Rumor: Pay to re-download iPhone/iPod touch apps

This change really only enforces the five computers/unlimited devices TOS that already exists for content downloaded from the iTunes stores. Inhibiting re-download for free on the device is a way to tie purchases to the computer such that the "unlimited devices" are more reasonably likely to be owned by the iTunes account holder.

This prevents sharing authorizations without authorizing a computer.

I predict we eventually see iPhone/iPod Touch device authorizations implemented in a similar way to iTunes authorization on the desktop.

I've discussed this in a bit of detail on my own blog:

http://timcommandments.com/2009/06/01/is-sharing-iphone-applications-across-computers-and-devices-illegal/

i share my app store login with 3 other people so we only pay once for an app. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Is there a way to auto-filter comments that say 'I've already seen this on x site.' 'OMG journalistic integrity' and 'OMG you misspelled...'

On second thought, there wouldn't be much left to read.

@Adam - Thanks - the rest of us honest users really appreciate how you have encouraged Apple to screw us.

App syncing is a nightmare because you can install and delete apps right on your phone, slipping out of sync with iTunes. When you do finally reconnect the device, it becomes an infuriating waste of time to try to figure out what you don't want iTunes to helpfully delete or install - because iTunes wants to always sync all apps based on its own checked or unchecked list. (Plus, app syncing takes forever if you have a lot of large apps and don't sync that often.)

If Apple doesn't want us to have the same app on multiple devices on the same account, then iTunes shouldn't allow it either. But it does - therefore, I must assume it's valid to have an app on multiple devices, and preventing redownloads on the phone is simply an inconvenience imposed by the geniuses at Cupertino.

Apple could handle the problem by tagging downloads to authorized devices in addition to the app store login - rather than forcing me or my wife back to iTunes to redownload something.

That, or at the very least allow manual app syncing with iTunes the same way you can manually manage music. That wouldn't fix this annoyance but it would decrease the pain of app syncing immensely.

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what their intentions and how much they feel they need to do this; it's *TOO* inconvenient for the customer; people will become outraged by what seems like an arbitrary requirement designed to get more money from users.

Apple is doing this to avoid piracy. People like me go to settings, erase all settings, let a friend log into their app store account on my iphone, and then have them download all their apps onto your device for FREE.

Aple must have caught on.

That's actually pretty fair. Given that most of the apps are only USD 0.99 and other more advanced once also below USD 10. Developers invest a lot of time in developing these apps and so they also deserve to get payed for it.

Franz

http://photonzone.net/

Let’s hope Apple won’t block us to re-download the apps again in the computer iTunes. Apple, it is not easy for me to backup those purchased apps.

Dave Caolo, falsely claiming random things since the SmashMyiPod article.