Wow! 10M Pirated iPhone Apps Downloaded!

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Why are people still talking about the food analogy? It doesn't matter what analogy you use, it's still stealing. It's not a grey area, it's not ambiguous, it's just stealing. If the developer wanted to have a trial version they'd make a trial version. You guys can justify it all you want, but loading a paid app without paying for it is stealing. It doesn't matter what you're going to do with it, it doesn't matter if you think it's going to make someone even richer (as if someone being rich already is a valid reason to steal their product), and it doesn't matter if you deleted it 10 seconds later. It's still stealing.

I hope someone spreads a hugely malicious app masquerading as an iTunes paid app onto the torrents so people's phones get absolutely destroyed. Now that would be funny, and completely deserved.

 

[djwindsor]

My $0.02

I love the idea of a 30 or 60 day trial period. If you look at some of the MAC magazines virtually all the software in there has a website you go to and you download a fully operational copy of the program for a set period of time before it expires. I've purchased many programs this way. I can't imagine not having the luxury of a trial. Anyone that thinks we're not entitled to that is not thinking this thing through.

Now, with respect to APPs, I have been burned so many times by buying worthless APPs on the APP store. I decided I had enough and now I download software through other means for evaluation purposes only. For the few bucks that these APPs cost, I am not going to stiff the developer who needs to get paid for his work. I have no guilt in what I do because I am not stealing anything. If I like the program I pay for it and then I get the automatic updates (if there any to be had). If the program does not meet my expectations, I delete it.

One program comes to mind that I recently downloaded. They did not disclose in their description something that I considered very sneaky. The name of the program was called RECEIPT and what you do is take a photo of a receipt and then the software crops it and makes it all nice and neat and converts it to a PDF and uploads it to their server. You're only allowed to post 100 receipts!!!! If I bought this program I'd be very pissed!!!

I can go on and on and we all can debate this forever, but in my mind, this is how I choose to get around the issue of trial periods. Heck, even Cydia does trial periods for some of the stuff they sell commercially.

 

[alFR]

I must say I feel safer with my money being able to "try" before I buy.

<snip>

Hacked apps are MY protection as a consumer without them I would have NONE.

If only there was some massive network of interconnected computers, spanning the whole world, on which people could post their opinions of products they've bought so that others who are considering a purchase can read them. Maybe with screenshots and stuff, a "review" if you will. Oh, wait...

 

[army91c]

If only there was some massive network of interconnected computers, spanning the whole world, on which people could post their opinions of products they've bought so that others who are considering a purchase can read them. Maybe with screenshots and stuff, a "review" if you will. Oh, wait...

Yeah awesome argument. What does YOUR opinion or any one elses' opinon matter to me when it's my hard earned money buying the app? Anything else to add? Tell you what... next time I won't d/l the hacked app but will email you for the $ to buy the next app I might want to try out... You up for that? Ill shoot you my PP addy.

 

[alFR]

Yeah awesome argument. What does YOUR opinion or any one elses' opinon matter to me when it's my hard earned money buying the app? Anything else to add? Tell you what... next time I won't d/l the hacked app but will email you for the $ to buy the next app I might want to try out... You up for that? Ill shoot you my PP addy.

Good to see that the art of reasoned debate isn't dead. </sarcasm>

I rest my case.

 

[jimN]

My word, the thread started as someone complaining about the extent of piracy on the iPhone and has gone from being a defence of piracy to people extolling the pirates' virtues as an army of people selflessly promoting these apps.

You can defend what you do until the cows come home but I'm not even sure you're able to convince yourselves of the merit of your actions. Plenty of software programs do not offer trial versions and many apps have had lite versions released a few weeks after the initial app hits the store. So, you can wait and you'll likely get a chance to try the app legitimately for free or you could wait for enough reviews to materialise for a consensus to emerge. But you'd rather steal and likely as not fail to reward developers for the work they have done. I look for day when you guys grow up, get jobs and then don't get paid for the work you've done. Maybe then you'll realise that without remuneration these people will stop developing and then you'll have no apps to download, free or otherwise.

 

[army91c]

Good to see that the art of reasoned debate isn't dead. </sarcasm>

I rest my case.

