Rip-off apps in the store

If you do a search on the word "Microsoft" in the store, you will find several apps that are mostly purchased by people who confuse them with actual Microsoft products. For example, we have "Microsoft(R) Word(R) 2010 -- mastering in 24h(TM)." The reviews have been wiped, but when they existed, they were largely from people who were outraged because they thought they were getting the actual Microsoft Word, rather than merely a video course. Additionally, there were a much smaller number of very short, promotional reviews.
The price is high enough ($11.99) that it is easy for a purchaser to think they are getting the real thing.
Furthermore, the way the title is formatted in iTunes, what you see is "Microsoft (R) Word(R) 2010 --". Again, this makes it easy to mistake for the real thing.
Then there is the app icon. It contains a blue W in a box with one rounded corner. Again, this is remarkably similar to the real Microsoft Word icon.
The ratings of the app also tell the tale rather clearly. Based on the distribution (which I reproduce below), it appears likely that some ratings are from people associated with the seller, and the others are from outraged purchasers:
5 stars -- 50
4 stars -- 13
3 stars -- 18
2 stars -- 8
1 star -- 227
It is impossible that Apple is unaware of this. There is typically more than one app of this general nature among the 200 top grossing educational apps on the store.
I find it shocking that this app is still on sale at all.
I wonder if any legal types could comment on the legality of having an app that so many people confuse with the real thing.

That's just great, defend the app by insinuating that the purchasers are stupid. To answer your question of what else one might need --
1) The portion of the title that is first presented to the user should make it clear that the app is not Microsoft Word 2010.
2) The icon should not contain the W in the blue box.
Here, for example, we have a legitimate book on Microsoft Word, namely "Word 2010 for Dummies." Notice that the images on the cover are totally different from Microsoft's icon.
http://www.amazon.com/Word-2010-For-Dummies-Gookin/dp/0470487720/ref=sr_1_3?s=bo oks&ie=UTF8&qid=1336054960&sr=1-3

Similar Messages

I downloaded an app off the store which said it was free and part of the 5 year promotion. I've been charged for the app by the store. I don't want the app and there's no one to speak to about it. Who can I call and how can I get the app off my phone?

I downloaded an app off the store which said it was free and part of the 5 year promotion.
I've been charged for the app by the store. I don't want the app and there's no one to speak to about it.
Who can I call?
How can I get the app off my phone?
How do I get my money back from something I wouldn't have ordered?

You cannot call anyone. You contact them as everyone else does: http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/
You delete the app as you do any other app. Hold an icon until they wiggle. Tap the "x". This is covered in the manual.

I think i got ripped off by this verizon store , I got the 4 line $140.00 edge plan, which I had to pay for the phone in monthly payment, i did the math it was 268.00 total.. At check out this guy charge me $50.00 care package for each phone and sim card

I think i got ripped off by this verizon store , I got the 4 line $140.00 edge plan, which I had to pay for the phone in monthly payment, i did the math it was 268.00 total.. At check out this guy charge me $50.00 care package for each phone and sim card which was $10.00 , $25.00 set up with TCP and he said the rest was tax. I had to pay $474.36.. my brother went to costco and did the same verizon deal he didn't have to pay anything...

Welcome to this forum.
This is a customer to customer forum only, where forum members, who are only BT customers, can help each other with BT Retail products and services.
Anything you post here does not go to BT. Although the forum is moderated by BT, not all posts are read.
I have asked a moderator to provide assistance, they will post an invite on this thread.
They are the only BT employees on this forum, and are a UK based team of people, who take personal ownership of your problem.
Once you get a reply, make sure that you are logged into the forum, then click on their name, you will see a screen like this. Click on the link as shown below.
Please do not send them a personal message, as they may not be on duty for a long time, and your message will not be tracked properly.
For your own security, do not post any personal details, on this forum. That includes any tracking number you are give.
They will respond either by phone or e-mail within 5-6 working days.
Please use the tracked e-mail, to reply, not via the forum. Thanks
This is the form you should see when you click on the link. If you do not see this form, then you have selected the wrong link.
When you submit the form, you will receive an enquiry number, so please keep a note of it
There are some useful help pages here, for BT Broadband customers only, on my personal website.
BT Broadband customers - help with broadband, WiFi, networking, e-mail and phones.

