In App Purchase Hacks

Here’s an interesting way to hack IAP in the AppStore, reported by Kevin from ablepear.com.  Am surprised this is possible.

  • Group: iPhone Developers - www.iPhoneintouch.com
  • Subject: New comment (14) on “Are “in app” purchases successful?”

I especially like the model that Storm 8 impliments – and it’s a strange one indeed, but works around a “limitation” of the in-game “store-kit” limitation. That is to say that, as Steve Jobs said, “Free games remain free.” So there should be not charge to this. Well Storm 8 has a series of games that have made it into the top 10 several weeks running. The game is free, but there is a certain type of currency that you can purchase “in-game”.

The currency comes in the form of an additional app you download from the App Store, basically the same app with a little hook to say that your account has downloaded one of it’s packages and to add a certain number of “coins” to you main account. Once this has happened you can delete the “second” game or the “first” as they are both the full game.

A very interesting use of the app space and somewhat bypasses the in-game purchasing.

HOW TO: Organize Your iPhone Apps with iTunes 9

Check out the Mashable story for full details.

What really goes into an iPhone project

Drew Crawford has written an excellent article How to find an iPhone developer that describes some of the details involved in building an iPhone app and dispelling many common myths.

  • All you have to do is find a developer
  • No, your app is not “simple”
  • The good developers are always busy
  • But this five-star company on eLance offered to make my app for $10!
  • How to find a developer
  • If you don’t have $5k, walk away