I didn't know you could hide it from the app drawer. If that's the case then loading additional apks from a master apk may be a nice solution. Then you don't really need anything server-side either.
Do you happen to know which filter does it? On Mar 25, 6:51 pm, westmeadboy <[email protected]> wrote: > What is your specific reason for wanting to uninstall the character > apps? > > You can make sure that they do not appear in the app drawer by using > the relevant intent filter. That would only leave them visible to the > user when they do something like Settings -> Applications or look in > the Downloads of the Market app. > > On Mar 25, 11:09 pm, chris harper <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Thanks guys > > > Rob/Kevin > > > You guys are really give me some ideas here. > > > Thank you for the advice on score loop but I don’t think I can user it > > because my app doesn’t keep scores or interact with my app on other phones. > > It’s not really a game. > > > So I am not sure if that will benefit me? I looked though scoreloop but it > > looks like it is for comparing scores with other users within a social > > network. Am I right? > > > Rob – I was actually thinking right along that same track. Each install app > > keeps a timer of itself when it was installed and asks to be uninstalled > > after 48 hours, BUT makes it clear to the user that uninstalling the install > > app does NOT remove the character from the main app. > > > Kevin - you gave me a great idea very close to what you suggested. I do > > have a server side set up. Like I said I have a website set up with a > > shopping cart and everything where I WAS going to make people buy/download > > my characters from there. > > > What if the install .apk not only installs the character like I stated but > > also takes the user ID from the database on the phone (which both the > > install .apk and the main program share the same sqlite DB) and it sends the > > information to the sever like you suggested that this user ID OWNS this > > character. So any updates to this character get sent to this user. If they > > uninstall the install app before the 48 hours (for the refund) then before > > it uninstalls it updates the server they do not own this character anymore > > and this character was removed. > > > If they remove the .apk install app after the 48 hours (via the prompt like > > Rob suggested) they still own the character and get any updates. The > > character is not tied with the .apk after the initial install. > > > They can still remove the character from the main app at any time and that > > will also tell the server that they do not own the character anymore. > > > What do you guys think? > > > On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Kevin Duffey <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I wonder if removing the .apks will bring up other issues, like updates? > > > For example, maybe not for your specific app, but what if a character .apk > > > has a bug in it.. you fix it.. but end users have uninstalled. Now they > > > will > > > have to pay/reinstall again to get the updated toon even if they already > > > paid/installed before. > > > > Honestly Chris I don't think this is a viable solution. It's "close", but > > > not quite there due to the variations of issue that may arise from > > > removing > > > the .apk. > > > > Here's a thought.. do you have a server side at all? If not, do you know > > > enough server side to do a quick appengine or, I found a host that > > > charges I > > > think $15 a month to host a web app on a tomcat 6 server (I'll have to dig > > > it up again)... the idea is.. make a simple server side app that stores a > > > user's paid-for characters in a DB. That is.. the user goes to your site, > > > pays for a toon. You then update (in some secure/encrypted manner) the DB > > > for that user that they "own" that character. The next time they launch > > > the > > > game, some how it pulls the server and down comes any new toons they paid > > > for. You can even allow for an SMS push notification that if they don't > > > have > > > a wifi/3G connection, but do have cell.. your game could listen for SMS > > > messages (or a separate service piece to your game) and your server piece > > > can send an SMS message (not sure what API/service allows for this to work > > > tho) that when received updates the game for that user. Worse case, they > > > don't have SMS enabled services.. and no internet.. then they have to wait > > > till they do to get the character toons. Heck, they cant use the market to > > > buy them either without network.. so no loss there. > > > > On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 2:31 PM, Rob Mazur <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> Maybe you could store the date you detected the new apk in the prefs > > >> and say after refund period has expired you throw a dialog that tells > > >> the user they can now uninstall the "addon pack". > > > >> So for a few days (2 or 3 to be safe) your code checks that the apk is > > >> still there, if not then remove the character. Once the refund period > > >> has expired you throw up the dialog and can even kickoff the uninstall > > >> nicely with an intent. In your app description just make sure to > > >> inform them that they should not uninstall until directed, otherwise > > >> they will lose the character. But that the app will notify them when > > >> they can safely uninstall. > > > >> On Mar 25, 5:11 pm, chris harper <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> > Warren > > > >> > I think you are right. I think if I do an uninstall on the app before > > >> the 24 > > >> > hour period then it refunds. Thanks for catching that. > > > >> > Which leaves only one option. > > > >> > The install app can have two buttons on it. > > >> > One to: Remove just the Install app > > >> > and another to: Remove the install app AND the Character > > > >> > So the USER has the option of removing either just the install app (so > > >> the > > >> > phone doesn't get cluttered with apk install files) OR removing the > > >> install > > >> > app AND the character. > > > >> > If they select EITHER button before the the 24 hour period for a refund > > >> then > > >> > both the install app and the character are removed. > > > >> > Which this can all be explained to the user within the install app. > > > >> > That should work. I would think? > > > >> > Rob > > >> > I just took a look at them. The MAIN thing I am trying to accomplish is > > >> to > > >> > make my characters available without requiring the user to enter > > >> > finical > > >> > information again. > > > >> > I really believe if they don't have to do that and instead they just > > >> click > > >> > on "submit" to buy another character that will make a HUGE difference > > >> > in > > >> the > > >> > amount of people that will buy my characters because its a two second > > >> thing > > >> > for them. > > > >> > They are at the DMV for example and board and like the characters in my > > >> app > > >> > (which they downloaded because it was free), so why not try another > > >> > character for .99 if they just have to click "ok"?? > > > >> > If I can just make it as seem-less as possible for an "install" apk to > > >> work > > >> > with my main app this would be a great thing (as well as other > > >> developers > > >> > like Warren). > > > >> > -Chris > > > >> > On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 2:58 PM, Rob Mazur <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> > > Chris, have you tried creating an account on ScoreLoop? Once logged > > >> > > in > > >> > > they have a note at the bottom about their Android SDK. They are > > >> > > making it available to a few developers and you can email them if you > > >> > > are interested. > > > >> > > IMO, until Google builds an in-app payment system, the best bet is to > > >> > > go with a company like ScoreLoop. I did read somewhere that they take > > >> > > a pretty hefty cut, but I don't know of any other options out there. > > >> > > I > > >> > > checked out OpenFeint but didn't see anything about Android. Plus > > >> > > this > > >> > > should only be temporary cuz it just wouldn't make sense for Google > > >> > > to > > >> > > miss out on the potential revenue available. > > > >> > > On Mar 25, 4:36 pm, chris harper <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> > > > Will an uninstall trigger a refund? If so maybe I just don't do a > > >> refund? > > >> > > I > > >> > > > don't deal with it? > > > >> > > > Is that an option? Can we do that? > > > >> > > > I plan on only charging .99 for a character. > > > >> > > > My main free app will contain two default characters (to get the > > >> user > > >> > > > hooked). > > > >> > > > So if they really likes the app and they think the characters are > > >> funny > > >> > > (I > > >> > > > have spent a lot of time on them) then they are more likely to > > >> > > > still > > >> buy > > >> > > > another one if there is no refund...because it's ONLY .99 after > > >> all?? > > > >> > > > What do you think? Great point though. Thank you. > > > >> > > > On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 2:22 PM, Warren <[email protected]> > > >> wrote: > > >> > > > > *So I think I am in the ballpark, unless anyone sees anything I > > >> have > > >> > > > > overlooked?* > > > >> > > > > I think you overlooked something big. You plan to leave the data > > >> on > > >> > > > > the phone and uninstall the app. That works. But suppose I > > >> download > > >> > > > > the a character app, install the character, then immediately > > >> refund? > > >> > > > > Wouldn't I keep the character data? > > > >> > > > > Also, if you auto-uninstall within the refund period, will that > > >> > > > > trigger a refund? > > > >> > > > > If so, you guarantee 0 revenue. > > > >> > > > > On Mar 25, 3:14 pm, chris harper <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> > > > > > Thank you for all the interest guys. Really it helps and it can > > >> help > > >> > > > > feature > > >> > > > > > developers down the road. > > > >> > > > > > Shane it is tricky and I don't want to do against Googles > > >> blessing > > >> > > but > > >> > > > > their > > >> > > > > > lack of direction (or more like NO direction) on what > > >> > > > > > developers > > >> > > should > > >> > > > > do > > >> > > > > > for virtual content has kind of backed us into this corner of > > >> "how > > >> > > can I > > >> > > > > > provide virtual content for my app?". > > > >> > > > > > I THINK I am close. > > > >> > > > > > The instructions for the characters are stored in the sqlite > > >> > > database. > > >> > > > > Where > > >> > > > > > the instructions for each character contain how to move, what > > >> images > > >> > > to > > >> > > > > use, > > >> > > > > > what sounds to play, different animation characteristics for > > >> each > > >> > > etc... > > >> > > > > but > > ... > > read more » -- Rob Mazur http://mobalyze.net -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. 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