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Why iAds are great for everybody!

T

Travisimo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 22, 2009
991
226
There has been a lot of mixed opinions on the iAd campaign that Apple announced today during the iPhone 4.0 event. Some bloggers and sites are expressing great concern and dismay over this campaign. And I would agree that a bit of trepidation is in order. I just finished watching video of the keynote, however, and I think we should all consider this:

- Many many developers are having a hard time making money in the App store. Certainly, high profile apps can make a developer a boatload of money. But there's a ton of free and cheap apps out there where the developer would like to charge more but can't because of the incredible downward pressure for pricing in the app store.

- To keep a viable platform, either devs have to charge more or they have to turn to advertising. Now we've seen a lot of poor advertising implementation, but Apple's trying to provide a unifying advertising platform that makes it easier for devs to keep apps free or very inexpensive while at the same time still make enough money to continue development and provide support.

- And after watching the ad demos in the keynote video, I think Apple has "nailed it" (as Steve likes to put it). Those ads are incredible and are something that I would even consider clicking on in my favorite apps because I know it's helping the developer. And it doesn't APPEAR that the ads will be as intrusive as some bloggers and sites have made them out to be.

- First of all, there's a single banner at the bottom of the screen that appears. This is not a whole lot different from other ads we've seen. However, when you click on the banner, the ad takes over the entire screen and provides some very cool interactivity. There are video clips, animations, games, and more that are all very well done and certainly good for someone who is interested in the product in the ad. And that's what it's all about, right? They know EVERYONE isn't going to click on their ads, but if the ads are interesting and engaging, the ones who ARE interested in those kinds of products would be more inclined to click on them. I can imagine devs even giving away free items this way as Steve demoed (like wallpaper screenshots, etc).

- Now I would agree that I don't want to be FORCED to watch a full-screen ad if I don't want to. And from what Steve said, it appears that you either 1) don't have to click on the banner at all, or 2) you can press the X button to immediately close the ad at any time. If THAT continues to be the way it is implemented, I think this is a great thing and can only benefit the platform!

What do you guys think?
 
All I'm going to say, it is only good for one person, the developer that puts the iAd frameworks in the app. He is getting the 60%... other than that, no one really gains anything. Besides what Steve said, you are not yanked from the app and it's a better experience.
 
jav6454 said:
All I'm going to say, it is only good for one person, the developer that puts the iAd frameworks in the app. He is getting the 60%... other than that, no one really gains anything. Besides what Steve said, you are not yanked from the app and it's a better experience.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments. I think it's more than one party that is benefiting, however.

- WE benefit because we can continue to consume FREE apps, and we get a much better implementation of ads.

- APPLE benefits because it draws more devs and they get 40% of the share.

- Best of all, the DEVS benefit because they can keep their apps cheap and still make some money on advertising from their 60% share.

Who ISN'T benefiting? For those of you who don't want ads at all, then hopefully devs will still release versions of their apps that are ad-free that you just pay more for up front. The key to all of this is if it's done right and consistently.
 
At first I was against this, because I had ads in my products, until heard more about it. Now I think this may be the best way for everyone.
 
Travisimo said:
Thanks for your comments. I think it's more than one party that is benefiting, however.

- WE benefit because we can continue to consume FREE apps, and we get a much better implementation of ads.

- APPLE benefits because it draws more devs and they get 40% of the share.

- Best of all, the DEVS benefit because they can keep their apps cheap and still make some money on advertising from their 60% share.

Who ISN'T benefiting? For those of you who don't want ads at all, then hopefully devs will still release versions of their apps that are ad-free that you just pay more for up front. The key to all of this is if it's done right and consistently.
Click to expand...

Yes the free app is always a good thing; however, iAds or not, free apps will always exist. Why? Take Labyrinth HD. The developer can say so much of the app to make you buy it. Also, reviews don't cut it when you have to spend your money. So what to do? Offer a trial app, Labyrinth Lite for free. Let the end user taste it and savor it. Like it? There is a bigger paid version; don't like it, doesn't matter, it was free.

See the beauty of this? But yes, I see your point. A point Steve nailed well for many, just not for me.

Apple always benefits, and good for them, but not for me, I get $0. :(
 
jav6454 said:
Yes the free app is always a good thing; however, iAds or not, free apps will always exist. Why? Take Labyrinth HD. The developer can say so much of the app to make you buy it. Also, reviews don't cut it when you have to spend your money. So what to do? Offer a trial app, Labyrinth Lite for free. Let the end user taste it and savor it. Like it? There is a bigger paid version; don't like it, doesn't matter, it was free.

See the beauty of this? But yes, I see your point. A point Steve nailed well for many, just not for me.

Apple always benefits, and good for them, but not for me, I get $0. :(
Click to expand...

In your case it has no impact at all :cool:
 
I've got to admit... when iAd was announced yesterday my reaction was very much 'meh' but I've had some time to think about it and I'm actually looking forward to it. Did I really just say that?

See here's the thing: I don't mind adverts. At the end of the day they often bring my attention to products or services I may otherwise have missed and are, after all, only a starting point for me going and looking for more information. What I hate though are bad adverts that get in the way, distract from what I'm doing and, most importantly, have no relevance either to me or what I'm doing at that particular moment.

