Comments on: App Store Re-Ordered, Developers Still Daunted

By: Judie

Judie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:30:12 +0000

Marc, I was a Windows eWallet user and LOVED the app for its ease of data entry and update. Since, alas, there was no eWallet available via App Store for the iPhone, I just plunked down my $9.99 for SplashID. I hesitate to enter all my data, though, because the entry is so cumbersome…not nearly as smooth and efficient as eWallet. Now I hear that eWallet may be coming and I should’ve saved my $9.99–I will wait patiently until that wonderful day when eWallet finally appears and pay whatever you ask so I can have my eWallet efficiency back. Thanks for hanging in there, Illium, don’t give up!

By: Rene Ritchie

Rene Ritchie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:12:47 +0000

@Marc:

Thank you very much for writing in, expanding on, and explaining your situation. Part of the problem, no doubt from both a user and developer perspective, is the newness and opacity of the system (not that opacity is new for Apple!)

Hope to see your app in the store soon, I'm sure many are waiting on it.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:07:45 +0000

Marc,

Yours is a different story. I understand where you are coming from completely. My comments were directed to people complaining about slow update notifiers, poor reviews, and talking of boycotting the store because of it.

If you are in the queue for upload, they should absolutely keep you notified of what is going on. No question.

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:05:12 +0000

I'm the guy from Ilium Software quoted in the article above. Please don't assume that developers are just complaining. In fact in my blog post that Rene quoted, I stated:

"I’m not going to complain about Apple yet. I’m sure they are swamped. "

We're very aware of the monumental task Apple is taking on. The reality though is that we (and other companies I'm sure) have thrown 6 months of full time development at these applications (ie: paid people to work on only this for 6 months). Add in website design, demo videos, marketing, test devices, and the other staff required to make all this happen, and you start talking about a BIG chunk of change for companies like us.

Now we're more than willing to accept the risk because we love the iPhone. The challenge though is that right now we're flying blind. With absolutely no feedback, contact, and no insight from Apple into what is happening we don't know when (or if) we're going to get into the store. In addition, competing applications are already in the store giving them a distinct advantage in the market.

So developers aren't just being critcal of Apple. There is a lot riding on this launch for a lot of people and lack of communication can make it extremely nerve wracking for folks who have invested a lot of money into this.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:22:11 +0000

I don’t even think it will take a year. I figure the App Store will be a far smoother machine in 3-4 months.

By: PC

PC — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:20:13 +0000

People need to relax. This is still better than any Palm application site or Blackberry app site. This is one place to get all your apps, and properly for the IPhone. Things will work out within a year or so, but in the meantime, enjoy the ride, with a few potholes, the IPhone has a great suspension.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:16:22 +0000

I think some of the developers need to chill a moment. This is App Store 1.0...

I am not saying they have no grounds to be upset, but it is completely new. Give them some time to work out the kinks and fine tune the things that couldn't be fine tuned in beta.

By: Computermilk

Computermilk — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:15:25 +0000

I think everyone , including the Devs of said Apps just need to take a CHILL PILL for a minute.

We are talking about the largest cel phone roll out ever. EVER period. In my opinion Apple has done a fine job, GIVEN that fact.

Just chill out for a freaking moment, and expect to see patches and updates fixing everything soon enough.

They are human beings for christ sake and not machines. Everything that the iPhone is all about is still 5-10 years ahead of everyone in terms of technology. I'm happy i have it, and the Crashes of Apps don't bother me. Why? because i know it will be fixed soon.