Reminds me of my own situation and the action I look a few weeks back: Charge, more, like, way more, for my apps.

Example: I recently upped the price of my excellent podcast app (SkipCast) from Free to $24.00. The result: I've made more in the last 2 weeks than the first 6 months when I was at $2.99. Sure downloads are waaaay down, but each sale is worth so much more.

The argument is simple: as app developers we're absolutely screwing ourselves by living in the delusion that what we'll have enough volume to stay afloat at such low prices.

The core problem, as far as I see it, is the app store's search system is incredibly inflexible when it comes to the top three spots, the only ones that have a prayer of making any money. Mix in that in some categories (including mine), there's a feedback loop of the same app being perpetually featured and thus, the only one that get downloads, and we've got a recipe for disaster.

So, you do something else to set yourself apart: charge so much that if someone does scroll down far enough to see you, they'll take pause and wonder why you cost so much.

Free is poison, and completely unsustainable for all but the luckiest.

It's a complex issue but one thing I'm absolutely sure of: I'm sure as hell not giving my hard work away for $1.99 anymore. I may not make any money, but at least I'll do down with dignity : )

*Small update for readability.