Hello, It's a double-edged sword, isn't it?
Personally, we are happy that so many are interested in what we build. I mean, we are geeks and take pleasure in the tools and in others getting use out of them. However, we also lament the loss of revenue that is be caused by piracy. I personally agree that when there are hacked copies around, many people will have the app who would never have paid in the first place. But I don't think the number comes close to 100%. Sure, hackers will show the app to their friends, but then they'll give them a copy, and somebody will upload it to the torrent and file-share sites, and many more will download it. It would be best for developers if Google had a solid solution, but I don't think it would be best for Android. The hack-ability of the platform surely fuels some of the excitement people have around it (ease of rooting phones, custom ROMs, etc.). We are near to releasing our solution. It is license-key based, and will give any user a reasonable trial period before it stops functioning. @Yahel: that's great. I hadn't thought about the bomb idea. :-) On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 2:00 AM, Hekki <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > I've been through the same questions for a desktop app that i've > written 4 years ago. > > I believe that it's a good thing, a badge of honor as you put it :) > > The truth is, people who know how to hack, where to find the crack, > and actually get your app this way when the price is so low, will just > never, ever, in a million years spare the pennies.... > They are not customers, they are not potential customers, they're just > power-users that proves themselves this way. > > I came to the conclusion though that they are a great communication > vector. They show your app to their friends and multiply the number of > people who are aware you even exists. > Among those people, some, less tech-savvy will simply buy your app. > People that would have never even heard of your app in the first > place. > > So you are not really loosing sales because they are non buyers > anyway, and you get popularity :D > > A little simplistic but I could actually verify it with my app, I > switched it to a give what you want(even nothing) model and saw a > surge in both download and purchase :D > > Yahel > Ps : One way some developper fight back, is by putting a modified > version of their app on those sites themselves : Put a time-bomb : in > 30 days -> "This version is pirated, your phone number was just sent > via the internet to the police expect their arrival in a few > minutes."). But don't actually get any private information from them, > you'd be in trouble and they really are not worth it. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Android Developers" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<android-developers%[email protected]> > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
