"It's the holidays. The soft spice of holly and evergreen cling to the air, and a carefully curated playlist hums at just the right volume. The only thing that could make the atmosphere more inviting is the warm glow of a fire - s o you load up the first one you see on the App Store and cast it to the family TV."
"Users are then invited to "Upgrade to Premium," which can cost either $0.99 or $2.99, apparently, according to the app's listing on the App Store. We chose "not right now," in order to close the popup and get back to the high-octane holiday action. But 15 minutes later, the popup returned, offering the exact same deal. A closer look at the store's in-app purchases shows this isn't your grandma's yule log."
A free digital yule-log app displays persistent upgrade popups that interrupt the viewing experience. The popups tout a "clean, distraction-free picture, cozy soundscapes, and the full scene library" and reappear after users dismiss them. The app includes immersive soundscapes, iCloud integration, and over 80 "premium" fire loops, but many features are locked behind paid packs. Themed holiday packs cost $5.99 each, a Mega Bundle costs $12.99, and a full unlock is priced at $19.99. The combination of recurring interruptions and multiple in-app purchase tiers creates a fragmentary, paid-first experience.
Read at Futurism
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