Phoxware

There’s a growing anger among iPhone app developers at the current state of affairs. For many devs the game seems to be rigged and not in their favor. Their hopes of getting established as little software shops, maybe even big shops, are getting thrown about by the realities of the work that must come after their apps are released. Most paid apps are getting just a couple of downloads a day. Hardly enough to build a going concern on.

Playing on that anger are recent posts from TechCrunch on how Apple could potentially bankrupt devs and are treating them like dirt. There’s nothing surpising in this because it’s normal TechCrunch style to create a stir.

Everybody needs to just calm down…

If developers came into this market to start and build a business then they also had long-term goals in mind. They got into it for the long haul and were prepared to commit the time, effort, and money into growing their businesses. But if they got in to get rich quick then they’re probably ticked off right about now.

These same developers may have created games for the iPhone and understand the need to put some challenge into it, else they lose their users. Likewise, growing a business involves challenges and coming up with solutions.

Think about the Palm Pre coming to the market this summer. Could Pre do to the iPhone what Facebook did to MySpace? Perhaps, if Apple doesn’t get their act together. When fart apps make it to the #1 paid app spot then there’s something wrong. If Apple doesn’t fix this then we, as developers, can focus our efforts on any of the new touch platforms just waiting for us with arms open wide.

Developers, there’s no need to panic and throw in the towel here. And don’t get too caught up in hyped media reports. They’re just doing what they do.

It’s finally starting to hit main street that the App Store review system is busted. PC World has a scathing article here and it’s reprinted on MacWorld here. We’ve pointed this problem out ourselves here.

The gist of what’s going on is developers are 5-starring their own apps while 1-starring the competition. Not just one time, but with 5 or 10 iTunes accounts. Yesterday I saw one app just released with 32 5-star reviews all written in the same style with no gripes. Each user had written exactly one review, a review for that app. Obviously they were fake.

The motive is to deceive the public and that’s why it’s unethical. Many of the developers contacted for the article seemed brash about the whole thing. Some even admitting what they’ve done. If it’s not a big deal then why do it? Here’s one example:

InfoMedia CEO Joel Comm counters that he doesn’t see anything wrong with a developer’s posting an anonymous review of a competitor’s app. “If people purchase the app, they can do whatever they want within the guidelines of the iTunes review system,” Comm wrote via e-mail. “I see no reason to disclose that you are a competitor.”

A new app needs to get traction after it hits the App Store. It’s a critical time in its life. So if its first few reviews are 1-stars with negative comments then it may get killed before it even gets a chance to catch on. Negative reviews beget more negative reviews.

This shameless practice only further confirms the need for independant app reviews like we and others are doing. You can help support our efforts merely by linking to us and adding our feed to your reader. Much thanks for your support!

Tausendstern, a not so memorable developer name, has a different approach to earning dollors (or euros) off their apps — sell the source code.

I came across this outfit while doing research on budget apps for our own upcoming iBudget. Tausendstern has a budget app but it’s not very good. By that I mean not complete, not full featured. It seems they did just enough development to get it through the App Store inspectors. In fact all their apps are like that.

Their website shows nine apps available on the App Store and they’re all free. The screenshot here is for an app which is supposed to simulate an artificial horizon used in aviation. Problem is it doesn’t work. It’s just a bubble level type app with a 2D image of a 3D horizon bubble. And it’s pointless and it’s useless. In fact all their apps are like that.

Here’s the kicker: you can buy the source code to all these apps for a mere EUR 29.95. The intended audience is new iPhone developers who need a little help getting started. That explains the low-quality we’re seeing from this outfit. It seems these apps were developed with the intent of selling sample source code. Some developers may find that usefull, but there are other free sources available.

Apple’s developer portal has about the best sample source code available and has probably become the basis for most new starter apps. There’s also appsamuck which has samples to demonstrate core functionality not touched on by the Apple portal.

Developers need their apps for the iPhone to get noticed if they’re going to have any chance of catching on. With the flood of stuff hitting the market lately there’s little chance of standing out. Therefore many turn to any number of iPhone app review sites which feature submission forms developers can use to get their app reviewed.

We’ve tried that also.

I was a little surprised by the response from one site, a well known site. They requested that we pay 50 dollars to get our app reviewed. This fee would “expedite” the process and ensure we get a review. Yet no where on their web site do they disclose that they’re get paid per review.

We didn’t pay and our app didn’t get reviewed.

It seems the opportunists have setup shop. So much for ethical reporting.

If you’re looking for some fun with friends, Lametard IQ has the answer. It’s basically an idiot test and you may already have seen the questions, but do you remember the answers?

Good for a few minutes of fun, and it’s free, so why not!

Enjoy.

Update: We have removed Lametard IQ from sale in the App Store.