"My inner software developer winces, and fears, both professionally and personally, that the ever-growing number of such low-quality apps will eventually make it pointless for developers to invest in creating a ConvertBot or Instagram."
Gimp, OpenOffice, and Linux didn't hinder the popularity one iota of Photshop, MS Office, and Windows (or OS/X) respectively. In fact, the free stuff augments the consumer need for high(er?)-quality alternatives to the free stuff.
That said, I don't think Dash of Color from FreeTheApps even dented Color Splash, which has been cemented in the top 20 overall paid apps for as long as it's been released. Nor has their FilterFX Free app displaced Hipstamatic.
There is _absolutely_ room for low and high quality apps in the App store, as there is room for quality software applications and repackaged GPL apps ported to Windows sold to people who don't know it's available free. Or, for that matter, the Big Mac and the $25 Kobe beef burger.
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"My inner software developer winces, and fears, both professionally and personally, that the ever-growing number of such low-quality apps will eventually make it pointless for developers to invest in creating a ConvertBot or Instagram."
Gimp, OpenOffice, and Linux didn't hinder the popularity one iota of Photshop, MS Office, and Windows (or OS/X) respectively. In fact, the free stuff augments the consumer need for high(er?)-quality alternatives to the free stuff.
That said, I don't think Dash of Color from FreeTheApps even dented Color Splash, which has been cemented in the top 20 overall paid apps for as long as it's been released. Nor has their FilterFX Free app displaced Hipstamatic.
There is _absolutely_ room for low and high quality apps in the App store, as there is room for quality software applications and repackaged GPL apps ported to Windows sold to people who don't know it's available free. Or, for that matter, the Big Mac and the $25 Kobe beef burger.