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Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

thenextweb.com

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Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#41

Post by mattquiros »

MaysonL wrote: post #36
mattquiros wrote: post #34

- On Android's fragmentation: From my experience, any developer or publisher who makes a big deal out of Android's fragmentation are just lazy people making excuses. There's ALWAYS a way to make the same iOS app on Android, and if any devices can't run your Android app, then that device just sucks too much. If it doesn't, either you do, or in this case, your publishing software. - "You make a beautiful magazine for t…

There actually is significant fragmentation in the Android user base, and it's harder to deliver significant apps with equality of performance and features for Android than iOS. See, for example, the BBC's experience: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2012/12/android_updat...

Yes, but the reality of the market is that not everybody is getting an iPhone, and not all Android users get high-end Android devices. It is still THE market, nonetheless. I don't think any blame should go to either iOS or Android because it's the people who patronized these products. However, it would be just as absurd to blame the market you're trying to target. If you want to reach as many people as possible, you're going to end up grouping them into categories anyway.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#42

Post by slurry »

MaysonL wrote: post #36
mattquiros wrote: post #34

- On Android's fragmentation: From my experience, any developer or publisher who makes a big deal out of Android's fragmentation are just lazy people making excuses. There's ALWAYS a way to make the same iOS app on Android, and if any devices can't run your Android app, then that device just sucks too much. If it doesn't, either you do, or in this case, your publishing software. - "You make a beautiful magazine for t…

There actually is significant fragmentation in the Android user base, and it's harder to deliver significant apps with equality of performance and features for Android than iOS. See, for example, the BBC's experience: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2012/12/android_updat...

Note that BBC is talking about the widely-varying hardware of Android devices, not the OS itself.

Also note that developing for widely-varying hardware + Android is vastly preferable to developing for widely-varying hardware + widely-varying proprietary OSes.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#43

Post by Steko »

dotBen wrote: post #39
Steko wrote: post #30

I think all the people blaming TNW or their tools or the lack of publishing platforms are all just missing the point as, despite market share, Android fails by many of the app and content dollar metrics. The point being missed is that Google might simply not have enough credit cards. Despite being one of the most valuable and trusted brands in the world, Google is not a brand people have trusted with their credit car…

"The point being missed is that Google might simply not have enough credit cards." Or, perhaps Android users just don't wish to be nickle and dimed into buying stuff. Cynical view, but even myself as a v affluent individual + owner and lover of several apple mac computers shuns iOS because frankly I don't wish to pay for every app and content I might consume. Case in point is this NextWeb magazine - sounds like it ac…

The demographics are certainly part of it but I doubt they favor Apple at anything like an 80:1 ratio.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#44

Post by Steko »

chris_wot wrote: post #35
rogerbinns wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than games, when I see apps available on both and that were ported from the iOS version it is very apparent they are not "proper" Android apps. Big clues are having menu and back buttons. Others are using builtin 3rd party integration (eg fb, twitter, dropbox) instead of the system. A well structured Android application is like a mashup of different screens, processing (services), event handlers (broadcast rece…

I'm really not clear why this comment was voted down. If you disagree, I'm very interested in knowing what the issue is. Speak up!

I didn't downvote it but the nth "blame the developer" comment seems to be offbase. I did find the poster's app[1] and the Android one is higher rated by a full star so it's not a quality issue, it's a platform issue.

[1] Tags for Likes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tagsforlikes-copy-paste-tags...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tagsforlik...

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#45

Post by petercooper »

bane wrote: post #32
petercooper wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ease of sales. It's easier to sell an app than a subscription through a Web paywall. This is also why more developers sell Mac apps through the App Store than direct now. Psychology, discoverability, and ease of making impulse purchases all comes into play.

I could see that for something like NYT, but TNW doesn't offer subscriptions. Do people discover web sites through an app store? I wonder if there's an opportunity there?

Ah, I'm not familiar with the TNW magazine so didn't realize it was free. In that case, it's because of advertising rates.

I run several e-mail newsletters that would work just as well as Web sites but the CPM is 10x higher for e-mail than Web so I use the format. I imagine they can sell the magazine by the page at a healthy rate in a way run of site banners wouldn't work.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#46

Post by Tomdarkness »

Steko wrote: post #27
Tomdarkness wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So put the content on the website and charge for it?

Some people do that, why should we care if they want to try selling content in a different way. I'm not here to run everyone's business for them. They invested in iOS and in Android and one failed. If you don't want to read the obvious lesson here and instead pivot to a tangent about how their whole business model is wrong feel free.

I was not saying that. Rather I was pointing out that having exclusive content in the magazine is not a valid argument against making the site work properly in every browser and discontinuing the iOS version.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#47

Post by bane »

petercooper wrote: post #45
bane wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could see that for something like NYT, but TNW doesn't offer subscriptions. Do people discover web sites through an app store? I wonder if there's an opportunity there?

Ah, I'm not familiar with the TNW magazine so didn't realize it was free. In that case, it's because of advertising rates. I run several e-mail newsletters that would work just as well as Web sites but the CPM is 10x higher for e-mail than Web so I use the format. I imagine they can sell the magazine by the page at a healthy rate in a way run of site banners wouldn't work.

Actually somebody else here pointed out that strangely they offer a subscription to additional content via the iOS app -- so I may be wrong. I would think they'd make it prominent on the web page as well to get more eyes on a way towards revenue.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#48

Post by rbarooah »

Tomdarkness wrote: post #46
Steko wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people do that, why should we care if they want to try selling content in a different way. I'm not here to run everyone's business for them. They invested in iOS and in Android and one failed. If you don't want to read the obvious lesson here and instead pivot to a tangent about how their whole business model is wrong feel free.

I was not saying that. Rather I was pointing out that having exclusive content in the magazine is not a valid argument against making the site work properly in every browser and discontinuing the iOS version.

The valid argument is that it's generally harder to convince people to pay for web content than it is for content on iOS where this product is already successful, presumably because iOS users are a self-selected group who are more willing to pay for digital content.

There doesn't seem to be any argument for making the site work 'properly' in 'every' browser and discontinuing the iOS version other than a dislike for iOS or iOS users.

Why should they discontinue a successful product?

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#49

Post by Zaheer »

eavc wrote: post #28
Zaheer wrote: post #12

I have an application out for Android & iPhone both with same exact functionality. The Android version sells maybe 10 a day max while iPhone constantly sells 10x that. I'm becoming more and more convinced the Android market is just not that attractive.

What is your application?

Sorta late but another commenter above linked to it.

Re: Why we’ve decided to stop producing TNW Magazine for Android

#50

Post by Zaheer »

rogerbinns wrote: post #29
Zaheer wrote: post #12

I have an application out for Android & iPhone both with same exact functionality. The Android version sells maybe 10 a day max while iPhone constantly sells 10x that. I'm becoming more and more convinced the Android market is just not that attractive.

Other than games, when I see apps available on both and that were ported from the iOS version it is very apparent they are not "proper" Android apps. Big clues are having menu and back buttons. Others are using builtin 3rd party integration (eg fb, twitter, dropbox) instead of the system. A well structured Android application is like a mashup of different screens, processing (services), event handlers (broadcast rece…

I didn't downvote this and I know that's an issue but mine was not a port. In fact I created the Android version even before the iPhone version. The app as Steko mentioned below also has a very good rating so its not quality as he mentioned.
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