While you might have spent plenty of time looking around for the best iPhone or iPad deals prior to buying one and finding that getting a discount on an Apple product is nigh on impossible, there is another area surrounding the iPhone where deals can be done.
The software, or apps, that run on this amazing phone really add another dimension to the fun and functionality of your handset – so is it a good idea to stick to free apps or spend a little more and get the paid-for version?
To buy or not?
Of course, after paying all that money for a shiny new iPad it’s very tempting to wonder why you should spend anymore with buying paid-for apps. However, the downsides of free apps are numerous.
You’ll often find that the gratis versions might come with trimmed down features, less functionality and will also be dogged in many cases by persistent advertising within the interface that can be annoying after a while.
If you splurge and go for the full paid-for version of an app you’ll probably get the instant benefit of more features, better usability and a lack of advertising.
If you’re still not happy about shelling out for a piece of software then keep your eyes out for the many deals and offers that often come along on apps. For example, you may find that a developer has unveiled a new app and is trying to get it reviewed and enjoy positive feedback.
So, in that respect, you may well find that they offer the new app at a discount rate for a certain period of time. This can be really useful if you get in early and explore the charms of the new app.
However, with untried apps, there can also be potential for bugs and other software glitches that often don’t get ironed out until the app has been more thoroughly tested. And it’s often the users that do a lot of that for the developers. So, bear that in mind if you’re heading into uncharted app territory.
Sign me up?
It’s also a good idea to ponder for a while over the ethical reasons for using paid-for apps. The internet is a huge place and you can get most things for nothing if you search hard enough, but it’s worth sparing thought for the developers who produce these apps. It all takes time, even if you’re only using a pared down version of a sophisticated chunk of software.
If you want to encourage these developers to continue working and producing the apps you really need, then it’s well worth offering them some form of payment. After all, nobody really wants to work for free and, if you check out reviews of apps before buying then you can generally rest assured that what you get should be worth the asking price.