My iTunes says I owe $5.25 for songs that I have already paid for and am not going to pay for again but I want to get some apps from the store and now there's a hold on my account. Who do I talk to get the hold taken off

I explained it most in my question but I am getting charged double for songs that I have already paid for and am not going to pay for twice because that is messed up. But I want to get some apps from the store and it wont let me because of $5.25. Who can I talk to about resolving this issue?

You're right, it would have been covered under warranty. But because of the user damage, chances are there's a 200-something dollar fee . If you explain to them that it had a defect previously, they might replace it for you at no charge. **MIGHT**. But they would have to believe that it had a defect previously.

Finding the newest apps in the store

Is there any way to see what the newest apps in the store are other than clicking the new area and seeing those three pages?
What I mean is I would like to know when apps are added so I can see what the newest ones are.
Does anyone know if something like that is possible?
my ideal goal would be some sort of list where you can clicked the added to the itunes store date or something similar....hopefully with some way of seeing what the app is too.
any help would be appreciated.

I submitted the feedback below to http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html
I suggest we all do something similar until they address this major oversight!
Feedback submitted:
I am not buying any more apps for my iPhone until you return this link to the app store! I used to spend maybe 10 minutes 2 or 3 times a day checking for new apps by clicking on "all iPhone Apps" and sorting by "Release Date". Since you've recently taken this link off it has made the process of checking for new Apps VERY time consuming and cumbersome. I am boycotting the App store till this CRUCIAL functionality is restored and I am lobbying other iPhone owners to do the same.
While I'm at it...the iPhone has been out for over a year...we've had multiple OS update...where are the following:
1) Turn by Turn Voice directions GPS
2) Copy/Paste
3) SiriusXM app
4) Ability to organize/sort home screen
5) Flash
6) Outlook tasks sync over MobileMe
7) Connection sharing/tethering to laptop
8) Whatever I'm missing but too frustrated to remember right now...
You might not want to be as brusque as this but I'm just frustrated...of course, I never leave home without my sixth appendage, my iPhone.

I have a debit card but would like to download apps from the store. how do I do that? I can't possibly get a credit card just for this. please help.

Hi,
I have an iTouch. I'd like to download some free apps. but I have a debit card but would like to download apps from the store. how do I do that? I can't possibly get a credit card just for this. please help.

I really do not think it is the iPad or your network connection. Other users have reported this very same issue. Try this and see if it works for you - it may not work - but it's easy to try - harmless - and it has worked in the past for others.
Try signing out of your account and restart your iPad.
Go to Settings>Store>Apple ID and tap the ID and sign out. Restart the iPad by holding down on the sleep button until the red slider appears and then slide to shut off. To power up hold the sleep button until the Apple logo appears and let go of the button. Go back to Settings>Store> Apple ID and sign in again.

My iphone won't allow me to get apps from the store i have changed my region but it says my postcode is wrong

My iphone won't let me get apps from the store and it says my country is not valid I have changed it and it says my postcode o wrong

Also see the link below.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5018?viewlocale=en_US

Someone else bought an app on the store. I had already purchased the app before on my other computer, so I deleted the app on my new computer that the other person purchased. I now want to download the app again on MY account but...........

Someone else bought an app on the store on my new computer. I had already purchased the app before on my old computer, so I deleted the app on my new computer that the other person purchased. I now want to download the app again through MY account. When I click INSTALL it asks for ID, but it shows up automatically with the other person's ID, so I delete that and enter mine instead. I then click SIGN IN, but then it says "Unknown error", then I click OK, then it says "We could not complete your request. There was an error in the App Store. Please try again later. (4)". How do I get rid of all info of other people's IDs so I can get the app through my account again?
The app that I'm trying to download actually might have been a pirated app. But I deleted it, so why is it not letting me get it through my account?
Please help!
Thanks

you may delete this discussion. I fixed the issue

I have iTunes open in Windows XP and get an error 45048 message when I try to update apps thru the store. How can I fix this? I have reinstalled iTunes twice.

I have iTunes, latest version, open in Windows XP and get an error 45048 message when I try to update apps thru the store. How can I fix this? I have reinstalled iTunes twice but problem continues.

Try contacting iTunes via email to check if there is an issue with the account. go to apple.com/support/itunes
Click on iTunes Store account and billing and select inquiries. On the right side click on "email us".
Before doing that trying viewing your account information first. Open the iTunes on you mac, look at the menu and select store and select view my account. Try removing the card (this is only applicable if you don't have a pending charges with iTunes) and hit done. Sign out, quit iTunes and sign back in and try updating the apps again.

Am trying to install apps from the store but am getting an error message that a new version of ipad software is required

Am trying to install apps from the store but each time am getting a message that a newer version of ipad software is required

Settings > General > Software Update

Can't tell what most apps in the store are without clicking on them.

Greetings,
I can't tell what most apps in the store are without clicking on them. Please add mouse over info. It takes too long to click each one and go back over and over.
Than s

You're just talking to other users here. To communicate directly to Apple, use the [Apple feedback page|http://www.apple.com/feedback>.

Apps in the store that have zero reviews, yet 4.5 million downloads

"I see many apps in the store that have zero reviews, yet they are top of the list as displayed by Apple.
One caught my eye as there own website claims 4.5 million unique downloads. Yet the same app has no reviews in the App store?
What gives? I may not be one to dolots of reviews but after 4.5 million surely a few people would have bothered to send in a review?
No link to software as I do not want to be accused of promoting it.
So whats the point of a review system if you don't publish them?

That's just great, defend the app by insinuating that the purchasers are stupid. To answer your question of what else one might need --
1) The portion of the title that is first presented to the user should make it clear that the app is not Microsoft Word 2010.
2) The icon should not contain the W in the blue box.
Here, for example, we have a legitimate book on Microsoft Word, namely "Word 2010 for Dummies." Notice that the images on the cover are totally different from Microsoft's icon.
http://www.amazon.com/Word-2010-For-Dummies-Gookin/dp/0470487720/ref=sr_1_3?s=bo oks&ie=UTF8&qid=1336054960&sr=1-3

Restore iLife apps in the store

When you setup new mac you can accept iLife apps in the store to get them. I didn't do so at the beginning and now they are gone. Is it possible to get them back without restoring whole OS?

Now, that's pretty weird. I made recovery, it took a couple of hours and MBA ended up in the very same state as it was before. I thought it's like a clean installation but apparently it is not. So what did it do, just refreshed the current installation? Seems pretty useless to me, to be honest. And in the end iLife apps appeared in the purchased list to accept but it says it was taken by a different account. Now I'm definitelly lost. I mean, iLife comes with every Mac, right? So whay all the fuss with associating with accounts and such...?

TS3106 I just downloaded this app from the store, and it WILL NOT OPEN.

I just downloaded this app from the store, and it WILL NOT OPEN. I've deleted it and reinstalled it and it still crashes whilst loading everything. I'd really like to use this software....please help.......

Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes, which is available here -> http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Then try following the steps in this Apple article to create an account without a credit card -> Creating an iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store account without a credit card

How to find good games/apps in the store besides the public reviews?

Hi all, I'm trying to find good games/apps in the store to put on my 32gig touch. I know about the reviews for the games/apps but with so many negative comments for some, for example F***G c**p, reboots the ipod touch every time I play it or run it for apps (insert Maker's name ere) want a refund don't download & giving it 1 star & the list just goes on, out of the one's I've thought I would either buy or download (for the free one's) I've not even botherd as I think to myself. With so many negative comment's the app/game must be rubbish. Doesn't apple review the comments put on the games/apps reviews?. So is there another way to find out what is good/bad in the app store besides trawling though 95% of negative comments? cheers
Message was edited by: dj-toonz

I tried to follow the instructions using iphone 5. When you get to step 5, swipe your finger over the apps. It won't work. Does anyone have iphone 5 and try to hide unwanted apps sucessuflly. Please share with us. Thanks

Rip-off apps in the store

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for