Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Apple Raises Product and Developer Program Prices in Some Countries
With the new year, Apple has made a few price adjustments to its products and services, led by an increased yearly fee for the company's developer programs in a number of European countries, as first noticed by German blog Apfelpage [Google Translate].
The Apple-focused blog reports that German developers are now facing a €99 ($119) per year subscription charge for Apple's various developer programs, up from a previous €80 ($96) subscription fee. The price changes presumably affect all EU markets, as Apple typically has consistent pricing across member countries except for occasional differences due to variations in tax rates. Apple's developer programs are priced at $99 per year in the United States.
The price increase is also in effect for the UK, where the price has been adjusted from £60 ($92) a year to £79 ($121) as noted by 9to5Mac. Across the board, the European developer program has been about on par with or slightly above the cost in the U.S. when adjusted for currency rates. Following the weakening of many world currencies compared to the U.S. dollar in recent months, however, Apple's price increases in those countries will help reset the company's desired pricing matrix but increase costs somewhat for developers overseas.
Elsewhere, the prices of Apple physical products are seeing slight hikes in a few countries. Apple Toolbox reports Apple has increased the price of products like the Mac, iPhone, and iPod in Turkey, a country where the company's products are already among the highest priced in the world. And the increase in prices may not stop there, as the Turkish Minister of Economy recently announced a plan to gain favor for products made in Turkey by introducing taxes on imported smartphones, computers, and tablets.
A MacRumors reader has also pointed out that the Norwegian people will be facing higher prices for Apple products, with the new iMac with Retina 5K Display and iPhone 6 seeing 8.3 and 12 percent increases respectively. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display received the biggest price jump, going from 10,790 kr to 12,590 kr, roughly a 14 percent increase in the cost of the device.
Apple has been known to adjust the price of its products alongside fluctuating currency values, most drastically just last month when the Russian ruble saw a sharp drop in value, causing the company to temporarily shut down its Russian online store and return with significant price hikes days later.
Though far less dramatic, these price inflations seen in other parts of the world appear due to the weakening of the Turkish lira and Norwegian krone in recent months. Even so, it's not entirely clear why the company instituted the price change to these select few foreign markets, and whether or not other countries could see a similar price hike in the future, as many other currencies have also been weakening against the U.S. dollar.
The Apple-focused blog reports that German developers are now facing a €99 ($119) per year subscription charge for Apple's various developer programs, up from a previous €80 ($96) subscription fee. The price changes presumably affect all EU markets, as Apple typically has consistent pricing across member countries except for occasional differences due to variations in tax rates. Apple's developer programs are priced at $99 per year in the United States.
The price increase is also in effect for the UK, where the price has been adjusted from £60 ($92) a year to £79 ($121) as noted by 9to5Mac. Across the board, the European developer program has been about on par with or slightly above the cost in the U.S. when adjusted for currency rates. Following the weakening of many world currencies compared to the U.S. dollar in recent months, however, Apple's price increases in those countries will help reset the company's desired pricing matrix but increase costs somewhat for developers overseas.
Elsewhere, the prices of Apple physical products are seeing slight hikes in a few countries. Apple Toolbox reports Apple has increased the price of products like the Mac, iPhone, and iPod in Turkey, a country where the company's products are already among the highest priced in the world. And the increase in prices may not stop there, as the Turkish Minister of Economy recently announced a plan to gain favor for products made in Turkey by introducing taxes on imported smartphones, computers, and tablets.
A MacRumors reader has also pointed out that the Norwegian people will be facing higher prices for Apple products, with the new iMac with Retina 5K Display and iPhone 6 seeing 8.3 and 12 percent increases respectively. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display received the biggest price jump, going from 10,790 kr to 12,590 kr, roughly a 14 percent increase in the cost of the device.
Apple has been known to adjust the price of its products alongside fluctuating currency values, most drastically just last month when the Russian ruble saw a sharp drop in value, causing the company to temporarily shut down its Russian online store and return with significant price hikes days later.
Though far less dramatic, these price inflations seen in other parts of the world appear due to the weakening of the Turkish lira and Norwegian krone in recent months. Even so, it's not entirely clear why the company instituted the price change to these select few foreign markets, and whether or not other countries could see a similar price hike in the future, as many other currencies have also been weakening against the U.S. dollar.
[ 80 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
61 months ago
Developer program should be free. They already make money off of ads and app prices.
61 months ago
This isn't about the money. This is about having a separation between developers who are not willing to pay anything (that's my home account), and developers who are serious enough to pay cash for a developer account (that's my company's account).
It is stupid that learning devs have to pay $99 to even be able to run their app on their devices without any workaround methods. Sure, you can buy a provisioning profile and UDID registration for $8-9 from some websites, but it's not the same thing.
They should only make you pay when you want to publish apps, not run them internally.
61 months ago
Developer program should be free. They already make money off of ads and app prices.
While I partly agree with this, you can bet that a lot of people get into developing for the sake of putting some rubbish into the App Store hoping to make a quick buck. Without this rather steep entry level pricing we might have more trash in the App Store than we do now.
61 months ago
I'd have no issues if apple adjusted the prices when the U.S dollar falls, they do not, but are one of the first to put up prices when the dollar goes up. Profit profit profit. I agree with others, it should be free, or close to it, it's the developers that are a huge part of apples success.
