[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Oct 8, 6:47 pm, Lance Nanek lna...@gmail.com wrote: I have been contacted by AppsLib and Archos. Compared toAmazon, no one has ever heard of AppsLib. But they are on the device, and Google's Market won't be. So I'll probably comply, even though some things won't work without GPS and compass. The Archos 5 Internet Tablet has GPS. I don't know about their other Android devices. The newest Archos line, 2 to 10 inch internet tablets, have 2.2 on them, but no GPS or compass sensor, at least from their spec sheets. They haven't hit the market yet. I still haven't been contacted by Amazon. Perhaps they will contact me in desperation after enough of you real developers snub them. I don't know what criteria they are using to choose their developers, and whether to be offended. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
I have been contacted by AppsLib and Archos. Compared to Amazon, no one has ever heard of AppsLib. But they are on the device, and Google's Market won't be. So I'll probably comply, even though some things won't work without GPS and compass. The Archos 5 Internet Tablet has GPS. I don't know about their other Android devices. On Oct 5, 12:55 am, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: On Oct 4, 7:14 pm, Maps.Huge.Info (Maps API Guru) cor...@gmail.com wrote: I got the e-mail and read the terms. I decided to stick with the Android market and forget this one. I think it's going to be a dud. Then again, what do I know? I didn't get any offer from them. Guess I should feel slighted. They have to be planning an Android device. It doesn't make sense without that. And even then ... I don't know if those jumping through hoops to get the Android Market on a non-approved device are the same order of magnitude as those who would root their devices. I think the combination of Google's disapproval and Amazon's control will keep that away from the mainstream. I have been contacted by AppsLib and Archos. Compared to Amazon, no one has ever heard of AppsLib. But they are on the device, and Google's Market won't be. So I'll probably comply, even though some things won't work without GPS and compass. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
Guys make sure to check also your email spam folders, the first email I got from Amazon showed up in there. In fact i didn't know I had it until they emailed me again a few days later as a reminder. I've decided to give it a shot, what the heck. Looks like you can cancel with 10 days advance notice anyway, so I'll try it out. At least Amazon usually has good search features, etc. However, I don't know if there will be a market for my apps in their plans or not. -niko On Oct 5, 12:49 am, Kumar Bibek coomar@gmail.com wrote: I would probably stick to the Android Market. Since it is still a place where the consumer base it the largest , I guess, that's the single most important thing for me. If there is any other store which has a bigger consumer base, it would be a good idea to shift then. By consumer base, I mean, people with Android phones. -Kumar Bibekhttp://techdroid.kbeanie.com On Oct 5, 9:55 am, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: On Oct 4, 7:14 pm, Maps.Huge.Info (Maps API Guru) cor...@gmail.com wrote: I got the e-mail and read the terms. I decided to stick with the Android market and forget this one. I think it's going to be a dud. Then again, what do I know? I didn't get any offer from them. Guess I should feel slighted. They have to be planning an Android device. It doesn't make sense without that. And even then ... I don't know if those jumping through hoops to get the Android Market on a non-approved device are the same order of magnitude as those who would root their devices. I think the combination of Google's disapproval andAmazon'scontrol will keep that away from the mainstream. I have been contacted by AppsLib and Archos. Compared toAmazon, no one has ever heard of AppsLib. But they are on the device, and Google's Market won't be. So I'll probably comply, even though some things won't work without GPS and compass. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On 10/04/10 22:14, Maps.Huge.Info (Maps API Guru) wrote: I got the e-mail and read the terms. I decided to stick with the Android market and forget this one. I think it's going to be a dud. Then again, what do I know? -John Coryat I got the e-mail but did not agree to the NDA. I would like to see a successful app store that would provide a convenient path for developers to non-Google-approved devices (the existing app stores that try to do this are too fragmented), but Amazon's offering doesn't appear to be it. It's way too evil. I can see it being successful if they sign up the big name developers and get it on a lot of devices, but I kind of hope it won't be. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
I think I could care less about the number of downloads from a place such as the Amazon store - it would take really amazing download rates for a free app to make back the $99 fee in any reasonable amount of time, and I just don't see where this is possible, unless Amazon has made some exclusive agreements with major carriers to place their market on millions of phones. It may make sense for paid apps (without a doubt, purchasing through Amazon would be more acceptable to many users than purchasing through Google Checkout + you have almost worldwide sales coverage). Certainly, if any independent market can compete with the Android market it would be Amazon, but I think they've shot themselves in the foot with the initial entry fee. That is going to keep a lot of the small developers from making the jump across - fewer apps - less chance that customers will take them seriously. Quality control is a good thing, but the registration fee just feels like a way of turning a profit on developers irrespective of sales. They should have made their initial offer of registration be free to the best/most popular apps to build up a good stable of apps for the launch - and then considered a registration fee afterward (as you say - if the sales are there, the developers will follow). If the registration was free, I don't think I would think twice about putting my free apps on there. As is, I'm still looking for additional information, like the OP. Regards, Michael A. On Oct 4, 6:53 pm, Shane Isbell shane.isb...