Comments on: Android Market Flaws Causing Developer Exodus? http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/ Android Phone News, Rumors, Reviews, Apps, Forums & More! Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:40:22 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BeMeCollective http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-65523 BeMeCollective Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:35:55 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-65523 Hello! I would like to share my experience on this topic, please. I feel like Peter from TripComputer! We develop an application, investing hundreds of night-hours on it. Then, if we wish to sell it, Google does not allow us to sell in the market. “Canadian vendors not allowed in the market”. Ironically, they did take our 25 US dollars for the privilege of giving our free apps to the users, but no way to sell. So we put a LITE app in the market, and a paid app in Slide ME. The users see the LITE, free app in the market and ask for more and more features, for free. Nobody buys the paid app. This can go on for a while, but how long will it be until the good developers burn out and stop developing? In the iPhone store, the good apps are making nice money out of it (the best 5 apps make roughly 3000-4000 US$ a day). In the Android market, the absolutely best 5 sold apps (not mine, unfortunately) are making around 30-60 dollars a day. Free apps are nice, but they don’t put food on my kids table, right? Best regards, Ari Hello!

I would like to share my experience on this topic, please.

I feel like Peter from TripComputer!
We develop an application, investing hundreds of night-hours on it. Then, if we wish to sell it, Google does not allow us to sell in the market. “Canadian vendors not allowed in the market”.
Ironically, they did take our 25 US dollars for the privilege of giving our free apps to the users, but no way to sell.
So we put a LITE app in the market, and a paid app in Slide ME. The users see the LITE, free app in the market and ask for more and more features, for free. Nobody buys the paid app.

This can go on for a while, but how long will it be until the good developers burn out and stop developing?

In the iPhone store, the good apps are making nice money out of it (the best 5 apps make roughly 3000-4000 US$ a day). In the Android market, the absolutely best 5 sold apps (not mine, unfortunately) are making around 30-60 dollars a day.

Free apps are nice, but they don’t put food on my kids table, right?

Best regards,

Ari

]]> By: longhairedsi http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62742 longhairedsi Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:20:16 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62742 I've not played any gamesloft games, but I can see their point. I've invested a considerable amount of my spare time developing an app for the android platform. I've recently published and app to the market and sales have been shockingly bad. I know it's reasonably good app as it got through to the ADC 2 second round. So I'm starting to question if it is worth carrying on. It seems to me you either need to get 'featured' or into the 'top selling' apps to make any reasonable return, but thats a chicken or the egg scenario. I think an advertising push by google/carriers similar to the "there's an app for that" iPhone campaign. We need to get users excited about buying apps on the android platform! Also using SD card to store apps would make a huge difference. I've had the "out of storage" message on numerous occasions, this just leads to uninstalled apps. I think a desktop market browser would also help immensely. I’ve not played any gamesloft games, but I can see their point. I’ve invested a considerable amount of my spare time developing an app for the android platform. I’ve recently published and app to the market and sales have been shockingly bad. I know it’s reasonably good app as it got through to the ADC 2 second round. So I’m starting to question if it is worth carrying on. It seems to me you either need to get ‘featured’ or into the ‘top selling’ apps to make any reasonable return, but thats a chicken or the egg scenario.

I think an advertising push by google/carriers similar to the “there’s an app for that” iPhone campaign. We need to get users excited about buying apps on the android platform!

Also using SD card to store apps would make a huge difference. I’ve had the “out of storage” message on numerous occasions, this just leads to uninstalled apps.

I think a desktop market browser would also help immensely.

]]> By: FisherP http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62741 FisherP Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:16:46 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62741 What the Android Market needs is the ability to integrate with the rest of your data 'held' by Google, with ACCESS VIA THE WEB!!! It's annoying only being able to see the top paid or top free apps. I want a faceted browser view on the market to narrow down my searches according to WHAT I WANT. Not being able to see the whole list of apps outside of the Android market (on a phone) is stupid, annoying, and needs to be sorted. What the Android Market needs is the ability to integrate with the rest of your data ‘held’ by Google, with ACCESS VIA THE WEB!!! It’s annoying only being able to see the top paid or top free apps. I want a faceted browser view on the market to narrow down my searches according to WHAT I WANT. Not being able to see the whole list of apps outside of the Android market (on a phone) is stupid, annoying, and needs to be sorted.

]]> By: hotdawg http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62692 hotdawg Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:13:12 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62692 I've spoken with one successful iPhone developer recently who said they have the android version ready, they are just waiting to see how Droid develops. I’ve spoken with one successful iPhone developer recently who said they have the android version ready, they are just waiting to see how Droid develops.

]]> By: Wingedsaber http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62652 Wingedsaber Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:47:12 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62652 Yes, Google made some mistakes but dont mistrust in them, they are still an giant innovative and creative company, look at how they put android in a family of mobile devices in less if not 1 year, which is an great achievement where as apple had it much easier making their own mobile device for it only, while already having an history of other multimedia devices, the iPod series, where google was an search engine site only! we have to give google some time, their not stupid, and gameloft should calm down, their games on the iphone are not always so good also with lame graphics.. its really unsporty of gameloft talking so big with only such an young OS which community is already so big. Yes, Google made some mistakes but dont mistrust in them, they are still an giant innovative and creative company, look at how they put android in a family of mobile devices in less if not 1 year, which is an great achievement where as apple had it much easier making their own mobile device for it only, while already having an history of other multimedia devices, the iPod series, where google was an search engine site only!

we have to give google some time, their not stupid, and gameloft should calm down, their games on the iphone are not always so good also with lame graphics.. its really unsporty of gameloft talking so big with only such an young OS which community is already so big.

