AppleInsider Staff
By clicking the drop-down menu next to "Buy App" in iTunes, users now have a new option entitled "Gift This App." Selecting it accesses the "Give a Gift" page, which allows users to type in the recipient's name and e-mail address. It also gives the opportunity to add a personal message of up to 500 characters.
The gift can then be printed and physically delivered, or e-mailed to the recipient via the automated form. Gifts can only be redeemed in the store country from which the gift originated.
Users first noticed the new feature Monday when Apple updated its App Store Terms & Conditions. The update added a "Gifts" section to the App Store terms, while modifying them in the iTunes store.
The terms note that gifts cannot be used for in-app purchases, upgrades or to update the iPod touch OS.
Andrew O'Hara
Malcolm Owen
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
18 Comments
Really nice but why the heck can't we gift to other countries?
Darn, they're 6 days too late. I needed to gift an app last week and had to buy a $10 gift card and instruct the recipient how to buy the $3 app I wanted them to have. \
A nice marketing wrinkle, but still doesn't address the glaring problems with the App Store, namely navigation, speed and reviewing of Apps.
It's like Apple is trying to train the next generation of computer users to remember and judge apps by icons alone. Sure this works with a static set on a users device, as eventually they come to remember what a icon stands for. But to locate new apps out of a 150,000 like that is a pain in the arse.
Until one can search graphics like they can words, they better think of going back to good old text descriptions on the main pages, loads faster too. Leave the icon for when a user downloads the app later and needs a visual reference.
Really nice but why the heck can't we gift to other countries?
Think about it. Probably because of the complexities of currency exchange rates, taxes, customs regulations, etc. Too much trouble to be worth it, and for possibly small potential demand.
Think about it. Probably because of the complexities of currency exchange rates, taxes, customs regulations, etc. Too much trouble to be worth it, and for possibly small potential demand.
Because it would hamper developers from charging more or less in different economies or selling their product in areas developers don't want to support.Some moron would gift their English only app to some bloke in China and all hell would break lose.
Finger licking good thought for the day:
One out of 10,000 chickens on average is born half rooster, half hen.