@gmail.com wrote: Niko, I didn't sign any NDA with Amazon, but there is a lot of public information out there about the Amazon Android Store, coming from people leaking information out to various sites. Once the information becomes public, the NDA in regards to you talking about public information is not enforceable. My guess is that they are (or will) try to enforce that developers always keep their application up-to-date with Android Market versions. To keep users, they would need such a provision, as who wants to buy an app from a store that doesn't get updates? From my experience, most developers care about two things above all else: 1) downloads; 2) money from sales. If you look at all the other complaints, they are related to (1) and (2). Bad comments - hurts (1) or (2). My app doesn't show up, I can't sell it. Lots of spam apps means users can't find my app to buy. And so on. If Amazon can demonstrate that it can generate for the developer much more than the $99 dollar registration fee, then developers will flock to them, even putting up with unnecessary restrictions from Amazon. So the problem is: can Amazon demonstrate these sales? Introducing a high entrance fee means that 90%+ would never even consider them, as they either have free apps or their sales on Android Market are so low, they could never justify it. With a low number of apps in the store, users won't take it seriously. You end up with low downloads and sales so developers don't take it seriously. Shane On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM, niko20 nikolatesl...@yahoo.com wrote: I don't think it's a breach of NDA terms to ask - has anyone here decided to yes, take the offer to join the Amazon store? Personally I'm still unsure if I want to do so. The problem I have isn't that they want to have more control over the apps, it's their store, but that it seems like that control may extend beyond their store. What's everyone else been thinking? -niko -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comandroid-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com 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 android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
If they'd actually email me with this offer, I'd accept it. :) -- Chris Stewart http://chriswstewart.com Fantasy Footballhttp://chriswstewart.com/android-applications/fantasy-football/- Android app for MFL fantasy football owners On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 2:18 PM, Michael A. michael.aki...@gmail.com wrote: I think I could care less about the number of downloads from a place such as the Amazon store - it would take really amazing download rates for a free app to make back the $99 fee in any reasonable amount of time, and I just don't see where this is possible, unless Amazon has made some exclusive agreements with major carriers to place their market on millions of phones. It may make sense for paid apps (without a doubt, purchasing through Amazon would be more acceptable to many users than purchasing through Google Checkout + you have almost worldwide sales coverage). Certainly, if any independent market can compete with the Android market it would be Amazon, but I think they've shot themselves in the foot with the initial entry fee. That is going to keep a lot of the small developers from making the jump across - fewer apps - less chance that customers will take them seriously. Quality control is a good thing, but the registration fee just feels like a way of turning a profit on developers irrespective of sales. They should have made their initial offer of registration be free to the best/most popular apps to build up a good stable of apps for the launch - and then considered a registration fee afterward (as you say - if the sales are there, the developers will follow). If the registration was free, I don't think I would think twice about putting my free apps on there. As is, I'm still looking for additional information, like the OP. Regards, Michael A. On Oct 4, 6:53 pm, Shane Isbell shane.isb...@gmail.com wrote: Niko, I didn't sign any NDA with Amazon, but there is a lot of public information out there about the Amazon Android Store, coming from people leaking information out to various sites. Once the information becomes public, the NDA in regards to you talking about public information is not enforceable. My guess is that they are (or will) try to enforce that developers always keep their application up-to-date with Android Market versions. To keep users, they would need such a provision, as who wants to buy an app from a store that doesn't get updates? From my experience, most developers care about two things above all else: 1) downloads; 2) money from sales. If you look at all the other complaints, they are related to (1) and (2). Bad comments - hurts (1) or (2). My app doesn't show up, I can't sell it. Lots of spam apps means users can't find my app to buy. And so on. If Amazon can demonstrate that it can generate for the developer much more than the $99 dollar registration fee, then developers will flock to them, even putting up with unnecessary restrictions from Amazon. So the problem is: can Amazon demonstrate these sales? Introducing a high entrance fee means that 90%+ would never even consider them, as they either have free apps or their sales on Android Market are so low, they could never justify it. With a low number of apps in the store, users won't take it seriously. You end up with low downloads and sales so developers don't take it seriously. Shane On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM, niko20 nikolatesl...