With iAd I can see the potential for adverts to actually become useful again. The Toy Story 3 example they showed in the keynote was a good one: provide information on the product, give you some content to play with, maybe provide a free downloadable background or other trinket... and then take it a step further. Show me where it's playing and let me book tickets there and then. If it's a physical product show me where nearby has it so I can go look at it. Hell, take it a step further and let me have a 'wish list' I can add products to so that I've got a handy reference guide for later when I want to look stuff up.

Just so long as viewing the ad is optional and that it doesn't take up too much space (and, linked to that, isn't intrusive in any way) then I'm not only fine with this but looking forward to what is actually done with this platform. Plus all the obvious benefits of supporting free or cheaper apps etc etc.
 
Not only that but I think the ads are going to be fun if done well. That Toy Story 3 ad is better than a lot of apps that were made to advertise a movie. :D
 
Wow.. I had no idea.

You see before iAds I didn't know I needed to whiten my mortgage and refinance my teeth. I'm so happy that Steve Jobs gave us iAds. :D

We will see how much this pans out. I might be convinced to jailbreak my phone if advertising in applications can be disabled with an OS modification. I hope they're working on AdMob ads too because the little banners are obnoxious in the worst way.
 
iAds are great for:
Developer - another revenue stream
Apple - gets a piece of the new revenue stream

iAds are horrible for the:
the consumer - After paying a monthly fee to ATT for being able to use the phone, and purchasing an application, the consumer is also going to get inundated with applications that now have apps.

It used to be that ads help support developers who gave away their apps, not so anymore. many developers will be adding this crap in the applications, regardless of how much $$ I paid for it.
 
Points to consider

1. This app was developed by APPLE. You're going to get a lot worse versions of iAds clogging up your favorite apps

2. If you pay, you shouldn't have to see the ads IMO

:)
 
iphonegeek786 said:
How does the developer that is hosting the ad get money. Please Explain.:eek:
Click to expand...

He doesn't get any $$ from apple but from the whom ever he contracted to display the ads.

Presumably apple will be expecting everyone to move the iads platform, so much so, I suspect that they'll not "approve" any apps that deviate from that,i.e., not using iAds but their own.
 
as a user and not a developer, the only effect iads has on me is positive. if i accidentally click an add it doesn't close my app. other than that i don't really care. i don't click on ads in free apps, and they don't bother me that they are there since they're usually only on the menu screen and the app was free.
 
maflynn said:
iAds are horrible for the:
the consumer - After paying a monthly fee to ATT for being able to use the phone, and purchasing an application, the consumer is also going to get inundated with applications that now have ads (fixed that for you, was 'apps' before).
Click to expand...

Right, so it's not like the fee to pay to AT&T goes towards something like, I dunno, calls and data?

Have you never bought a magazine or a newspaper before?

It used to be that ads help support developers who gave away their apps, not so anymore. many developers will be adding this crap in the applications, regardless of how much $$ I paid for it.
Click to expand...

My god, I don't think we need to concern ourselves with heaps of ads anymore...it seems maflynn has travelled from the future where iAds has flooded or 'inundated' all of us with ads. I'm totally not buying Real Racing HD anymore, it seems like there's gonna be ads in it.

Wow @ the FUD.
 
No time travel needed - just using common sense.

Nor is it FUD, just seeing how developers can leverage another revenue stream and going whole hog.
 
I guess I don't really care if the ads are in free apps, but I should not be expected to see them in any apps I purchase.
 
brothermatt said:
I guess I don't really care if the ads are in free apps, but I should not be expected to see them in any apps I purchase.
Click to expand...

this. in my previous post i didn't really consider it an option that someone charging for apps would then also fill that paid for app with ads. i hope this doesn't become accepted by users as being ok, otherwise every app is going to have them.
 
jayenh said:
this. in my previous post i didn't really consider it an option that someone charging for apps would then also fill that paid for app with ads. i hope this doesn't become accepted by users as being ok, otherwise every app is going to have them.
Click to expand...

If developers want to put ads in paid apps that has nothing to do with iAds. Some already put ads in paid apps right now (ex. Shopper) but most of them don't. There's not reason why iAds should change that.
 
I agree with the people saying that if you pay for an app there should be no ads. One of my biggest hates in the world is that you pay $14 to go to the movies and have to sit through 20-30 minutes of ads (which is similar to paying for an app and having to see ads)

My main concern with iAds, and i'm not a developer or software writer of any kind so correct me if im wrong, is that it will make putting ads in apps easier and more enticing. Meaning that apps that may not have had ads before iAds will now have ads just because its easy to do so.

Also unless Apple is designing every ad there not all going to look or run as well as the nike and toy story ones.
 
I'm not a developer so at first I was 1000% against this. I mean, we're inundated with ads EVERYWHERE these days; the iPhone has always been a relative sanctuary from intrusive advertising, at least in using the apps I use most often. However, once I saw the implementation of it (the Toy Story ad was the one that really got my attention), I can see the merit. I'm sure I won't end up clicking on every single one I come across, but if they can make the ad even a little bit entertaining and useful then it'll be tempting to check 'em out.
 
- Developers won't put ads in paid apps (it would be suicidal of them to do so)

- iAds will simply replace Admob for most developers, so most people will actually just get a better implementation of something that's already there.

- I suspect developers will be paid on a CPM basis (i.e they get paid according to views, not clicks). This will encourage developers to create better apps that are 'sticky' (used frequently).

I honestly can't see anything negative about iAds when you're comparing it to the current alternatives. I think a lot of people are assuming these are going to be thrust upon them regardless of what they are using - they're not.
 
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