----------
If it was not about the money they would not be raising the prices due to a stronger dollar! Of course it's about the money, in relation to this tread.
----------
This isn't about the money. This is about having a separation between developers who are not willing to pay anything (that's my home account), and developers who are serious enough to pay cash for a developer account (that's my company's account).
If it was not about the money they would not be raising the prices due to a stronger dollar! Of course it's about the money, in relation to this tread.
61 months ago
I suspect this has to do with new cross-border sales tax rules in the EU which have just come into effect.
"Information for businesses who make cross-border supplies of digital services to consumers in other EU member states. From 1 January 2015 the place of taxation for these digital services will be the location of the consumer, not the location of the business supplying the service."
"Information for businesses who make cross-border supplies of digital services to consumers in other EU member states. From 1 January 2015 the place of taxation for these digital services will be the location of the consumer, not the location of the business supplying the service."
61 months ago
That is, and always has been the case.
Anybody can download Xcode, make apps, and put them on their own devices for free. The developer program is to have the capability to publish them to the app store.
You cannot put your apps on your own device for free, without jailbreaking. For free, you can run on the simulator only.
61 months ago
I suspect this has to do with new cross-border sales tax rules in the EU which have just come into effect.
"Information for businesses who make cross-border supplies of digital services to consumers in other EU member states. From 1 January 2015 the place of taxation for these digital services will be the location of the consumer, not the location of the business supplying the service."
Possibly yes. But, Apple, after all these years, keeps refusing to provide proper invoices in Europe with zero rated VAT. (impossible to buy something from the iTunes/Mac store with an invoice, which is IMHO illegal.)
This shouldn't be a problem for businesses. As the standard procedure of zero rating intra community invoices still applies. But Apple doesn't do this.
The new rules only apply to B2C AFAIK. Not for B2B. But I can be wrong.
61 months ago
This fits Apple's historical plan. Not complaining, just making an observation. Quality (and profits) over quantity. It's just one of the differences between Apple and others (eg, Samsung).
I only see the rising price part (aka: rising profits), I do not see quality part. Somehow you related rising price and good quality.
61 months ago
Without this rather steep entry level pricing we might have more trash in the App Store than we do now.
In what world is $100 'rather steep'?
$100 is EXTREMELY cheap. What, are you planning on only making $20 on your apps, that $100 is expensive?
PS4 development program cost: $2500
Xbox One development program cost: $500
It's just that Android came along for free, and now everyone expects EVERYTHING to be free.
61 months ago
It amazes me how much people are defending Apple on this case without even considering few facts.
1. Apple has ridiculous amount of money in the bank.
2. Big chunk of that money was made with 30% cut from the apps and from the hardware sales.
3. Yes 100$ or 100 is not that much = it´s not that much for Apple either.
4. That money is certainly not going towards the better quality of ios sdk´s or xcode. In fact every release seems to break things that used to work before. With the introduction of Swift, I expect this to be huge problem for few years to come.
5. Yes there are developer tools and programs that are extremely highly priced, but it doesn´t mean they are same or targeting similar developers. You should be comparing those that are similar (Android, Windows phone, etc.), which are cheap and will probably be getting cheaper if not free.
Apple will be always be Apple but people shouldn´t be defending their every move just because it´s Apple.
1. Apple has ridiculous amount of money in the bank.
2. Big chunk of that money was made with 30% cut from the apps and from the hardware sales.
3. Yes 100$ or 100 is not that much = it´s not that much for Apple either.
4. That money is certainly not going towards the better quality of ios sdk´s or xcode. In fact every release seems to break things that used to work before. With the introduction of Swift, I expect this to be huge problem for few years to come.
5. Yes there are developer tools and programs that are extremely highly priced, but it doesn´t mean they are same or targeting similar developers. You should be comparing those that are similar (Android, Windows phone, etc.), which are cheap and will probably be getting cheaper if not free.
Apple will be always be Apple but people shouldn´t be defending their every move just because it´s Apple.
[ Read All Comments ]
The non-profit Wi-Fi Alliance today announced the release of the Wi-Fi 6 certification program, noting that devices with the Wi-Fi 6 Certified logo will meet the "highest standards for security...
MacRumors has partnered with Anker again this week to offer our readers a chance to save on nine accessories, including USB-C chargers, wireless chargers, Lightning cables, and portable battery...
New to Apple Watch Series 5 models is a built-in compass that allows users to see which way they are facing, complete with a new Compass app that displays heading, incline, latitude, longitude, and...
Mophie this week launched a new wireless charging stand for any Qi-enabled smartphone, including the latest iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max devices. The accessory is available on Mophie's...
Amazon is offering customers a chance to save when pre-ordering the Apple Watch Series 5, which is set to be released this Friday, September 20. The retailer's sale is focused on select models of...
Apple premiered its first TV show at the Tribeca TV Festival on Saturday. Dickinson is a period drama that centers on the life of 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson, played by pop star Hailee...
Apple's biggest product unveiling of the year is now in our rear-view mirror, with the company taking the wraps off of new iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad models while also prepping for the launch...
On the same day that iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max pre-orders began, some customers are already beginning to see their order statuses shift from "processing" to...
