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Free and Low-Cost Apps http://t.co/rgbcFQps

“It’d be a shame if the mobile software industry devolved into some horrific hybrid of Zynga and Facebook.” http://t.co/rgbcFQps

@drbarnard Good post. The biggest problem is users don't understand that 99 cents is only possible for mainstream, bestsellers.

@manton and "you make apps? I've got this idea, we'll make millions". Most people have a *complete* disconnect from reality in the App Store

@drbarnard I'm still not clear what you want Apple to do. Raise app prices? Reduce competition? Raise iOS device prices? @mpanzarino

@counternotions I've given up on Apple doing anything about it, but for reference, check the bottom of this 2009 post: http://t.co/eoobl7hZ

@drbarnard Good points, but won't change the inevitable value prop: mobile = high volume @ low price.

@counternotions but most of us aren't selling consumables &  won't let us charge for updates. *Temporary* high volume, permanent low price

@drbarnard @counternotions But developers know that going in. Why not price up to capture what you might otherwise gain from paid upgrades ?

@Lessien @counternotions I do price up, $5 is "extremely expensive". I've lost tons of ground to competitors at lower prices.

@Lessien @counternotions If there's one thing I'm still hopeful for, it's that Apple will somehow better facilitate app trials.

@Lessien @counternotions That would help support higher prices for niche apps as users could try several and pay more for the best app.

@drbarnard It's futile to worry about the competition. Have you built a good business and relationships with customers? That's what matters.

@Lessien I think you underestimate how skewed the market is, especially for niche apps. Visibility in the App Store is what drives sales.

@Lessien and the way rankings and search work, lowering an app's price is a great way to get better visibility.

@Lessien an app like Angry Birds may spread through word of mouth and goodwill, but growing sales for niche apps is all about visibility.

@Lessien the damn Mirror app I built now gets almost 3k downloads a day because I changed the name to Mirror ◎ (search ignores glyphs)

@drbarnard I don't underestimate it. I'm arguing that success isn't always about hitting grand slams (e.g. the "Two App Stores" post).

@Lessien Ah, that was a great post! Re-reading it now to refresh my memory.

@drbarnard The open question is whether visibility must come at the expense of financial viability. Price is just one factor.

@Lessien True, I've been spinning my wheels trying all sorts of stuff when I could have been more focused on polishing/extending my apps.

@Lessien but the volatility of the App Store scared me away from investing in niche apps with obvious revenue ceilings & no paid updates

@drbarnard Barring changes, IAP is a reasonable course. But, fundamentally, App Store dynamics discourage devs from milking single apps.

@Lessien and I'm acutely aware that the gold rush wont last. I've wanted to generate a bigger short-term success to help long term stability

@Lessien “milking single apps,” or lovingly crafting and expanding on apps that bring value and/or entertainment to a loyal userbase