My debate is perfectly in line... what part of "I am spending my money on an app so your opinion or any one else's for that matter means NOTHING to me" is confusing to you? Sorry you can't grasp simple concepts but that isn't really my problem. I found a few new apps I want to try out.... You ready to fork over the dough?

 

[charliehustle]

If only there was some massive network of interconnected computers, spanning the whole world, on which people could post their opinions of products they've bought so that others who are considering a purchase can read them. Maybe with screenshots and stuff, a "review" if you will. Oh, wait...

i could read all I want about a car, but I still would test drive it..

 

[dejo]

i could read all I want about a car, but I still would test drive it..

What if dealers didn't offer test drives? Would you then go out and steal a car in order to test drive it?

 

[iUser4Lyfe]

What if dealers didn't offer test drives? Would you then go out and steal a car in order to test drive it?

Ridiculous. No ne would buy a car wihout test driving it. Also, due to he lemon laws if you bought a car with the expectation that it will work and it doesn't you get you money back.
Furthermore, if there was some magical place that soldcars wihout allowig you to test drive, I wouldn't buy the car. All you did was provide hackers another analogy which validates most if their assertions.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Yes, im a bad person. I illegally download apps. But thats because im underaged and i dont have credit card.

So buy an iTunes gift card like everyone else.

Heaven forbid you have any intellectual property in the future.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Heaven forbid you have any intellectual property in the future.

Unlikely.

 

[alFR]

My debate is perfectly in line... what part of "I am spending my money on an app so your opinion or any one else's for that matter means NOTHING to me" is confusing to you? Sorry you can't grasp simple concepts but that isn't really my problem. I found a few new apps I want to try out.... You ready to fork over the dough?

It's not confusing to me at all, I just don't agree with you or think you're putting forward a logical argument to support your opinion.

I'd be very surprised if you've never bought anything based on a review or anyone's opinion - never tried a dish in a restaurant or a beer based on a friend's recommendation, for example? Still, I guess you'd just leave without paying if you didn't like it?

p.s. I'd like a new MBP, but there's no Apple Store near me for me to look at one. Care to send me the cash for that? No? Want me to just read reviews and make my own mind up? Then I guess we can stop with the stupid "send me the money for apps" argument now, can't we?

 

[BNZ1]

Actually the Android Marketplace deals with this situation very well. Decide you don't want the app within 24 hours and delete it and you won't be charged - sounds pretty fair to me. Then at least it'll weed out all the crap that just clogs up the App Store.

That is exactly what I want, and I put it through the Apple feedback request form a while ago. Requesting a 24 or 48 hour try before you buy period on ful versions. If you have not removed it within the time you are charged.

Especially now that apps (navigation) are getting pricy. How am I supposed to know what I prefer? Had I gone with the reviews I would have bought Sygic but after "trialing" Sygic & Navigon last weekend I prefered Navigon & I bought it.

I am also a developer and I have made no attempts to prevent this in my app development. I believe the issue needs to be addressed via the App Store. Taking the attitude to just shut down the crack sites will never solve the problem, even if that is ethically the right thing to do...?

The crack sites as far as I am concerned are just the consumer telling us they dont like the current setup. Sure there will always be those prepared to take without paying but I believe this issue is more than that.

 

[BNZ1]

What if dealers didn't offer test drives? Would you then go out and steal a car in order to test drive it?

Yeah people would I am sure. Fortunately the Auto industry saw this as an opportunity to upsell people on the product, not an issue to be fixed with big barb wire fences.

 

[bruinsrme]

That is exactly what I want, and I put it through the Apple feedback request form a while ago. Requesting a 24 or 48 hour try before you buy period on ful versions. If you have not removed it within the time you are charged.

Especially now that apps (navigation) are getting pricy. How am I supposed to know what I prefer? Had I gone with the reviews I would have bought Sygic but after "trialing" Sygic & Navigon last weekend I prefered Navigon & I bought it.

I am also a developer and I have made no attempts to prevent this in my app development. I believe the issue needs to be addressed via the App Store. Taking the attitude to just shut down the crack sites will never solve the problem, even if that is ethically the right thing to do...?

The crack sites as far as I am concerned are just the consumer telling us they dont like the current setup. Sure there will always be those prepared to take without paying but I believe this issue is more than that.