@yahoo.com wrote: I don't think it's a breach of NDA terms to ask - has anyone here decided to yes, take the offer to join the Amazon store? Personally I'm still unsure if I want to do so. The problem I have isn't that they want to have more control over the apps, it's their store, but that it seems like that control may extend beyond their store. What's everyone else been thinking? -niko -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comandroid-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com android-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.comandroid-developers%252bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com 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 android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comandroid-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com 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
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
Amazon hasn't sent me the offer. Sure, I'll take it if they do. From secondhand information: === It seems like if your app is available on other platforms, you have to make sure to update it at the same time on Amazon’s store that you do in any other store (this will piss off a lot of developers) Apps will have to be laced with Amazon DRM — meaning they will only work on devices they approve (obviously) === These objectives seem in conflict. If you have to wrap in DRM and go through an Amazon approval process, it works counter to keeping your app up to date. But the approval process might be they pull it if they don't like it. Maybe I need to call my app AppName . . . Amazon Edition. That way, its unique to Amazon and I won't get harassed about how often it gets updated elsewhere. Just like vendors will create a different SKU just for Walmart. If Amazon's next Kindle reader is Android, of course we will all want to to be in the Amazon store, cause it will be the only store on it. Registration may not be affordable for free apps, but I don't think Amazon really sees free apps as a priority. Can't see why they would. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 1:41 PM, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: Registration may not be affordable for free apps, but I don't think Amazon really sees free apps as a priority. Can't see why they would. Free apps are a priority because that is what drives users to the store. If users don't come, there are no sales of paid apps. If there are no sales, developers don't upload, users don't come... In short, free apps are the strongest way to bootstrap an app store user community. Shane -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Oct 4, 1:46 pm, Shane Isbell shane.isb...@gmail.com wrote: On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 1:41 PM, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: Registration may not be affordable for free apps, but I don't think Amazon really sees free apps as a priority. Can't see why they would. Free apps are a priority because that is what drives users to the store. If users don't come, there are no sales of paid apps. If there are no sales, developers don't upload, users don't come... In short, free apps are the strongest way to bootstrap an app store user community. Shane They will get free apps without it being their priority. The $99 isn't per app, is it? A developer with paid and free apps will probably put both in there. And free apps that generate sufficient revenue through ads etc. will also make their way there. Introducing a high entrance fee means that 90%+ would never even consider them, as they either have free apps or their sales on Android Market are so low, they could never justify it. With a low number of apps in the store, users won't take it seriously. This I don't buy. We developers overestimate our own importance. And lots of people overestimate the importance of the sheer number of apps. Are these 90% of apps (your estimate) that have never made any money (through sales or otherwise) critically important to Amazon? Would an Amazon customer not buy a device because it only has 10,000 apps instead of 100,000? Particularly if 20,000 of the latter are spam, and another 20,000 are not maintained because they never made any money? If Amazon made its next Kindle an Android device, lots of people would buy it because of one app only: Kindle. I think the real question is what devices can Amazon get its store preloaded on. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 3:07 PM, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: They will get free apps without it being their priority. The $99 isn't per app, is it? A developer with paid and free apps will probably put both in there. And free apps that generate sufficient revenue through ads etc. will also make their way there. That's actually my point. Free app developers will only put their app in a store charging $99 fee if they can generate sufficient revenue and without a whole lot of users, that isn't going to happen. This I don't buy. We developers overestimate our own importance. And lots of people overestimate the importance of the sheer number of apps. If you check the comments users make about Android Market vs. other markets, it's all about the number of apps. Would an Amazon customer not buy a device because it only has 10,000 apps instead of 100,000? 10K of apps is a lot but if it were only 1K, no I don't many think people would buy it. If Amazon made its next Kindle an Android device, lots of people would buy it because of one app only: Kindle. Sure, if they distributed it on such an e-reader device, it would generate users of even a handful of apps. People looking for a primary Android device or tablet, would just ignore it. