I continue to see posts around the net from developers wanting Apple to enable demo versions of apps on the app store. I think it's a bad idea, and if implemented, will lead to complete armageddon on the app store... and a huge loss in revenue for Apple and developers.

Here's why.

Pinch media recently posted a presentation on app store trends. On page 13 there's a chart showing paid app usage over time. After just under 11 days, 90% of users no longer use an app.

Image copyright Pinch Media

Now imagine that you had a 7-day trial for an app. You've seen all the app will do, played through the game from start to end, finished every level. There's nothing more to see. What reason is there for you to buy it?

Granted, 7 days is a long time in appsville. I'd say 24 hours is more realistic. But according to Pinchmedia's stats, 70% of users don't use an app even after day one.

How many of your apps do you still use regularly? Would you still buy them after having used them for a few days?

Personally, I prefer the current situation: the developer can create a lite version (their "demo") of the app and post it on the app store. This way the developer chooses which features to include in the lite version. The developer can craft it in such a way that compels users to buy. ("The Amulet if Yendor is just beyond this door! But you'll have to upgrade to get it! Click here to buy the full version of DungeonCrawlies!")

And similarly the user can decide if they want to try the lite version, or just go ahead and pay a few bucks for the full version.

I love demos, don't get me wrong. I expect a demo for a software application that costs $30, $50, or $100 or more. But I don't expect a demo for a 99-cent app on the app store. At current app store prices, an app costs as much as a can or two of soda. The entire app store model right now is that of a cheap treat, a throw-away bit of fun. And that's fine. But if all apps have full-featured-but-time-limited demos, then a lot of apps will make nothing at all. And developers will have to raise prices on apps to make up for the loss.

That $2 game sure was fun, but would you still have bought it after having played it for 24 hours? What if it cost $10? $20?

I hope that if Apple does decide to enable demos, they make it optional for developers. This way the developer can choose whether to allow a time-limited demo, or to create their own lite version.