JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#1

Post by mosburger » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 12:35 AM UTC

JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II
jwz.livejournal.com

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#2

Post by Maciek416 » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 12:47 AM UTC

One day we're going to look at these dark days of app approval processes, registration fees, application fees, fragmented platforms, crazy APIs and laugh. Or cry.

What an awkward phase.

I for one hope for a decent cross-platform browser API that lets me access mobile phone functions (database / GPS / camera) in js and just be done with all this drama.

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#3

Post by protomyth » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:03 AM UTC

So, $99 fee and $50 per app for the "real" app store. I wonder how this is going to effect the developer's decision on what pricing should be and how feature filled the application will be?

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#4

Post by ErrantX » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:04 AM UTC

I agree; what he wants is a stellar idea and how it should work for definite.

The problem is twofold.

Firstly Apple. They achieved unbelievable lockin (even accounting for jailbreaking) with the App Store and are certainly raking in a fortune with it. Im not surprised Palm want a portion of the pie.

Secondly; I bet you the Pre is "sold" at a loss. Because Palm looked at the App Store and thought "hey that is a limitless pot of money, lets do it!". Im sure the Iphone/Ipod Touch is sold for the same sort of "loss" - the profit is from tertiary services (this is a fairly standard model, right).

We already have a dangerous simile for this sort of loss leader system: it's called printed news media. They make money off of advertising revenue and that is falling apart as things evolve.

There will be a revolution in phone software at some point; a time when phone providers finally realise they should open up their phones to other OS's the same way computers are. When that happens these companies are fucked; and I dont think it can be too far away. The number of disgruntled App store devs is growing, Android is increasing in popularity and gaining market traction (though I dont rate any of the production phones yet) and it looks like Palm devs will be joining the pool. That is a dangerous group of people :D

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#5

Post by prawn » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:07 AM UTC

Maciek416 wrote: post #2

One day we're going to look at these dark days of app approval processes, registration fees, application fees, fragmented platforms, crazy APIs and laugh. Or cry. What an awkward phase. I for one hope for a decent cross-platform browser API that lets me access mobile phone functions (database / GPS / camera) in js and just be done with all this drama.

Roughly on the app store topic, an app store for TVs/set top boxes is going to be big one day in the near future. Could quickly take the Apple TV to a new level.

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#6

Post by protomyth » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:10 AM UTC

ErrantX wrote: post #4

I agree; what he wants is a stellar idea and how it should work for definite. The problem is twofold. Firstly Apple. They achieved unbelievable lockin (even accounting for jailbreaking) with the App Store and are certainly raking in a fortune with it. Im not surprised Palm want a portion of the pie. Secondly; I bet you the Pre is "sold" at a loss. Because Palm looked at the App Store and thought "hey that is a limitl…

I am not sure I see the "open" trend. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the future is the integrated hardware / software / store. Look at game consoles, iphone, and palm pre. The "open" computer might actually be a blip in computing history. (Please Note: I am not liking or advocating this trend)

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#7

Post by protomyth » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:12 AM UTC

prawn wrote: post #5

Maciek416 wrote: post #2

One day we're going to look at these dark days of app approval processes, registration fees, application fees, fragmented platforms, crazy APIs and laugh. Or cry. What an awkward phase. I for one hope for a decent cross-platform browser API that lets me access mobile phone functions (database / GPS / camera) in js and just be done with all this drama.

Roughly on the app store topic, an app store for TVs/set top boxes is going to be big one day in the near future. Could quickly take the Apple TV to a new level.

You can see the start of this with the XBox market place where you buy downloadable games.

If Apple had a app store for a next generation AppleTV, it would be a very interesting platform.

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#8

Post by ErrantX » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:14 AM UTC

protomyth wrote: post #6

ErrantX wrote: post #4

I agree; what he wants is a stellar idea and how it should work for definite. The problem is twofold. Firstly Apple. They achieved unbelievable lockin (even accounting for jailbreaking) with the App Store and are certainly raking in a fortune with it. Im not surprised Palm want a portion of the pie. Secondly; I bet you the Pre is "sold" at a loss. Because Palm looked at the App Store and thought "hey that is a limitl…

I am not sure I see the "open" trend. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the future is the integrated hardware / software / store. Look at game consoles, iphone, and palm pre. The "open" computer might actually be a blip in computing history. (Please Note: I am not liking or advocating this trend)

I suppose it depends whether a reliable open platform (i.e. Android) gets established and achieves a critical mass of developers behind it.

Could happen :)

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#9

Post by jmtulloss » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:14 AM UTC

I think JWZ has some of the details wrong. The Palm app catalog may resemble the Apple app store. This is not a bad thing. This is a repository of apps that are easy to find and install from the device itself, and it carries a certain seal of approval from Palm/Apple. There should be quality requirements for this distribution channel.

However, there is no "2nd citizen" app store. What Palm is doing is providing a link to your app that can be posted anywhere that will do exactly what JWZ wants: install the app on your phone when clicked. There is no charge for this link, and the app is not reviewed. Palm is simply hosting the app for you AND providing over-the-air updates for your app. What you don't get is the on-device distribution channel.

(Disclaimer: I work at Palm, but am not in developer relations. These are my opinions; I'm not privy to information on this topic outside of what you fine folks have.)

Re: JWZ and the Palm App Catalog, Part II

#10

Post by awad » Wed, Oct 07, 2009, 1:16 AM UTC

ErrantX wrote: post #4

I agree; what he wants is a stellar idea and how it should work for definite. The problem is twofold. Firstly Apple. They achieved unbelievable lockin (even accounting for jailbreaking) with the App Store and are certainly raking in a fortune with it. Im not surprised Palm want a portion of the pie. Secondly; I bet you the Pre is "sold" at a loss. Because Palm looked at the App Store and thought "hey that is a limitl…

Actually, Apple makes a mint on every iPhone and iTouch (see http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/06/iphone_3gs_cost...) to the tune of about 50% of the retail price, or 100% of the manufacturing cost, whatever way you want to look at it. This excludes all research, development, and marketing of course.