As a Locale/Tasker Plugin Developer I can see where you are coming from. You are making good points. Specifically the linking would be great. I only see one problem with that you do not want the plug-ins to show up on general searches. Because the User might not be aware that the main Program even exists.
Take my Locale Google Voice Settings Plug-in<https://market.android.com/details?id=com.steelgirder.LocaleGoogleVoicePlugin&feature=search_result>for example. A user who just signed up for Google voice and is new to Android might not know that with Locale/Tasker and the Plug-in he would be able to control his settings dynamically by location. But its very likely that he would search for "Google Voice"<https://market.android.com/search?q=Google+voice&so=1&c=apps>- which could bring up the Plug-in. There he can read the description and find out about Locale/Tasker. I am just saying that it might happen often that the user buys the main program just because he wants the functionality of one specific plug-in. This could be true for Skins as well. It would be nice to have the Market show a label that this is a plug-in so users would understand it better. Or that you can exclude Plug-ins explicitly if you make a search in case you are searching for the main program. Also, every plugin could have a programmatic link to the main program in the plug-ins description page. The way we handle it now is that you create an Activity which reacts on the Launch from the Market and checks in the packet manager if Locale is installed. If it is, we launch Locale, if not we show a popup advising the user of the main program and offering a market link to download. On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 7:34 AM, keyboardr <[email protected]> wrote: > It seems the Market would benefit greatly and would be much easier to > navigate if it was aware of theme/plugin applications in a > hierarchical manner. For example: suppose I wanted to install > ADW.Launcher. Doing a search in market, it is unclear which is the > ADW.Launcher app, and which are simply themes for the app. Locale is > another example where it is not immediately obvious which is the app > and which are plugins. Additionally, searching specifically for > plugins for Locale can be difficult (partly because the word 'locale' > has its own meaning). > > My proposed solution is that the Market implement a hierarchical > labeling system. An app would default to having the "standalone" > label, but the developer would be able to label his/her app with other > apps, as well as remove the "standalone" label. In this system, only > standalone apps would show up in general searches, and plugins for a > particular app could be seen by accessing that app's market page. > E.g., a theme for ADW.Launcher would be labeled by the developer as a > plugin for ADW.Launcher and not as a standalone app. This theme would > not be shown in general searches, but would be seen by tapping the > "view available plugins" link on ADW.Launcher's page. An app that has > its own functionality, e.g. Widgetsoid, but also has plugins for > Locale and Tasker would keep the "standalone" label, but also label > itself with Locale and Tasker. > > An effort should be made to prevent gaming the system by labeling > your app with a competitor's app. Developers should be required to > opt-in to allow themselves to be a label, and should be able to unlink > themselves from apps that have used their label semi-permanently. > This way, e.g., if LauncherPro were to use ADW.Launcher's label, > ADW.Launcher's developer would be able to remove that label and > LauncherPro's developer would not be able to reapply it without > ADW.Launcher's permission. > > This system would greatly improve the cohesiveness and community > aspects of the Android ecosystem, and would allow for better > navigation and discovery for users and developers. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Android Discuss" 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-discuss?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" 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-discuss?hl=en.
