Free app re-downloads phased out with new version?
If this is true, it’s liable to make some iPhone users a little hot under the collar.
Beta versions of the iPhone and iPod touch 3.0 firmware indicate that convenient, free re-downloading of App Store purchases directly to the phone will be phased out.
Previously purchased apps can still be re-downloaded for free through iTunes and then synced, so most Apple watchers are guessing the move is an anti-piracy stance against iTunes account “sharing.” There’s liable to be many customers that will groan loudly anyway, accusing Apple of all manner of evil, closed-door policies.
Still, if you’d like to avoid the hassle, you might want to re-download any apps you’ve spent money on now, before the 3.0 firmware drops (presumably after the June 8-12 Worldwide Developers’ Conference when the new version is announced formally).
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It sucks…….they just ruined some of the reasons people bought the iphone.
If that was THE reason that ANYONE bought the iPhone, they have their priorities all fudged up! LOL
It DOES suck, and now with XBox allowing free “redownloads” on any XBox with the same account, makes this decision seem kinda backwards.
I don’t think it’ll be long before they allow it again, if they even go through with it.
This would only lead to more piracy of apps..there should atleast be a system that you can redownload apps for free on the same iphone..
This does indeed suck. I like being able to re-download apps that I have already paid for. Safe in the knowledge if anything happens to my computer or iPhone, I could restore my apps easily.
Stupid move by Apple imo.
You will still be able to get your stuff in iTunes so its not a biggie
As long as you backup your itunes folder like every good boy and girl should, then you simply plug in your iphone to your computer, go to the apps tab in itunes and select the items you want to put back on the phone – then sync. 30 seconds later, job done, no bother.
It certainly isn’t a reason to buy or not to buy an iphone because a) you haven’t lost anything, b) it didn’t cost you anything to put any deleted or lost apps back on your phone from itunes and c) the iphone has no competition anyway.
I can garentee everyone this will not happen. My iPhone team has noticed this and determined it is a bug. It will be fixed before the WWDC.