I am writing an app for a band. It must be possible to purchase their music from within the app. Here are the options I am considering:
1) Purchase music as an in app purchase. Not very useful because AFAIK the music files cannot be exported to the ipod music library and are only playable within the app. I could kind of get around this by giving the user a URL from which they could then use to download the songs themselves but does apple block this kind of approach - is it seen to compete with the itunes music store?
2) Simply link to an album in the iTunes store. Not ideal as it takes the user out of the app. If I did go this route is it possible for the app to get a confirmation that the purchase went through or at least have the store bring my app to the foreground once finished with the purchase? Alternatively I suppose I could search the iPod library by artist from within my app to determine if they have purchased something by the band.
3) Are there any other options?
Linking to iTunes seems like the best step here, especially for the user, as this allows them to use the tracks across devices, and makes your life much easier when it comes to piracy limitation(links can be shared extremely easily) and also wont piss Apple off.
As for confirmation of purchase, I really have no idea, searching through the library could work I guess, but they may not have downloaded the track yet etc.
2.21 of App Store Review Guidelines states, that apps that simply a song should be submitted to iTunes store.
Related
After search several apple documents and websites, I feel that apple only allow to read media data from ipod-library.
Is there anyone confirm about this ?
Is it possible to implement the feature to delete media from ipod library ?
Regards,
Soontak Lee
No, if someone shows you the hack still I would not recommend as your app will be likely to get rejected by Apple. It's a violation of sandboxing. An app does not have power to add or delete from data from another's app's sandbox.
Would you feel okay if third party app developer creates an app which lets user deletes data from your app?
I've seen a lot of questions out there looking to play music from the user's library on the app, or to access iTunes from the app to download things, but I'm looking to do the opposite. I'm creating an app for a local band, and they are supplying 5 full length songs to include in the app, and I thought it would be a nice touch to include an option to download the songs from the app into the users iTunes library (at the request of the user of course). Is there a way to make this work?
Probably not. Apple doesn't want you in there, because you could have the ability to mess some things up. If you've ever used a ringtone app, they actually have you copy the ringtones onto your computer, and then reinsert them onto the device as a ringtone, because the app doesn't have access to the ringtone section, so you probably can't do that with songs. I know you don't want to hear this, but you're better off just putting the songs onto the iTunes Store and then putting a link in your app to the songs on iTunes.
I am very new to developing apps on the Iphone (In-fact I am new to application development all together). I would like to know what the feasibility for an idea for a app on the iphone is.
1)The application would allow users to download content (audio or if possible video files) onto the device.
2)Each of these files will need to be purchased before downloading, at a fixed price.
3)The user can then play the downloaded files on the device.
Is such an app possible to be made on the Iphone?
If so can anyone give me pointers on how the payment procedure should be, and how revenue will be shared with apple?
From what you described, that sounds very possible.The users would pay you directly through a credit card for the files.
If you are already a registered apple-Developer, have a look at the InAppPurchase(IAP) ProgrammingGuide in the iOS-Devcenter.
The purchase of any content must be handled through IAP.
This is written in the App Store Review Guidelines, Item 11.2 (Because I'm new, I can't provide a link. Sorry for that)
It is not possible that users pay you directly.
Is it possible to buy content from itunes store via iPhone app? Does apple allows to purchase stuff from iTunes using iTunes API? And is there an ability in the API to do that? Thanks
NO, it's not possible at this time.
You can buy in-app content like additional levels for games or additional books for ebook readers. You can not use an application to buy another app or song from iTunes but I saw many app linking directly to the store.
If you do this your running app will close (or go to the background) and iTunes on your iOS device will open. I guess it is done very simple with just the right kind of hyperlink since desktop applications and websites can do it too.
I want to make an app where every single item is unique. I could not find out much information about the Store Kit in iPhone OS 3.0. Do I have to upload all these download-items to the App Store? Or can the download be made from my own server?
Example:
I have 10 items in my app that people can buy. They are highly exclusive, so the one who buys item X, will be the only one who's got that item. after the purchase it's not available anymore.
Do you think it is possible to do that?
I would suggest re-asking this question on the apple developer forums - the 3.0 API is under an NDA and cannot be discussed on a public forum like this.
That said, I would imagine the in-app purchases are held to the same standards as app purchases - each item that you offer for sale must be approved by Apple.
My gut feeling is that the store kit is used to handle the transactions/purchases but you'll have to host your downloads on your own server. OR I suppose another method is to include all files in the app to start with (or in app updates), and that buying stuff merely unlocks that data. I think Burnout Paradise for the 360 does this. That's probably how someone can buy a car to use in game that someone else can see in multiplayer even if they haven't bought it.
I imagine I'll probably create a google app engine site and host my downloads there. That way the game can be more flexible. DLC content wouldn't be dependent on app update approvals.
I'd like to the have the option to host the files in the app store. That would be convenient. :)