[edwinnathaniel]

Will this also increase the piracy number of paid apps?

One segment of the app market that will definitely rise to a new level is online game that support virtual currency. I know many people in Asia (not just in China) are not shy to open their wallet for virtual items but still resort to piracy when it comes to regular games (NFS on iPod/iPad, etc) and apps.

There are businesses in Asia that specialized in jail-breaking your devices and stock them with pirated software and the service is dirt cheap.

Imagine the following scenario: you bring your newly bought iPod/iPad to a store, you pick 10 games for $3 bucks total (numbers are there for illustrative purpose), you leave your devices there for 1 hour or so while mommy goes shopping, come back and have everything there!

[coob]

> Will this also increase the piracy number of paid apps?

Yes, also expect product piracy ('recreated' apps by Chinese developers using stolen assets). We have had this happen already, and Apple have been shoddy at responding to it.

[beatle]

There are two types of consumers.

-People who are willing to spend a lot of money on a device they love (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) will spend money on apps.

-People who got their 2nd-rate, poorly built device (most android devices) for free from their carrier or for $50 from a flea market. They are not going to spend money on apps and are most likely to pirate apps/content.

[whatusername]

So since I got a iPhone 4S for "free" am I the second type of user? The way apple works in the US is not the same as the rest of the world!! The iPhone is available (since launch) on every carrier in Australia. For $0 upfront. Does that make it 2nd rate?

[huggyface]

There are two types of consumers.

There are two types of commentators-

-People who naively bisect a hugely complex, graduated marketplace

-People who understand it's far more involved than that.

Seriously, though, I think it's a bit perverse to see all of the proud boasting about the spend of iOS owners -- it often amounts to less than $100 per user, where $2.99 is considered an expensive app. Is this really the future that developers were hoping for? Dancing for pennies, hoping to be that incredibly rare break-out viral hit?

[beatle]

let me guess. you're a web developer threatened by the explosion of apps on mobile devices?

[huggyface]

Your original comment was the sort of partisan garbage that HN does not need (leave it to the Engadget comments), and I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Now, however, your stripes are a little too obvious.

[beatle]

pls. answer the question. it will give us perspective of where you're coming from (why you hate apps).

[huggyface]

Are you this boorish in real life?

I don't "hate apps" at all, and your claim to that effect makes you look a little juvenile, continuing your bizarre "bisect the world" fetish. Nonetheless in a discussion where you herald the spend of iOS buyers (the devices are "expensive"? They are some of the least expensive options in their respective realms), it is kind of humorous considering the actual reality that most iOS users in aggregate spend very little. Just tried to load up my new iPad and it was actually difficult to get much past $75...a few days ago I spent $600 on Vegas Pro for the PC.

[georgieporgie]

Downvoted for being rude and combative. The parent comment contained nothing that would lead anyone to such a strange reply as yours.

[beatle]

Agree. I apologize.