westmeadboy Thank you! I think you sent me down the right track.
After much discussion on this I believe I found the best way to do this and I think it will actually work and be transparent to the user. Meaning it will be seen as one app and not a "main" and and a bunch of "installer" app's. Here is what I came up with. I been playing around tonight and westmeadboy is correct in your manifest file if you take out: <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> The app does NOT show up in your drawer. So this is done for the installer apk's (not the main program). That is great because then the "installer" .apk's won't clutter up the apps for the user. They won't see them. When each install .apk for each character is downloaded the installer then updates the database (which is shared with the main app) with the installer package and installer app name. So the main app KNOWS what .apk "installers" are on the phone for each character which it gets from the database each time it starts up. If it knows that and keeps track of them, then dynamically the main app can call them via: final Intent intent = new Intent(); String PACKAGENAME = value from database for installer PACKAGE NAME; String APP_NAME = value from database for installer APP NAME; intent.setClassName(PACKAGENAME, APP_NAME); startActivity(intent); I already did it. The installer .apk is hidden and the main app calls them and to the user it will APPEAR to be the SAME app. The main app is just calling each installer .apk behind the scenes which the user can then control the install or removal of each character though it's individual installer. When a character is removed then the installer for that character is also removed. If they don't like a character and want to remove it for a "refund" within the 48 or whatever period then they are refunded for that character and the installer for that character is gone (it updates the database upon its removal). If I need to update a character then I just update the installer app for that character. The user can then re-download the installer app for that character whenever they want or get an alert for an update for a character just like any other program. I actually think this will work. Anyone see anything I am missing? -Chris On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 5:47 PM, westmeadboy <[email protected]>wrote: > To exclude from the app drawer, I think this explains it: > http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/msg/c4ca26a240d7120b > > BTW, looking at the payments (received) in Google Checkout the actual > payment goes through always between 24 and 36 hours after > authorisation. Most of the time its between 26 and 27 hours. > > Authorisation normally happens within a minute of receipt of the > order, but sometimes takes several hours. > > (Of course, its possible that some payment systems within Google > Checkout behave differently.) > > Because of the potential authorisation delay, its very difficult to be > sure when the actual payment has cleared. I suppose 48 hours is safe > enough... > > On Mar 26, 12:32 am, Rob Mazur <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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... > > > > read more » > > -- > 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 > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+ > unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the words "REMOVE > ME" as the subject. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. 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