Mac users who use Twitter know that a new twitter client has recently latched for the iPhone/iPod touch called Tweetie 2. As of this post Tweetie 2 has been a trending topic on twitter and number 2 on the paid app list. 
The developer Loren Brichter of Aetbits, LLC has been a very popular person because of the firestorm of charging another $2.99 for his new twitter app instead of offering it as a free upgrade.
According one blogger on the Just another iPhone blog he says, "My thought is that this is a very,very,very Bad Call. I just can’t find a way to think of this as anything less than spitting in the face of existing Tweetie users."
Britcher has said in a recently MacWorld podcast that he designed Tweetie 2 from the ground up as a new app and there is no way to do a paid upgrade via the app store. Former "Who's the Boss" start Alyssa Milano a self-proclaimed twitter addict found out that it will not be a free upgrade and tweeted " Booooo!!". This triggered an uproar from the iPhone developer community that a celebrity would say this.
But Milano's tweet underscores the app store dilemma--no paid upgrades. That said, no paid upgrades on App Store is a major fail and as apps get older this issue is going to keep coming up. Developers like Brichter and others can't offer free upgrades for life. I am sure "Uncle Steve" will address this at the next apple gathering. This is the now the elephant in the room that Apple can't ignore.
Comments
Apple has shown they're entirely capable of ignoring not just elephants in the room, but also hippos, mammoths, and even a flatulent brontosaurus. :-)
Sorry, but I fail to see how this is such a "major" delimma for Apple. While they may try to mitigate these happenings, I think it is ultimately up to the decelopers to choose how they want to go about updating their apps and product offerings.
Anyone who is begrudging Loren $2.99 should be ashamed of themselves.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!