Apple adopts 7-day App Store return policy in Taiwan, Singapore to give soldiers iPads
7-day returns take effect in Taiwan
In response to a ruling earlier this month ordering Apple to alter its App Store rules, users in that country now have a seven-day trial period for when they download software to their iPhone, according to The Economic Times. Within a week of buying an application, users can choose to return it and receive a full refund.
Apple's rival, search giant Google, did not comply with the order that stemmed from Taiwan's consumer protection law. As a result, Google was fined the equivalent of $34,600 U.S. dollars.
Google's Android Market offers users 15 minutes to decide whether they want a refund. Taiwanese law stipulates that consumers must receive a seven-day trial for any products purchased over the Internet, including smartphone software.
The report did not detail how Apple's refund policy for App Store software works. There is not currently a trial period for App Store software elsewhere in the world.
Singapore soldiers get iPads
Starting this November, army, air force and navy recruits in Singapore will be equipped with Apple's iPad, according to PhysOrg (via Engadget). The first round of supplies will include 8,000 total iPads issued this fall.
Singapore's defense ministry reportedly plans to add even more servicemen next year. The entry-level Wi-Fi-only 16GB iPad 2 retails for $538 U.S. dollars in Singapore.
Neo Kian Hong, head of defense for the Singapore Armed Forces, said utilizing the iPad will allow the military to take advantage of the tech skills of the country's youth. Applications will include a live messaging system with group chat discussions.
"By exploiting the use of popular and current information and communications technology, we are able to harness our advantage of today's technologically savvy servicemen," he reportedly said.
Last year, the United Kingdom began using Apple's iPad to train soldiers for operations in Afghanistan. And the U.S. Army has been looking for ways to implement devices like the iPad and iPhone in its own operations.
29 Comments
And when do we get this same 7-day return policy in the U.S.? (and the rest of the world for that matter?)
A $34,600 fine? That's nothing, it's peanuts.
A 7 day trial period is a terrible idea. People would take advantage of it. Many games can be downloaded and completed in 1 day, let alone 7 days. I'm not a developer, but the 7 day return period is a retarded idea. If developers want people to check out their app for free, then they'll offer a free, limited version.
Apple should completely shut down all operations in Taiwan and halt all sales while declaring that country to be a country non grata in the Apple ecosystem, due to their idiotic laws.
I've bought many, many apps, and I can't really say that I've ever been burned. Just do a quick bit of research beforehand, so you know what you're getting.
Last year, the United Kingdom began using Apple's iPad to train soldiers for operations in Afghanistan. And the U.S. Army has been looking for ways to implement devices like the iPad and iPhone in its own operations.
Simply awesome. I think it's great that we have teenagers in the US walking around tweeting and texting, banging into telephone poles and falling into water fountains.
Now lets equip the army so they can walk around fields of land mines playing with iPhones and iPads.
Should work really well.
And when do we get this same 7-day return policy in the U.S.? (and the rest of the world for that matter?)
This will result in abuse beyond belief. You know it, and everyone else sure knows it. What's to stop someone from downloading a video game, play it through in 6.9 days and request a refund? It'll decimate the app industry.
Instead of a 7-day policy, how's about 7 hours? Anything more than 24-hours is just abuse time.
I've come across numerous paid apps that only took me minutes to realize was complete garbage. One does not need 7-days to figure that out. Unlike a tangible, material, physical item, software will pretty much suck or not suck the moment you use it and not subject to issues like build-quality and construction issues found in real products.
It's no wonder Google refuses Taiwan's demands. I'm curious what the return metrics will be after a month or two.
iPads could be a great war device. In the future, fighting a real war could be very similar to playing a game of Command & Conquer. I would definitely be down for that war, I'm pretty good at Command & Conquer and those types of games. One skilled operator with an iPad could take out hundreds of primitive terrorists with a simple swipe! You'd know all enemy troop movements, you'd be able to see everything on your screen and you could call in instant airstrikes just by selecting a target on the iPad screen.