Why does Apple restrict MotionX-GPS Drive HD to 3G+Wifi units only?

I just encountered the same issue with my WiFi-only iPad2. More broadly there are two technical issues. The first issue is that many of the map applications download map segments on the fly as needed. That is obviously a problem for most any sort of navigation application, since the data connection is not 100%. Any decent navigation application will correct this by allowing you to preload maps into the device. Based on what I read, MotionX used to have this problem, i.e., there was no way to preload maps, which as far as I am concerned would render it useless as a navigation app. They have since corrected that, evidently, but there have been some reports indicating that there are still problems with getting this to work. (Note, by the way, that elsewhere you can find advice on how to force Google Maps to cache map segments in the device, but this is useless advice and a whole lot of silliness.)

The other issue is the GPS receiver. If you try to buy the MotionX app by accessing the app store directly from the device (vs. going through iTunes), you can't buy it. iTunes will let you buy it but will not let you download it into the device. This is a behavior that needs to be corrected in iTunes. If iTunes is going to refuse to allow you to download it, it should not let you buy it. Toward this legitimate need, app purchases made in iTunes should be in the express context of a particular device. The reason is it blocked is because MotionX does not want to leave any possibility that anyone who has a device with no GPS capability would be able to purchase the app, and the only way that they can positively confirm that the device has GPS capability is when GPS capability is built in. But the scheme does not really work, as evidenced by the fact that in iTunes, you can buy the app and then discover that you can't even download it into the device. A much better solution would be to allow downloading of a free app that discovers whether you have GPS capability, and then for purchases of the "real" app to be restricted to purchases initiated within that app, direct to the device. An app of this sort should be restricted from purchase via iTunes altogether. The scheme that is in place is not at all a good solution for the problem that needed to be solved. The problem that needed to be solved can only be solved it it is possible for the app provider to prohibit an app from being purchased through iTunes at all, and for purchase of that app to be restricted to purchases that initiated in-app and directly between the device and the app store.

iTunes will let you buy it but will not let you download it into the device. This is a behavior that needs to be corrected in iTunes.

This is not a behavior that needs to be corrected or even can be corrected. iTunes on your computer has no way of knowing what device you might want to use the app on, so there is no practical way for it to block or warn about any downloads. It's incumbent on we users to read the system requirements for an app before we buy.

Toward this legitimate need, app purchases made in iTunes should be in the express context of a particular device.

I disagree completely. I use several different devices on my system, and I do not want iTunes trying to determine which I might want to use an app on and thereby attempt to block a purchase.

The problem that needed to be solved can only be solved it it is possible for the app provider to prohibit an app from being purchased through iTunes at all, and for purchase of that app to be restricted to purchases that initiated in-app and directly between the device and the app store

I disagree with this suggestion as well. Limiting downloads to an iOS device would, among other issues, place an unnecessary burden on those who have caps on their cell connection and no or a slow WiFi connection, or just don't want to have to buy from their device for various reasons.

A much better solution would be to allow downloading of a free app that discovers whether you have GPS capability, and then for purchases of the "real" app to be restricted to purchases initiated within that app, direct to the device.

The best solution is to just read the system requirements and details of the app before you download it. We users need to take at least some responsiblity for what we do and not expect our devices to do all our thinking for us and limit us in a vain attempt to keep us from our own mistakes.

Regards.

varjak - I am often annoyed when I take the time to explain something and do so in a perfectly rational way, and another person who has not stopped to make certain that they fully understand the problem, repudiates everything that I said. This annoys me to no end. You have taken a position that seems correct to you based on only a very superficial understanding of a problem that is complex.

You assert that it is appropriate for iTunes to allow you to purchase something that you will not be allowed to download into the device for which you intend to use it. You even claim that it "cannot" be corrected, which is preposterous, because technically it is possible. You assume that it is not possible, but the reason you assume that is because you take for granted that purchases in iTunes should not be made in the express context of a particular device. Your reasoning is circuitous. You assume that iTunes ought not enforce purchases to occur in the express context of a specific device, and then proceed to argue, based on that assumption regarding the behavior that is desirable, that it is not technically possible. This simply is not correct reasoning.

