3rd party app option pushing away developers?

[Ayman250]

It seems to me that the option for 3rd [arty apps is pushing away developers. I feel this way because, it allows for easy installation of paid apps for free. Because all you have to do is find file hosting site on your phone, and download and install the app. It requires minimal knowledge, and is really really hurting the android market. You can get most apps for free in a matter of 1 minute. This requires no hacking of your phone whatsoever. Take this analogy into consideration.
You have an option to build your store in 2 malls.
Iphone Mall: Secure and popular. Several security Gaurds, and cameras.
Adroid Mall: Popular, but almost no security.
You would choose the iphone.
This is understandable. Developers don't want to waste their time and money on apps when they know they will not make very much money.
Personally I buy several apps, and i would like to see more quality apps, especially games. But as long as it is that easy to get the apps for free i dont expect to see any.
What do you think?

 

[waynester]

Yeah , it's a tuff choice.
Maybe better apps in a closed system/semi protected, or open system where apps might not be as polished , due to fact dev prob won't make money due to "sharing" so why put max effort into it?.
But I don't know why, for the most times minimal charge is the norm. If you can afford the phone , why not pay $1-$5 for an app you like? Especially since you can try it out for 24 hrs. The more apps bought the more devs will come to android

 

[UncleMike]

I understand (from other sources) that the Market offers no anti-piracy features; one rogue user can backup their purchased app and upload it to a hosting site for anyone to download.

One way to combat this is to have reasonably priced apps. I think most users are willing to pay a reasonable charge for apps.

On the other hand, paid apps in the Market are not available in certain regions - making piracy the only way for some users to get certain apps, unless the developer is willing to put in the effort to make the app available off-Market. Giving potential users no legitimate access to some apps will always encourage piracy, regardless of what anti-piracy measures Google puts into place, and I think this needs to be addressed first.

 

[G.Armour]

Or yet another option is... make the app for both iPhone and android. But there could be other options as to getting money for apps, they could do like the dev for titanium backup did, put out a free app and if u want pro, buy the key directly from the dev..

If you can't convince them, confuse them.

 

[beckx020]

I've paid for many apps. I don't think I'm in the minority. And if I am, shame on those of you that steal.

 

[Braaainz]

I didn't have a smartphone previously, but I am sickened at how many people steal apps, tether without paying their contract established fees, etc.

More and more, my cynicism regarding humanity increases.

 

[Poldie]

I didn't have a smartphone previously, but I am sickened at how many people steal apps, tether without paying their contract established fees, etc.

More and more, my cynicism regarding humanity increases.

What's wrong with tethering?

 

[G.Armour]

I didn't have a smartphone previously, but I am sickened at how many people steal apps, tether without paying their contract established fees, etc.

M

What's wrong with tethering?

Exactly. I don't see anything wrong with it. But I have paid for plenty of apps. I think if it is a paid app that u want, u should pay for it.

"If you can't convince them, confuse them." - Harry Truman

 

[ibleedbloo]

I am new to Android and didn't realize before reading this thread that it was possible to install apps without paying for them. I wonder what percentage is larger, people who install apps without paying on Android or those who have jailbroken iPhones.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

I am new to Android and didn't realize before reading this thread that it was possible to install apps without paying for them. I wonder what percentage is larger, people who install apps without paying on Android or those who have jailbroken iPhones.

Is there a relational analogy?

 

[Upright]

I am new to Android and didn't realize before reading this thread that it was possible to install apps without paying for them. I wonder what percentage is larger, people who install apps without paying on Android or those who have jailbroken iPhones.

I know for sure that there are lots of people that just get there apps in the apps store. Most people don't do installation outside the market place.

 

[Xavion2004]

Honestly I think the percentage of people stealing apps is pretty small. Not saying it doesnt happen but many dont know how to do it and many that do just dont trust it. I just hope the OP doesnt have his phone rooted because that would make him somewhat of a hypocrite if he is enjoying any of the perks such as wifi teethering

 

[Ayman250]

The percentage is not small by any means. If you look at the games in the market and their total downloads you will realize that the only paid game above 250000 is robo defence.(not positive) there are millions of android users. That is very pathetic. You must realize that pirating an app on android is just as easy as buying it. And there needs to be more security if the android market wants to compete with the app store.

 

[ibleedbloo]

Is there a relational analogy?

