378: Whale Quench

Scam Tactics

App developers often face scams disguised as promotional opportunities. Marco Arment shares his experience with a company that promises to feature apps on a cable TV show, but demands thousands of dollars for a low-quality video segment that airs at obscure times 1. These scams prey on developers' desires for exposure, offering little in return. Casey Liss and Marco discuss how these offers are misleading, with inflated claims of audience reach and dubious YouTube channels 2.

You pay them to make kind of an infomercial about your app and nobody will ever see it.

--- Marco Arment

Such scams highlight the need for developers to be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited promotional offers.

   

Free Requests

Unsolicited requests for free app copies are a common nuisance for developers. John Siracusa notes that these requests often come in the form of automated emails, lacking genuine reasons for needing the app 3. While some requests may be legitimate, such as those from reviewers, many are simply attempts to collect free apps without any intention of use 4.

I started to think, what is the benefit of, mechanically, through some automation, simply sending every single developer on the app Store a free request or the application?

--- John Siracusa

This phenomenon underscores the challenges developers face in managing their interactions within the app ecosystem.