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Oct 4, 3:43 pm, Shane Isbell shane.isb...@gmail.com wrote: On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 3:07 PM, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: If you check the comments users make about Android Market vs. other markets, it's all about the number of apps. Yep, those are the people I'm talking about. Listening to them, I'm surprised that anybody would buy an Android phone instead of an iPhone back when it had a measly 70,000 apps. Forget that most people won't use more than 100. How many end users actually choose their market, though? I suspect most people use what is on their device. It's device manufacturers that are choosing the market for their device. If Amazon thinks end users are going to stop using the Android Market and install the Amazon Market instead, they are stupid. But Amazon is not stupid, so I doubt that is their whole plan. Would an Amazon customer not buy a device because it only has 10,000 apps instead of 100,000? 10K of apps is a lot but if it were only 1K, no I don't many think people would buy it. Based on your estimates, they would get 13.7K. If Amazon made its next Kindle an Android device, lots of people would buy it because of one app only: Kindle. Sure, if they distributed it on such an e-reader device, it would generate users of even a handful of apps. People looking for a primary Android device or tablet, would just ignore it. I'm not assuming that Amazon would be stupid enough to release an Android tablet that's useful only for books. They should, and do, see the IPad as their competitor. I do not think Amazon Market will overtake the Android Market on phones. Carriers would boot it out before Amazon did, not that I like that idea. But most tablets are not Google certified and are not eligible for the Android Market. Amazon market would be a good alternative, and it would certainly be on any Amazon branded tablet. I'd be asking myself how many devices is it on not how many apps does it already have. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
Re: [android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 5:02 PM, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: Would an Amazon customer not buy a device because it only has 10,000 apps instead of 100,000? 10K of apps is a lot but if it were only 1K, no I don't many think people would buy it. Based on your estimates, they would get 13.7K. No, all I said was that 90+% of developers wouldn't even consider the option. That's way different than saying they like the option (or even know about the option) and would upload. Either way, I don't think we fundamentally disagree - if Amazon is not going for volume of apps, they will need a wide distribution on-devices. If Amazon is going to release their own tablet, they may be able to pull it off but what happened on other devices was that people found out how to load up the Android Market; so unless Amazon can prevent this, I still think it could be a tough go for them. Waiving developer fees for a while, as Michael A. suggested, would largely make it a no-brainer for many devs. Shane -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
I got the e-mail and read the terms. I decided to stick with the Android market and forget this one. I think it's going to be a dud. Then again, what do I know? -John Coryat -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
On Oct 4, 7:14 pm, Maps.Huge.Info (Maps API Guru) cor...@gmail.com wrote: I got the e-mail and read the terms. I decided to stick with the Android market and forget this one. I think it's going to be a dud. Then again, what do I know? I didn't get any offer from them. Guess I should feel slighted. They have to be planning an Android device. It doesn't make sense without that. And even then ... I don't know if those jumping through hoops to get the Android Market on a non-approved device are the same order of magnitude as those who would root their devices. I think the combination of Google's disapproval and Amazon's control will keep that away from the mainstream. I have been contacted by AppsLib and Archos. Compared to Amazon, no one has ever heard of AppsLib. But they are on the device, and Google's Market won't be. So I'll probably comply, even though some things won't work without GPS and compass. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
[android-developers] Re: Amazon android market. Anyone take the offer?
I would probably stick to the Android Market. Since it is still a place where the consumer base it the largest , I guess, that's the single most important thing for me. If there is any other store which has a bigger consumer base, it would be a good idea to shift then. By consumer base, I mean, people with Android phones. -Kumar Bibek http://techdroid.kbeanie.com On Oct 5, 9:55 am, Nathan critter...@crittermap.com wrote: On Oct 4, 7:14 pm, Maps.Huge.Info (Maps API Guru) cor...@gmail.com wrote: I got the e-mail and read the terms. I decided to stick with the Android market and forget this one. I think it's going to be a dud. Then again, what do I know? I didn't get any offer from them. Guess I should feel slighted. They have to be planning an Android device. It doesn't make sense without that. And even then ... I don't know if those jumping through hoops to get the Android Market on a non-approved device are the same order of magnitude as those who would root their devices. I think the combination of Google's disapproval and Amazon's control will keep that away from the mainstream. I have been contacted by AppsLib and Archos. Compared to Amazon, no one has ever heard of AppsLib. But they are on the device, and Google's Market won't be. So I'll probably comply, even though some things won't work without GPS and compass. Nathan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Developers group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
