Update: Lonely Planet says it cut price of iPad app to help reach new audiences.
Guidebook giant Lonely Planet has cut the cost of its new iPad app to $10 after stinging criticism from users.
The 1,000 Ultimate Experiences app was launched on the same day as iPad devices went on sale for the first time in the US.
A procession of negative comments on iTunes and other sites has coincided with Lonely Planet since axing its original download price of $17.50.
Lonely Planet officials have yet to explain why the price was cut so dramatically and so quickly following the launch of the app.
The app currently has a rating of 2/5 on iTunes, with many questioning the download price.
One commenter wrote:
“This is a $1.99 app, $2.99 at most. Nice photos with very few videos, but you can find similar information on Flickr and the web. I believe the developer is trying to take advantage of early iPad adopters. I, for one, feel like I was taken advantage of by spending $19.99 for this app.”
There is also a question mark over the only two positive comments on iTunes. Both rate the product 5/5 but were left prior to the app being released on iTunes and the launch of the iPad device on Saturday 3 April.
NB: Will update article when Lonely Planet responds officially.
“Both rate the product 5/5 but were left prior to the app being released”
That pretty much blows their credibility out of the water if found to be true.
That said, slashing the price days after the release is pretty face slappingly bad anyway.
If they have any PR sense they’ll be issuing refunds and making a statement asap.
Dave
@LWH – we are still waiting for their official response re. why? and regarding the odd reviews on iTunes.
will update the story as and when we get some detail.
That’s really too bad I think. Lonely Planet had a perfect example to raise the bar for other paid content developers. They have the technical ability, the rich content, videos, and photos to put together an amazing experience on the iPad, one worthy of charging $20. As I have mentioned before, I wouldn’t think twice about spending that kind of money for the app if it is as amazing as I know it could be. If it is just a simple e-version of the paper book then removing the printing cost (ie. cutting the price is half) is appropriate.
Come on Lonely Planet, I know you can do better than that. Knock my socks off with the next one.