RSS Feeds
Software
Microsoft Says All Xbox Live iPhone Apps Gotta Be Free
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2008
Microsoft hasn't released its own Xbox Live iPhone app (and we're kinda thinking they won't), but it's definitely cool letting developers fill the gap, on one condition: They can't charge for the app. Of the three Live apps in the App Store, two are free right now, though iLive still charges US$1.99, even though it has the worst interface of the three. Microsoft can boss them around 'cause they're all getting Live info through the Xbox Community Developer Program. Either way, that works for us. [Joystiq]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
aeroworks
Posted 12:08 PM 20/8/08
Micro$oft. Should learn from there competitors and screw the pooch. ;)
aeroworks
Griffehpoo
Posted 12:04 PM 20/8/08
@illutionz: Think it mostly has to do with the fact that you can obtain the same information these apps display through Microsoft's website for free.
Griffehpoo
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Posted 12:03 PM 20/8/08
And before someone says it, yeah, I know free!=open source
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Posted 12:03 PM 20/8/08
YAY Microsoft Open Source Community!
Wait, wut?
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
illutionz
Posted 11:48 AM 20/8/08
won't wanna give any penny to Apple eh?? So they can't topple M$' empire :)
illutionz
efenili
Posted 11:41 AM 20/8/08
you tell them MS!
efenili
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 11:30 AM 20/8/08
Ugh. Another reminder that I don't play enough video games. Great. On my iPhone.
OMG! Ponies!
Paradise
Posted 12:27 PM 20/8/08
@illutionz and aeroworks: your points are more valid because you spelled "Microsoft" with a "$" ... wait, "valid" isn't the right word.
@Griffehpoo: i think it's more that microsoft doesn't want people using their data to directly charge/make money from.
Paradise
aaj111
Posted 12:18 PM 20/8/08
Microsoft just won tons of points from me.
aaj111
saych
Posted 1:01 PM 20/8/08
M$: "Only I can charge money, no one else!"
saych
Griffehpoo
Posted 1:12 PM 20/8/08
@Paradise: That's what I'd originally meant to imply. That since they're already offering the data for free, they don't want someone else making a buck off it.
Griffehpoo
matt buchanan
Posted 1:36 PM 20/8/08
You had to show off your Gamerscore, didn't you Jason?
matt buchanan
SuppleMonkey
Posted 2:12 PM 20/8/08
Ha! This from the company that openly mocked other programmers for writing free software and started the whole "get paid for your program" thing.
SuppleMonkey
Jason Chen
Posted 2:07 PM 20/8/08
@matt buchanan: I showed off yours too!
Jason Chen
nosauten
Posted 5:31 PM 20/8/08
Ooooh. Dem's fightin' words. Go Bill--uh, Balmer!
nosauten
ttech10
Posted 7:00 PM 20/8/08
It'd be cool if there was a PSN version of this for the PS3, though I don't see a huge reason for either of the two apps. I mean... I've never been at the grocery store and wished I had an iPhone app that told me if 'poniesAREawesome' is online or not and what he/she is playing.
This isn't really big on MS's part but rather them covering their asses. I mean, it's free to view that stuff online so why let others charge for that access. And, I'm sure MS sees it as "if anyone is going to get money from these apps it's us". Not trying to bash on them, but that's just business... don't let other people make money off your services.
ttech10
Darascon
Posted 9:30 PM 20/8/08
Nice interface. Too bad the whole "what's the point" comes into play. Have to agree with tech10 on the whole issue. Unless you're that big into bragging about your e-penis that you need to have your size at the touch of a button... then YOU DESERV IT.
Oh, and grats on the 1k for Dead Rising. That game is hard.
Darascon
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 9:57 PM 20/8/08
@Darascon: Unless you're that big into bragging about your e-penis that you need to have your size at the touch of a button.
You do realize that this is for the iPhone, right?
OMG! Ponies!
Player4
Posted 12:45 AM 21/8/08
For people that don't get the point, I think this app is really useful, but not for checking who's online while you are on the road. It's just convenient when you want to see if any of your friends are online without having to power up your 360. Yeah, you could check the xbox website, but you'd have to log in and everything, which isn't nearly as easy on the iPhone/Touch. I am happy to get these apps for free.
Player4
witnessx
Posted 4:20 AM 21/8/08
I'm running WinMobile 6, yet there's no such app available. Lame.
witnessx