You say that you do not want iTunes to try and determine which device you might want to use an app on. That is reasonable until you contrast it with the present situation. Presently, MotionX has not found a way to positively confirm that the purchaser of the app has true GPS capability on the device for which they intend to use it. Because of the inability to confirm that positively, the application is blocked from being purchased directly by devices with which it really is compatible, i.e., WiFi-only iPads that are connected to external GPS receivers, while it is possible to purchase it through iTunes and then go nowhere. This does not make any good sense whatsover.

The fact is that you have made assumptions that are not implied by what I wrote. Particularly as regards this:

"Limiting downloads to an iOS device would, among other issues, place an unnecessary burden on those who have caps on their cell connection and no or a slow WiFi connection, or just don't want to have to buy from their device for various reasons."

Yes, there would be a downside, which is to be expected, because there is never any free lunch. But let's not assume that a scheme of the sort that I layed out would necessarily apply to ALL apps. Let's assume that this scheme is a scheme that is available to an app provider such as MotionX, and then evaluate things from a pragmatic, non-reactionary perspective, and ask, for an app of that sort, specifically, what is better: A. To allow the app to be bought and used by owners who have devices and who use external GPS receivers, albeit with some minor hassle with respect to connectivity for using the app store application, vs. B. A scheme whereby many people who could use the app and desire to use it are not allowed to use, and where the scheme that was devised is inconsistent between purchases made directly via the app store application vs. iTunes.

And I must point out that you have COMPLETELY overlooked a goal that should be given the highest priority, i.e., the ability for people who have external GPS devices that actually work better than the buil-in GPS device (owing to the freedom to place the device where reception is best) to purchase and use GPS applications!!!! You have said nothing that offers any solution to this predicament!! You regard that as something that does not need to be addressed, implicitly asserting that this is less important than the other things that you have mentioned, i.e., your ability to buy an app without specifying the device (which argument is a red herring), and the issue with connectivity, which is barely credible in the overall scheme of things.

Say what?

I am often annoyed when I take the time to explain something and do so in a perfectly rational way, and another person who has not stopped to make certain that they fully understand the problem, repudiates everything that I said.

And I am annoyed when someone decides that anyone who carries a different opinion than the one the person expresses is somehow automatically misled, misinformed, or misunderstanding. I understand exactly the point you raised. I disagree with it. I also am annoyed when people add additional points after the fact and then claim that the point was overlooked.

You assert that it is appropriate for iTunes to allow you to purchase something that you will not be allowed to download into the device for which you intend to use it. You even claim that it "cannot" be corrected, which is preposterous, because technically it is possible.

I have multiple iOS devices that I sync to iTunes. How would iTunes determine for which device I want to download something? Do you propose that I only be able to download an app from iTunes when I have the iOS device, and only that particular device, connected to iTunes? If not, what sort of psychic programming do you propose?

And I must point out that you have COMPLETELY overlooked a goal that should be given the highest priority, i.e., the ability for people who have external GPS devices that actually work better than the buil-in GPS device (owing to the freedom to place the device where reception is best) to purchase and use GPS applications!!!!

I didn't "overlook" it; you said nothing in your first post about any ability to use any external GPS device, and that point is irrelevant to the argument you originally made which was about iTunes somehow preventing you from buying an app that won't run on your iOS device. And even if we take up that matter, I don't agree that it is the "highest" priority at all, or even a high priority. It most certainly is not to me, and I would guess is not a particularly priority to the majority of iPad users. If it's high priority to you, then you can comment to Apple via their feedback pages as to your need.

your ability to buy an app without specifying the device (which argument is a red herring)

Total nonsense. It is most certainly not a "red herring", it is completely and totally integral to your argument and is in fact the only issue in question. The only way to achieve what you propose is either:

1) to disallow downloads of particular apps from iTunes at all but rather allow them only from the particular iOS device for which the app is intended or

2) to allow download of such apps only when the iOS device, and only that device, is connected so that iTunes could verify that the app would be usable.

I reject either scenario as being practical or desirable. The whole issue can be avoided if you just read the system requirements and documentation for an app before you purchase, a procedure which requires no changes to iTunes and does not limit anyone else from purchasing in whatever manner they find most efficient and practical.

Thank you.