Most apps for smart phones, whether iOS or Android, are relatively inexpensive. They are certainly cheaper than the programs for PCs and Macs over the past decade or so. As computing power increases and memory gets cheaper, software seems to pick up added bloatation, so it’s also nice to see powerful applications in a streamlined package.
Even though streamlined, powerful apps are fairly cost effective, there is on trend that bothers me – the “In-App Purchase.” You purchase a cheap application, or perhaps find a free one, only to find that inside the app you have to purchase additional components to get it to do what you want. I’ve found this to be the case with photography and music-related apps quite frequently.
For example, TC-Helicon’s VocalJam app is $6.99 in the app store.
By itself it’s a pretty good program. However, if you try to click on the effects buttons on the left side, you get the following message: