Would you pay for FCPX 10.1 ?

Do you have any clue how much time and effort goes in to writing the installation programes, mapping out data across multiple DVDs, and designing the packaging? Packaging is very expensive. Way more expensive than you know. Just a fact of life. But having worked for years with software companies, what would I know?

BTW, there is a software company who is offering current owners and in-app upgrade purchase, new users buy the full priced new version. And Apple is allowing it. Don't remember what app it is right off the bat.

X2Pro LE version can be upgraded to Pro version in-app.

That's interesting. If this route was possible with FCPX there would need to be another update to include the in-app paid update feature.

A quick check on the developer site showed this:

There are four supported categories of In-App Purchase items that you may sell:

• Content
• Functionality
• Services
• Subscriptions

Under "Functionality", feature updates could be paid for through IAP's, but maintenance updates, in full or part, would mean Apple playing by different rules than they allow others to on the App Store.

Edit:

A little further on.

You may sell and unlock additional functionality within your application using In-App Purchase.

Adding additional functionality to an app should generally be considered Non-Consumable.

So updates can definitely be charged for in the App Store, and can be set at any price. Not necessarily the full price. But it should be considered "Non-Consumable".

A "Consumable" IAP is one that you need to pay for each time use it, or only lasts a certain amount of time. A "Non-Consumable" IAP is one that when you have paid for it it's yours for ever.

Wow, they could offer new features with individual IAP prices. That way we could get the features that suit us without bothering with what we don't need.

The initial feature update would be free, perhaps along with maintenance updates, but all it does is list the features available at the IAP prices.

I'd like to see that.

In app purchasing for user specific tasks is an intriguing idea. It would certainly not be entirely out of keeping with the methodology of both FCPX and the MacPro; provide a foundational core and allow users to add on features as needed.

It would also work well along side the idea of having an in-app shop for effects, titles etc. which many have expressed the desire for before.

BenB wrote: Do you have any clue how much time and effort goes in to writing the installation programes, mapping out data across multiple DVDs, and designing the packaging? Packaging is very expensive. Way more expensive than you know. Just a fact of life. But having worked for years with software companies, what would I know?

You're right, it is expensive. It also really adds up over many copies. But it's not $750 per copy expensive. That's absurd beyond the point of reason. Otherwise a Nintendo Wii would cost as much if not more than Final Cut Studio (it's packaging is more complex and they make a hefty profit on every unit sold). As for FCS, it's not like they had to map out data across DVDs for EVERY SINGLE COPY SOLD. They do it once, make sure everything works and then it's off to be stamped. And it's really not as hard to do nor as time-consuming as you might imply. It's much more time-consuming to write the manual(s). FCPX has a lengthy manual. Someone had to write it regardless of whether it exists physically or digitally. Your 75% figure also assumes that programming the actual application only takes 25% of the effort (or maybe even less) of the entire package. You're implying that spanning it across multiple DVDs takes more effort and costs more than making Final Cut Pro and all of its included applications. I've also worked for years with software companies myself (actually for and with), so what do I know?