Yeah people would I am sure. Fortunately the Auto industry saw this as an opportunity to upsell people on the product, not an issue to be fixed with big barb wire fences.

Interesting points of view from a developer.

I download the cracks to test drive them. On my apps page there are 85 paid apps and 43 free apps, zero cracks.
Out of the 85 paid apps I have 31 apps in which some share the same functionality that I deemed did not meet my needs or liking. That over $50 spent based on reviews and one or two screen shots.
Developers still ge my money but not before I get a crack at using their program

 

[charliehustle]

So buy an iTunes gift card like everyone else.

Heaven forbid you have any intellectual property in the future.

in canada, you can not use the itunes gift cards towards applications.. only movies and music..

I learned that after opening my christmas present..

 

[charliehustle]

It's not confusing to me at all, I just don't agree with you or think you're putting forward a logical argument to support your opinion.

I'd be very surprised if you've never bought anything based on a review or anyone's opinion - never tried a dish in a restaurant or a beer based on a friend's recommendation, for example? Still, I guess you'd just leave without paying if you didn't like it?

p.s. I'd like a new MBP, but there's no Apple Store near me for me to look at one. Care to send me the cash for that? No? Want me to just read reviews and make my own mind up? Then I guess we can stop with the stupid "send me the money for apps" argument now, can't we?

the problem with your argument is that, even in a restaurant, if the dish you ordered does not taste, smell, and look like the way it was advertised, you have the right to send it back, either get another plate, or get your money back, I work in a high end restaurant, and that is how it's done.

you can't believe everything you read, so just reading the reviews of an app that may or may not be legitimate reviews in the first place isn't going to give you the exact details of what the app is like..

this actually allows developers to write good reviews for themselves, take some nice screen shots, and expect people to hand over money..
why should I trust some developer and think the app is going to work the way he says it will??

if you allow people to delete apps within specific duration of time after downloading, this will result in less lies in reviews, and will ultimately result in better applications because developers can't cheat customers with an enticing screen shot, or 3 reviews that all say the "app is amazing"

 

[vanakaru]

What if dealers didn't offer test drives? Would you then go out and steal a car in order to test drive it?

Once again it is not the same. Correction - Would you then go out and MAKE A COPY of a car in order to test drive it?
I have bought about 30 apps while looking for specific feature. Of these I keep only 10, but the feature has not discovered jet. I wish I went the pirated way. Mostly because I asked the devs a question before and only few answered, so I feel my money has gone to the persons I would have not given a penny.

 

[iPhone 62S]

can we please STOP comparing this to ripping movies. JUST STOP. Ripping a movie is like taking 0.000000001 cents out of the pocket of some multi-millionaire production company CEO.

"OMG, if enough people do this he'll have to wait 2 extra days to make enough money to buy his $400,000 Bentley. OH THE HUMANITY"

A massive portion of the apps on the appstore are just regular joes, trying to make enough to make a living. There's a big difference between stealing movies and stealing apps. I choose do do neither, but i really don't care if some guy pays $5 to rent a movie and then decides to record it. I do however, have a problem with people stealing apps

Couldn't agree more with both of your points there!

I read a article saying that one app developer has a anti-piracy system on their apps that detects if the app is pirated and enters into a 30 day trial mode. That's the way they should all do it IMO.

 

[GeneralP]

What if dealers didn't offer test drives? Would you then go out and steal a car in order to test drive it?

No But I have RENTED a car for a week before I bought the exact same year make and model. AND Got the Dealership to pay for the rental.

 

[bbotte]

funny the $99 Tom Tom App has been hacked and offered for free download already.

 

[The General]

What if dealers didn't offer test drives? Would you then go out and steal a car in order to test drive it?

No, but if it were possible to make a duplicate of the car, without removing the car from its owner, I would.

Pirating apps ≠ stealing apps.

The developer still has his source code, no matter how many people infringe upon his copyrights.

 

[SpaceKitty]

funny the $99 Tom Tom App has been hacked and offered for free download already.

TomTom was cracked and offered up for download 2 hours after it hit the Apple store. All of the GPS apps have been cracked just hours after they hit the Apple store.

 

[GeneralP]

I have also had luck with sending Apple an Email saying that the Ap did not perform as advertised and I am displeased with it and my money was refunded to me