Comments on: Really? Nearly Half of iPhone Jailbreakers Pirate Apps?

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:32 +0000

There is another aspect to this too. I've downloaded the pirate app only to crack the free apps I've downloaded from the App Store. One example is CineXPlayer. It's free but there are rumours about that it will be pulled from the app store because of contravening Apple's policies. Apple has become bit of a fascist regime in the way they've been controlling the use of the IOS platform. I know a lot of people who are so disgusted with Apple's policies that they refuse to buy anything from the App Store as it will give share to Apple too.

By: mizuhri

mizuhri — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:29:05 +0000

In reply to Lance F.. That's what he saying, the can't put it in other stores. Apple won't allow them thus is why he doesn't support the app store.

By: mizuhri

mizuhri — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:26:28 +0000

Sadly I might start getting my apps from somewhere other than the app store. I have always bought apps since the first day you could buy them. Yesterday I was targeted with over $100 in app purchases using my account. It wasn't by me and it sucks. I'm currently waiting on iTunes or PayPal to hopefully refund me. I didn't have $100 in my bank and now I am in the negative and owe the bank even more money because I didn't have it. I have to blame the app store for this since the articles I read about some devs putting in code to take passwords. I am afraid to link anything to my account again. I will probably end up going the gift card route but it just angers me.

By: John Steele

John Steele — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:08:51 +0000

I think its reality and its not unique to iPhone.

For every paid version of Microsoft Office I've seen in the wild, I've seen at least 5 that were "alternatively obtained".

Its also not unique to software, think of music and video. To me it becomes an issue, when would be inspiration/innovative projects/people are missed because the value (either perceived or financially) for their work has become so diminished.

I think you have a combination of generational expectations and ease of convenience. I bet the iDevice piracy rate would really drop if users had to really mess with the innards of the system instead of just watching a YouTube video that links an app that will do all the heavy lifting for you. The tech tweens really have grown up with light hacking and modifying being commonplace… Remember Game Genie or hex-editing your saved Sim City files? Combine that with a generational move toward free (we can get HD TV legally for free) we can get a constant flow of legal videos through YouTube, we get our news through free apps, we can get tailored radio (Pandora and others) for free education for free (iTunes U)… In fact, right now, how much did your web Browser cost? Notice a pattern? Its not hard to see, that this generation continues that free mindset into music, video, and software.

I am sure I'll get blasted for this, but as an alternative way of looking at this consider: What if technology actually cost more? Maybe, if you paid $5 for your web browser and YouTube videos were even 5 cents a viewing or $1 an hour paying may become more second nature, and that everything-is-free mindset would be transformed to a cost-benefit-trade-off mentality?

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:31:17 +0000

I, myself, would NEVER used a cracked / pirated app…. apps are cheap and the try before you buy is a fair system. In addition, I've not experienced even ONE time when I had to pay "too much" for upgrading an app. There are usually MANY new features if you have to pay for an upgrade.

By: Lance F.

Lance F. — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:06:29 +0000

In reply to Ferret. As far as I am aware, offering apps via both the App Store and alternate means is against Apple's developer agreement. If found out, the developer's app will be removed from the App Store. As only a small percentage of users jailbreak (unfortunately), one can understand why most developers go with the App Store.

By: Max

Max — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:28:31 +0000

I always see developers fudging piracy numbers if their app sucks and they want to act like the big victim. I'm against piracy completely and as far as I know, these devs are full of shit. Everywhere I read, people are against piracy so it looks like this 4% number came out of that person' ass.

By: Ferret

Ferret — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:21:19 +0000

I flat out refuse to support the app store. Offiicial apps (even free ones) I only ever download 'illegally', all my Cydia and Rock apps I happily pay for. To me, smart money for app developers on the app store would be to also support alternate stores and publish there. Sadly it mostly seems to mostly be the case that only the scorned devs consider alternatives.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:43:15 +0000

There`s a repo for that, sinfuliphone repo does nothing but cracked cydia apps so the whole pirating thing does get around.

By: Weebsurfer

Weebsurfer — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:27:25 +0000

I've read MANY posts that a lot of jailbreakers end up jailbreaking AND downloading pirated version of software because they are just plain fed up with downloading and paying for one version of the software and then getting hosed when a new major revision comes out. Dowloading version 1.8 or 1.9 to be told you're paying for 2.0 is a bit of a kick in the nads. Also, on top of that, many have been screwed by failed license transfers to new versions.

How's about the downloading of hacked versions of Jailbreak Apps? there's one that will come up and cause mixed emotions. especially for Mr. Jobs. watching the hackers fight to the death 😉

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:10:18 +0000

I do so i can try something, if i like it i buy it, if not i just uninstall straightaway. If there were a proper try before you buy system in the app store it`d be so much better. You only have to see the amount of negative ratings in the app store to see how many people are disappointed in their purchases. If the app store was a high street store you`d be able to get a refund and not have leaving bad feedback as your only recourse

By: aflorence

aflorence — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:43:47 +0000

It's very disappointing to see these numbers but I'm guessing they're probably right. The particular pirating app makes it so easy to rip off devs.

Not to say it was acceptable but I used to get bootleg versions of Photoshop because, as a 14 year old, it was ridiculous to think that I would ever have anywhere near $300+ to blow on a piece of software. But, I grew up, got a job, made money, and paid for all my software. With the low prices of iDevice software, it seems that these pirates would steal no matter the cost. I only hope that they are mostly poor kids who will grow up loving software and spend mad money on it when they grow older like I did.