Apple to charge for redownloading apps from the App Store over the air?

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 12th 2009 at 10:42AM

If you're on an iPhone right now and you see this picture here, you probably have an overwhelming feeling of doom in the pit of your stomach right about now -- or at least you should. Our tipster noticed that this message appeared while redownloading Google Mobile -- not the end of the world, since Google Mobile is free and all, but it's a strong hint that Apple will at least be giving devs the option of charging every time their app is redownloaded over the air, even to the same device from the same iTunes account. We've seen the message ourselves, only with free apps so far, but it's definitely something that could end up making the ownership experience a little more expensive in the future. Good thing for the 32GB iPhone 3G S, we guess, where you'll never have to delete a single app in your life if you don't want to -- but regardless, it's extraordinarily lame move on Apple's part if it ends up staying in there.

Filed under: Software, Apple, iPhone OS

Tags: app, app store, apple, apps, AppStore, iphone, redownload

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Edd Morgan @ Jun 12th 2009 10:54AM

This will only apply to apps that were purchased using another device. Like, if you purchased something on your old iPhone and tried to redownload it for free on your new iPhone, it would charge you. You can still do it completely free from iTunes. This is a technical limitation, not Apple trying to screw you.

Very misleading headline.

Highly Ranked

Chris Ziegler @ Jun 12th 2009 11:02AM

What'd be even more misleading is the message itself. That and the fact that we've seen it on the same device.

Highly Ranked

Edd Morgan @ Jun 12th 2009 11:10AM

(I didn't mean to imply it was intentionally misleading.)

I've been running iPhone 3.0 (have had the same device for a year) since it was seeded to developers and have never seen this message. There have been plenty of occasions where I've redownloaded an app that I've paid for already without trouble.

I think the language "this device" is very telling. Perhaps you are using the same device, but a different device identifier than the one used for the original purchase (even if the app itself is free, it's still a purchase) is being sent to iTunes for the purchase that raises this message.

Neutral

Chris Ziegler @ Jun 12th 2009 11:49AM

Fair enough -- I've tweaked the headline for clarity's sake to reflect that this is an OTA-only situation.

Neutral

murmermer @ Jun 12th 2009 1:16PM

I love my iPhone almost as much as I love my wife, but this is proof that the ipod/iPhone needs to be able to sync apps with your CPU over wifi!!!!

is their any difference between it being connected by a cable vs. being connected by wifi?

Neutral

Guest @ Jun 25th 2009 3:13PM

@ murmermer
It charges when it's connected via cable to the computer, and the data would probably sync faster.

Neutral

digitalrio @ Jun 12th 2009 10:57AM

Although I had this msg appear while on Beta 5 numerous times.. it does not appear anymore on the final developer version...

Neutral

painted_dog @ Jun 12th 2009 11:06AM

Does OS3.0 still have the 148 app limit? If there may the possibility of getting charged to download again i really would like to be able to have more apps than 148...

-painted dog

Neutral

Dangeruss @ Jun 12th 2009 11:30AM

It's my understanding that you can now create 12 pages (total of 196 apps).

Highly Ranked

BrokenReel @ Jun 12th 2009 11:10AM

This was changed about two weeks ago, this applies to over the air downloads only, you can still reinstall your apps from iTunes on your PC or Mac for free.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/05/31/apple-to-start-charging-for-re-downloading-apps-over-the-air/

Highly Ranked

brokensticks @ Jun 12th 2009 11:13AM

LAME!

Neutral

Adam @ Jun 12th 2009 11:49AM

What bothers me is that this message is showing up for FREE apps. Even if you don't have to pay, this screen shouldn't be showing up right?

Kind of goes against Apple's "It just works."

Highest Ranked

John @ Jun 12th 2009 11:51AM

You guys really expected anything different from APPLE!?!? LMAO

They want to charge for simple OS updates, won't let you sync with anything other then itunes and rip off their customers at every turn with fine print longer then the declaration of independence!

Highly Ranked

marco @ Jun 12th 2009 11:59AM

This is a great way for Apple not to move the iPhones out the door...

Keep this in place Apple... YOU will only help your competitors haha!

Idiots!

Neutral

stalkythefish @ Jun 12th 2009 12:14PM

This sounds more like it stems from a carrier's desire (AT&T, I'm looking at you) to nickel and dime for bandwidth, as opposed to Apple doing so for software. It wouldn't surprise me that in order to get AT&T to allow OTA purchases, Apple had to cut them in on a slice of the pie.

Highly Ranked

ravensfan55 @ Jun 12th 2009 1:35PM

......Except for the fact that the screeshot was taken on an iPod Touch. Plus it applies to cellular and WiFi. If you want to play the blame game, Apple is the target in this round.

Neutral

Dangeruss @ Jun 12th 2009 12:48PM

As BrokenReel mentioned above, this was designed to close an app sharing loophole. The app could be purchased once, then downloaded on other phones by logging in as the original purchaser.

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murmermer @ Jun 12th 2009 1:19PM

@ Chris (best editor for Engadget)

You should have posted this on the lead engagdet site and not just the mobile site!!! I love reading all the Apple haters respond with how everyone is a "troll" and needs to do what they say in order to be a sane person... It's like watching the elections in Kenya but without all the "Click Click"

Neutral

va jj @ Jun 12th 2009 1:30PM

another attempt from apple to make extra dough.

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TitaniumMan @ Jun 12th 2009 5:30PM

If it's up to the developers, then i simply won't buy their apps.

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Ramin @ Jun 12th 2009 1:39PM

With everything that Apple is doing, I think they are digging themselves a hole that's going to be difficult to come out of. Originally, they released the iPhone and it was almost the first of its kind...by that I mean it was very user friendly, they had already setup the base for iTunes and syncing beforehand so people were comfortable switching over, and it worked "out of the box". I owned an iPhone for a few months before giving it up because I just couldn't do what I wanted to do with it like I could with WM. Then when Android came out I used that and loved it. iPhone OS is just not something that is going to take mainstream because they don't listen to what the consumer wants, they tell the consumer what they want, and eventually people will get tired of it. Any company that does this can only last so long because of the hype (and the great marketing Apple has). Releasing the SAME phone 3 times is not going to keep you in business. People want variety, people want to configure settings, themes, wallpaper, and have access to the phone how they want to.

There will always be a place for the iPhone for people who "think" they're technically inclined and want the "latest" and "greatest", but looking around, there are many other options that are much better.

Neutral

Amon @ Jun 12th 2009 5:55PM

this sucks

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JOEFRAN @ Jun 12th 2009 10:14PM

I got a wife and two kids. We all have iPhones. That's 4 iPhones. I use my macbook for syncing my iPhone and the three of them use the family iMac with there own profiles to sync their iPhones. We all use my iTunes Account. How will this affect me and my family? If this is coming in 3.0, i will be pissed off. Any advise will be helpful.

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