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IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

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Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#41

Post by beeeph »

JoachimSchipper wrote: post #38
gacba wrote: post #37

Three words people: In App Purchases! If you have a free app, and then use In App Purchasing for your real revenue stream, you won't be affected by these Orwellian terms and Amazon's whims. It's relatively new on Android, but a number of iOS apps are raking it in this way and giving away the app for free... http://mashable.com/2011/03/29/android-in-app-live/

Apple has already closed this loophole, and if this becomes widespread others will too.

How did they close it? This is how all my iOS apps generate revenue. They're all free with In-App Purchases. It works great.

Also, why would anyone consider this a "loophole"?

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#42

Post by androidjim »

allwein wrote: post #23

I'd need to read the Amazon agreement much more closely, but what's to stop developers from gaming this by taking all their apps released on Amazon's app store and making them special "Amazon Editions"? Then the argument is there that the minimum list price on Google's store doesn't apply, because the Google Edition and the Amazon Edition are two different apps.

Amazon requires that you offer all versions of your app for sale on Amazon. So they will be selling your Google Edition as well as your Amazon Edition.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#43

Post by swombat »

msy wrote: post #15

Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss. Amazon, Apple et al are becoming new middle men of the digital marketplace. Want to sell content online? If you want mass market exposure we'll have 30-70% of the revenue from the sweat of your brow and you better thank us for the privilege. I wonder how long until they band together and form a lobby group called the Digital Content Providers Association of America.

And, like all middlemen, they very much deserve their cut.

What are you going to do with that pile of books in your cellar if there's no bookshop to sell them for you? Open your own single-book store?

If you build a store, you should certainly get a healthy cut of what you sell through your store.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#44

Post by jonknee »

irons wrote: post #35
jonknee wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think Tweetbot would have any trouble launching at whatever list price they wanted on Amazon. Amazon isn't selling iOS apps so the Apple App Store isn't a similar service. Google's Android Market would be though.

Your optimism would be touching, if it wasn't coming in the defense of such flagrantly hostile behavior. Even if this clause did apply only to Android recompilations and not to ports, I trust you'll concede it is not status quo ante with Apple's already-appalling pricing terms.

Apple has a monopoly in the iOS app distribution game, so their pricing terms are appalling for a different set of reasons (regardless of what they are you must agree if you want to ship the app). While I think Amazon is playing hardball, they in no way are the only way to sell Android applications. If the terms aren't agreeable, just don't use their store.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#45

Post by dpcan »

jcl wrote: post #30

I'm surprised the IGDA didn't also call out Amazon's apparent requirement that a developer must allow Amazon to distribute all the software the developer is distributing through other channels. In other words, there's no way to try out Amazon's service with just one title -- it's all or nothing.

I was surprised they didn't mention this as well.

Plus, the Timing of Deliveries section.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#46

Post by Maascamp »

swombat wrote: post #43
msy wrote: post #15

Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss. Amazon, Apple et al are becoming new middle men of the digital marketplace. Want to sell content online? If you want mass market exposure we'll have 30-70% of the revenue from the sweat of your brow and you better thank us for the privilege. I wonder how long until they band together and form a lobby group called the Digital Content Providers Association of America.

And, like all middlemen, they very much deserve their cut. What are you going to do with that pile of books in your cellar if there's no bookshop to sell them for you? Open your own single-book store? If you build a store, you should certainly get a healthy cut of what you sell through your store.

I certainly wouldn't generalize that to _ALL_ middle men. Have you heard about sub prime mortgages..?

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#47

Post by swombat »

Maascamp wrote: post #46
swombat wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And, like all middlemen, they very much deserve their cut. What are you going to do with that pile of books in your cellar if there's no bookshop to sell them for you? Open your own single-book store? If you build a store, you should certainly get a healthy cut of what you sell through your store.

I certainly wouldn't generalize that to _ALL_ middle men. Have you heard about sub prime mortgages..?

Ok, probably not all. Let's say "many".

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#48

Post by msy »

swombat wrote: post #43
msy wrote: post #15

Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss. Amazon, Apple et al are becoming new middle men of the digital marketplace. Want to sell content online? If you want mass market exposure we'll have 30-70% of the revenue from the sweat of your brow and you better thank us for the privilege. I wonder how long until they band together and form a lobby group called the Digital Content Providers Association of America.

And, like all middlemen, they very much deserve their cut. What are you going to do with that pile of books in your cellar if there's no bookshop to sell them for you? Open your own single-book store? If you build a store, you should certainly get a healthy cut of what you sell through your store.

The problem isn't the existence of middle men, it's when oligopolies form that can bully producers and consumers alike and in the process stifle innovation and creativity.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#49

Post by samatman »

cooldeal wrote: post #17
msy wrote: post #15

Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss. Amazon, Apple et al are becoming new middle men of the digital marketplace. Want to sell content online? If you want mass market exposure we'll have 30-70% of the revenue from the sweat of your brow and you better thank us for the privilege. I wonder how long until they band together and form a lobby group called the Digital Content Providers Association of America.

With Android atleast you can sell the app from your website or any market. With iPhone apps there is no chance of that at all. (Cydia doesn't really count).

Why doesn't Cydia count? I've never understood the logic here. Since the Supreme Court has determined that jailbreaking and alternate markets are legal, what does it matter that Apple would prefer you didn't install it?

But then, I've spent probably 30 bucks and counting on the Cydia store.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#50

Post by itg »

metageek wrote: post #25
_delirium wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can believe that if Amazon were sticking to terms for its own market, but Amazon is attempting to prohibit anyone who sells through its market from simultaneously trying other pricing strategies in other channels. That seems more like a classic attempt at using market power in one channel to coerce behavior in other channels, rather than competing on the product's actual strength (unlike Google or even Apple).

It's exactly like Apple's rule for in-app purchases.

The rules Amazon has in place are much worse than what Apple requires.
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