Apple transforming into a major airline
Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 2:14PM 
So back during Macworld Apple announced that it would offer another app on the store to control Keynote presentations from your iPhone or your iPod Touch. They also mentioned that it would cost $0.99 as a purchase. Ever since that announcement (and even during if you were watching our live coverage of the event . . . if you weren't I highly recommend you tune in for WWDC later this year) I've been confused. Why does Apple insist on nickle and diming us for enhancements like this. At first I thought it might be one of those crazy accounting rules that mandates Apple charge for enhancements (like the iPod touch software upgrades), but that theory is out the door with the Remote app (it basically does the same thing as the Keynote remote but just for iTunes).
It just seems a bit airline-ish to charge me $0.99 after purchasing iWork for 79 bucks. Next thing you know the fancy backpack bags at the apple store are going to cost $0.50 or it'll be $1 just to get into the Apple Store. Just make the software $80 and throw in the remote app for free (you can even associate each piece of software a redeem code to make sure legit copies get the download and pirate versions are S.O.L.). At least this way I won't feel like I'm buying from a major airline. I would also think that Apple would want to further break away from the industry standard Powerpoint by offering an integrated remote solution leaps and bounds better than any offering (that I'm aware of) for Powerpoint. This remote app gives presenter notes and next slide view . . . very handy. Keynote is far superior to Powerpoint and the remote would easily help in its case . . . JUST MAKE THE APP FREE.
Reader Comments (1)
I have downloaded many free iPhone apps. I have never paid for one. Although I agree with you in principal, I suspect this is Apples play to get people accustomed to paying for apps.