Reading Reflection

While I found Chapter 8 of The Business of iPhone App Development fun to read, I also found it a little over the top. I understand that, like any product, it’s important to market your iPhone app well in order to gain an audience and for that audience to continue to grow. However, as far as I can recall, I have never seen any app advertised to the degree that Wooldrige recommends. In fact, other than iPhone commercials, I don’t recall any app advertisement, ever. Well, that’s not entirely true – I do see applications that supplement already well-known companies advertised on company websites, such as the Kindle app on Amazon.com. However, I’ve never seen a stand-alone app written about or talked about in any kind of traditional media or even non-tech-related blog. I’m also not sure that I agree that every app needs a web presence. Most apps on my phone either serve a function that I need in a mobile form or are a way to pass the time. One app that I use the most is “Words with Friends,” which is basically a version of Scrabble for the iPhone. Even though I use it several times everyday, I have no use for WwF website, or any other related content. I open the app, make my moves and then close it again. While I certainly agree that most users who pay for applications want to know their app was worth the money they spent, in most cases that money is only one or two dollars. They want an application that delivers what it says it will and work flawlessly – but I don’t think they require an entire website dedicated to it and its functions. I think the resources of any developer are better used constantly improving the application versus creating a presence for the application outside of the smart phone world.