Handango needs to rethink InHand
Posted by Tim Hillebrand on 07/22/08 in General
Handango has long been my software vendor of choice. It’s where I naturally go when I’m looking for the lastest releases to try and to buy. The key word here is to “try”. One of the greatest features about software for handhelds is the time-honored tradition of being able to try before you buy. It’s something you can’t do at too many other establishments such as McDonald’s. In any case, it seems that Handango has chosen to jettison this tradition with the introduction of InHand.
InHand is a great idea. It’s a free application from Handango. It not only lets you download software over the air conveniently, but it also keeps you current on news, sports, weather, and financial information.
However, I was disheartened to discover a couple of things. First, if you don’t purchase the software recommended on InHand, you may be out of luck. I tried many searches for some of my old favorites, and InHand couldn’t find them even though they are readily available on the main Website.
The second and really major problem is that you MUST purchase the software. There is no choice. You may not try it free at all. This option does not exist on InHand. Shame on Handango. I hope that future versions will include this feature and then InHand will be a truly worthwhile service.
OK, there is another problem. As far as I can tell, you cannot even get to Handango’s Website on a mobile device anymore. No matter how hard I try, it always defaults to an InHand download. Phooey on that. One would think that the paramount mobile device software vendor would at least have a Website optimized for mobile devices. Go figure.
Come on Handango. You can do better, and I hope you will. Meanwhile, a great place to go for both software and accessories is www.mobihand.com. Not only does Mobihand let you have free trials, its site it optimized for mobile devices.
Written by Tim Hillebrand · Filed Under General
Tagged:
Did you like this post?
Share your vote!
(No Ratings Yet)
You can also participate in other conversation in our active forums with 200,000 other Members. It only takes 2 minutes to 
BRAVO! You took the words right out of my mouth! I’ve had InHand on my AT&T/Cingulaar 8525 for about a year now…..and the news, weather, etc…are fine. But the ONLY good thing I can say about the “software store” aspect of InHand is that Handango waives their criminal “Download Protection Fee” for one year. You can re-download programs purchased via InHand for a year before the infamous “Download Protection Fee” ogre pops up. Those downloads can be either from within InHand or via Handango’s website. Otherwise, sites like Mobihand are leaving Handango way behind in the dust.
Who shops at handango anymore? I just go straight to the developer. Handango started nickle and diming the consumers direct, so I stopped buying from them. I just use them to see whats available and then if I like it, go to the developer. If they dont offer a direct purchase, I send them an email with my offer to buy at full price via paypal. No one has said no yet.
To be honest though, it wasnt the download protection crap the drew the final straw…it was the mobile website going to inhand all the time. I hate when people try to decide whats best for me…which is why I hate democrats.
I am not doing shopping at Handango anymore, even if they are on sale. My preference to mobihand and any others sites.
My last purchase is Coreplayer and I can not get the lastest upgrade. I thought I could get it from developer website and apparently it’s not easy. After few emails back and forth, still waiting …