costs money, I like to know as much about what i'm buying as possible

that quote obviously came from a very ignorant person

i'd also like to say that I looked at iOwn, and it seems great
if its still on the app store when I'm living on my own (I'm still in high school) I'll probably pick it up

I'd like to see a blackberry storm help someone make an insurance claim like this will

 

[gadgetdad]

I do, unless its a free app. However most of the time I dont go to the app store untill I see the app anounced here.

 

[KRAPPS]

ALWAYS read the description ... don't worry about those few knuckleheads who throw the bizarre question ... you'll get these types of responses whether you have a description or not.

Actually, we love descriptions ... some of them provide an excellent source of entertainment and blogging material ... the descriptions written by aliens are the best!

 

[tommybuck]

I almost always read the description. A good and detail description makes me more likely to purchase the application. I only go to support pages and developer's websites if I am borderline with the application. Good screenshots too. I usually read 5 reviews in iTunes and less on the internet, sometimes more to see what people think.

Although if there's an app that looks good in screenshots and is free for a limited time or on sale I jump at it.

 

[neilp4453]

I am no developer but I understand OP's frustration.

It pisses me off when Ipod Touch users give negative feedback because the app didn't work for them when it CLEARLY STATES that the app is for iPhone users.

I've seen this for multiple apps and it just drives down the true rating because people refuse to read the description or decide to try it anyway because it is free.