Sinister plots in a hive of rats
iOS developer Andrew Smith has accused several mobile sites of demanding money in exchange for timely reviews. A number of outlets are allegedly demanding anywhere between $5 and $150 for the privilege of their summaries.
Smith has decided to create an ever-updating list of sites that engage in this practice. So far he’s made a note of AppCraver, Tapscape, Best 10 Apps, The iPhone App Review, iPhone Toolbox, and iPhone Footprint. Each one has a different method of soliciting money from developers.
“It is not journalism,” he writes, “they can’t be objective, it takes credibility away from the app and doesn’t give consumers all the info.”
I love the world of mobile gaming, but it seems to attract a greater level of sleaze from all corners of the industry than anywhere else. It really is a wild west out there, and people need to be extra careful whether they’re making or buying apps.
Hall of Infamy: Sites that charge for reviews [AppyNation]
