Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch developer “tools look awesome — far better and more advanced than what most Mac developers were expecting,” John Gruber writes for Daring Fireball.
“The tools are, unsurprisingly, Mac-only. It’s a new version of the same Xcode and Interface Builder (and performance tuning) apps that Mac developers use today. This has the potential to do for Windows developers what the iPod did for Windows users — move them to the Mac,” Gruber writes.
The iPhone/iPod touch games will “make the iPhone analogous to the Wii, in that it opens up new concepts in game UI design,” Gruber writes.
“Apple’s 30/70 split with developers is steep, but initial reaction from the developers I follow on Twitter seems to be positive,” Gruber writes. “The reasons developers are willing to accept a 70/30 split are simple: convenience and exposure… The $99 fee for getting your app listed in the store is a no-brainer. A bummer, perhaps, for the student set, but I suspect it’s intended as a bozo filter to keep the process from being inundated with glorified do-little “Hello World” apps. (I’m almost certain even freeware apps require the $99 listing fee — although that fee is per-developer, not per-app.)”
Gruber writes, “In short, what developers lose per-transaction from Apple’s 30 percent take, they can more than make up for in volume. This is going to be a gold rush.”
More in the full article here.
Other developers please chime in on this, but I heard other “Palm” software sites charge the same split as Apple has just done for the iPhone.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Well if the guy listened to Mr J in the first place he would have realised that developers set the price of the App not Apple so they lose nothing if Apple takes 30%.
Think about it. If they want $100 for their App they just have to set the price at $143 and they get the $100 they wanted in the first place.
Fair enuff innit!
I didn’t think about the first part… Moving developers to the Mac. Damn, makes this even bigger.
The iPhone nickle and diming us to death has officially started.
How much did your iPhone cost?
Well, with all the extra apps….$10bazillion or so.
@British Mac Head
Of course you are right, and it seemed pretty obvious to me too. I guess some tech writers and programmers don’t understand the concept of building distribution costs into the product pricing.
And those newly moved developers will, by virtue of the iPhone’s Cocoa API, be steps away from being Mac developers. I see potential for a large increase in Mac software alongside the tidal wave of iPhone software.
@ Wally Wallet
What an idiotic remark. No iPhone user has to spend one nickle or dime on any of the applications. The software update is free, many apps will be free, and no one is twisting your arm to buy applications.
There… I fed the troll. Couldn’t help it.
@wally wallet
Your right. Developers don’t deserve to be able to buy food and shelter for their families.
To my friend Wally Wallet above. You take the award for the most pathetically sad post ever.
Look forward to a Mac sales bonanza…
That 30% pays for the credit card transaction fee (usually around 5%), plus bandwidth, a store presence, etc. So it really isn’t a profit making system for Apple. It’s actually quite fair.
Because people can be inherently impulsive, this method of making apps available on the iPhone and iPod touch represents a tremendous opportunity for new developers. Ever notice all the crap at the checkout aisle at the market? … that stuff is there for a reason. By making it easy to find, buy and download the apps at the Appstore, Apple is providing developers an opportunity to make [more] money than they would otherwise having to sell the same app on their own individual website.
Those who can’t see this as a benefit probably never had to actually market an app or fail to take into consideration the value of the exposure it provides developers.
Gruber really got it right about … “In short, what developers lose per-transaction from Apple’s 30 percent take, they can more than make up for in volume. This is going to be a gold rush.”
Think about it, would you rather have 100% of the profits on LOW volume sales (after paying all the expenses to market and deliver) or 70% of HIGHER volume sales (net).
This is a Small Developers dream. I’ll focus on developing great apps and let Apple handle the marketing, delivery and transaction expenses… all for 30% and I get to set the price. Cool.
Wally Wallet,
Like all of the apps from Handango or whatever it’s called are available for free.
Why does everyone want a successful Apple so long as they don’t have to pay for it?
” . . . it’s intended as a bozo filter . . .”
One of those here would eliminate 97.3% of the comments.
Bozo filter eliminate 97.3% of the comments?
That leaves me, ChrissyOne and DL-whatsherface as the only posters who would get to post comments on this forum. I’m getting tiresome and DL is a bore. That leaves ChrissyOne as the only one worth reading.
Your potential. Our passion.™
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I. LOVE. THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so totally NOT sure what ZT meant. Maybe “C1 is worth listening to cuz she lets you look at her chest”? Oh. Wait. Can’t SEE her chest. Must be something else.
So … someone else saw the reprise of the Monkey Dance. I wasn’t going to mention that … so sad!
Dave
@Zung Tang Get a reawakening, make the switch, and trash can the ridiculous comments and you MIGHT have a chance to get C1 to look in your direction. And that’s only if you’re lucky.
Wally Wallet…
Dang it, I bought this computer and now someone wants me to spend money for Final Cut? Or Office? Or ProTools? Or Quicken?
And that TV? Man, now I got to pay the cable company every month. And my phone? I bought that dang phone at Walmart. It’s mine, mine, mine, mine. Now the phone company wants to charge me for service.
Oh yea, you’re paying upwards of $50 a month for wireless service and you’re worried about a few $10 – $20 programs here and there? You got the wrong phone, as in, stick to a land line phone.
“You got the wrong phone, as in, stick to a land line phone.”
Like two cups and a long string?
Anyone complaining about the 70/30 split is an idiot.
There is no upfront distribution cost, no going out and selling yourself, your application or even your soul. You set the price knowing apple gets 30% for hosting and distributing.
It is totally fair.
@British Mac Head
Think about it. If they want $100 for their App they just have to set the price at $143 and they get the $100 they wanted in the first place.
For someone coming from the country where they publish The Exonomist, you are apparently ignorant of economics. I guess you’ve never heard of the price-demand curve; or while I might buy it at $100 dollars, I might not buy it at $143.
You are a snivelling git.
s/b The Economist
My apologies to that publication.
However, British Mac Head is still a snivelling git.
The $99 is not for listing!!
And in other news… Zune SDK… (hahaha)… yawn.
Now now chaps, settle down.
Be nice. Everyone can have their opinion.
Even the smarmy puss-bucket qka.