Not sure how rational the analogy is, but my thinking is if 5% of people have jailbroken their iPhones and are installing apps without paying and 5% of Android users are not paying for apps the iPhone app developers are taking the same risk. But, if only 1% of people are not paying for iPhone apps while 25% are not paying for Android apps the risk would be great and it would keep developers away from Android.

 

[Ozymandias88]

Can't developers keep track of pirates by including the phone state and identity permission. This can read a phones imei and other identifying info. If it was me I'd fire this information back on first run. If I had lots more info sent back than apes bought I'd ask Google to investigate. Perhaps that isn't allowed or summat.

 

[Upright]

Just wanted to point something out here. Documents To Go (full version) has over 250,000 downloads @ $14.99 each, so its not like people don't want to pay for apps. Give people quality apps and they'll pay for them. Period.
Keep in mind that the over saturated iTunes app store isn't exactly going to be cash heaven for developers either, with duplicate apps, tons of competition, and the mass amounts of free apps the iTunes apps store presents it's fair share of challenges also.
What the Android market needs IMO is more big name developers and with games like EA's FIFA 10 on Android it's a sign that the big name developers see revenue potential in Android.

 

[Upright]

Sorry, double post.

 

[grainysand]

Are people harboring under the delusion that it's fiendishly difficult to jailbreak iPhones and download apps from Cydia?

 

[Ayman250]

Are people harboring under the delusion that it's fiendishly difficult to jailbreak iPhones and download apps from Cydia?

No but for the average iphone user it is intimidating.

 

[grainysand]

Really? Then average iphone users must be even stupider and more hopeless than I thought, considering that jailbreaking is a one-click process.

 

[Poldie]

Can't developers keep track of pirates by including the phone state and identity permission. This can read a phones imei and other identifying info. If it was me I'd fire this information back on first run. If I had lots more info sent back than apes bought I'd ask Google to investigate. Perhaps that isn't allowed or summat.

Google aren't going to investigate. What would you have them do? Spend their time and money trying to establish if someone is copying apps, and then go after them in the courts? It's not their apps being pirated!

Having said that, given the connected nature of phone apps, I'm a little surprised there's not more `phoning home` at the start of each session, to match the phone's imei against a serial number (where the serial number is unique to each phone, and stored on the developers servers).

 

[Kryten2k35]

When Google give in and put paypal as an option, then I see myself buying lots of apps.

Anyway, yeah, you can get pirated apps. But developers can put all kinds of safe guards in their apps against this. Also, those apps you get from places like _____ don't auto update and are pretty old. Imho, it's just better to use Lite versions.

Anyway, the best apps are free. I'll always maintain that. People hardly ever want to pay

 

[Tre Lawrence]

Dunno... if there is an app that gives me value, I would buy it. I do like free though, but I put premium on specific utility of the app.

 

[beckx020]

Not everyone plays games on the phone. So that is a foolish way to say people are stealing. Since I've tried and failed to play the couple free games I downloaded, you can bet I'm not going to pay for games I can't play. I do have Docs-to-go and paid for it.

 

[Braaainz]

What's wrong with tethering?

Nothing is wrong with tethering... provided it doesn't go against your signed contract with your service provider.

For example, according to Sprint's Terms of Service (TOS), you will not tether or connect your phone to other devices for the purpose of providing internet, without paying for such a service from Sprint.

If you tether without paying for Sprint's add-on hotspot/Phone as modem plan, you are breaking your contract with Sprint. It could be argued that continuing to use Sprint's services after that constitutes theft (making you a thief).

This is similar to people who pay for basic cable, but then hack their cable to get premium channels without paying for them. Although I doubt any phone company would prosecute at this stage for tethering, cable companies have done exactly that regarding people stealing premium channel service.

After hanging around this forum, I have really been shocked at the number of people who willingly break their word/signed contracts over rather small/moderate fees.

Totally off the subject, but I think such attitudes represent a serious and ominous trend. When people easily disregard the Social Contract, thinking the benefits outweigh the risks... we begin to see the dissolution of society/civilization. We can see the effects on a large scale in fringe parts of our world, like the Somolian pirates. Granted, stealing data-streaming, identity theft, music/video piracy, etc. are a far less offense than kidnapping... but those things are happening on a large scale directly in mainstream society, not in the fringe areas.