]]> By: MensahWatts http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62602 MensahWatts Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:31:09 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62602 And to JAMES, right on man you say like it is. People want to diss Android when Google was recently A dam search engine only I mean come on...loOK at the Droid-if that aint a sigh of good things to come with its 2.0 and all...someones need google up some info on the history of Android and google-and how lonnnnng apple has been in the tech bizz over Google. Apple has been in the tech biz awhile-now Google...newbees-but newbees coming up with a plain to rule all tech-are close. I believe they will rule in all tech though-they gots the money-and the right idea... And to JAMES, right on man you say like it is. People want to diss Android when Google was recently A dam search engine only I mean come on…loOK at the Droid-if that aint a sigh of good things to come with its 2.0 and all…someones need google up some info on the history of Android and google-and how lonnnnng apple has been in the tech bizz over Google. Apple has been in the tech biz awhile-now Google…newbees-but newbees coming up with a plain to rule all tech-are close. I believe they will rule in all tech though-they gots the money-and the right idea…

]]> By: MensahWatts http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62595 MensahWatts Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:22:56 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62595 I loved Android from day one and I agree with all the people who can see (people like Micronix),that Android is indeed growing and geting better and better. It is in time going to be biger way biger-Droid is its first BIG foot in the door I loved Android from day one and I agree with all the people who can see (people like Micronix),that Android is indeed growing and geting better and better. It is in time going to be biger way biger-Droid is its first BIG foot in the door

]]> By: Robb http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62580 Robb Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:06:30 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62580 For the love of god would you people quite recommending a syncing app for the android market!! If I need a "G-apps" app to sync my phone im going to just carry a damn netbook and use google voice. Its early boys and girls....give it time. Trust me if the devs build it.....the users will come. For the love of god would you people quite recommending a syncing app for the android market!! If I need a “G-apps” app to sync my phone im going to just carry a damn netbook and use google voice.

Its early boys and girls….give it time.
Trust me if the devs build it…..the users will come.

]]> By: Masque http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62575 Masque Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:13:20 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62575 @Nick - I was under the impression the whole download gets installed to the internal storage. Are you saying that during the installation process of a download it identifies data vs. executable code and splits it between the internal storage/SD card? Is that confirmed? @Dennis - Oh, I agree completely that the phone isn't really going to be a "standard" for gaming platforms. The article spoke about a gaming company and compared the ROI between iTunes/iPhone and Google Market/Android so I was just curious as to the top 10 sellers in the Apple Store. On a side note, iTunes also shows the top 10 grossing applications. Not suprising, three of those are Mobile Navigator (#2/$69.99), Magellan Road Mate (#5/$79.99) and TomTom US & Canada (#6/$99.99). Those count toward the gross revenue where as on the Android we get Google Maps for free. @Nick – I was under the impression the whole download gets installed to the internal storage. Are you saying that during the installation process of a download it identifies data vs. executable code and splits it between the internal storage/SD card? Is that confirmed?

@Dennis – Oh, I agree completely that the phone isn’t really going to be a “standard” for gaming platforms. The article spoke about a gaming company and compared the ROI between iTunes/iPhone and Google Market/Android so I was just curious as to the top 10 sellers in the Apple Store.

On a side note, iTunes also shows the top 10 grossing applications. Not suprising, three of those are Mobile Navigator (#2/$69.99), Magellan Road Mate (#5/$79.99) and TomTom US & Canada (#6/$99.99). Those count toward the gross revenue where as on the Android we get Google Maps for free.

]]> By: Dennis http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62563 Dennis Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:51:48 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62563 @Masque Having the ability to play some awesome games on my phone is nice.. but I cant' understand why you would want them to be 31 mb in size, or why I would need 10 of them that big.. Most people have a PC, and a gaming console at home. You will get the full on gaming experience with those.. With my phone, I have to think what type of gaming experience I want and need from it. For most people, gaming on the phone is going to be an occasional time killer. I think it's a mistake to try and squeeze some of the full on PC or console games into a phone.. That said, what I would like to see is perhaps someone doing something with multiplayer.. @Masque
Having the ability to play some awesome games on my phone is nice.. but I cant’ understand why you would want them to be 31 mb in size, or why I would need 10 of them that big.. Most people have a PC, and a gaming console at home. You will get the full on gaming experience with those.. With my phone, I have to think what type of gaming experience I want and need from it. For most people, gaming on the phone is going to be an occasional time killer. I think it’s a mistake to try and squeeze some of the full on PC or console games into a phone.. That said, what I would like to see is perhaps someone doing something with multiplayer..

]]> By: Nick http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62560 Nick Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:26:01 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62560 @Masque Considering that the executable file is stored in the 256mb and the rest can be written to the sd card I think you could fit those 10 games easily on the droid plus another 100 or so apps. @Masque
Considering that the executable file is stored in the 256mb and the rest can be written to the sd card I think you could fit those 10 games easily on the droid plus another 100 or so apps.

]]> By: DKY http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62533 DKY Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:42:23 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62533 There are many factors and I'm only going to list a few. 1. Apple doesn't allow refunds, so obviously companies will make more money. Even if it's rated good/okay, there are people that will buy it. 2. Apple's app store has been up longer and has more consumers than the market, so if you want to make money. It's quite obvious which one to go to first. 3. These game companies should actually make the game for Android and not port it from iPhone. I've played with many ported games and they aren't good. They aren't even worth the money because of controls, lag, whatever. As for ads in apps. That's all in the developer. If they cannot implement the ads at the right time, then they will suffer the ratings. Although it's stupid, but that's how many minds work. Especially when some of these Android phones are geared to teens. One way they could go at it is release 2 different version on day one. One is free, with non-obtrusive ads, and has the main features that makes the app what it is. The second version could be a paid app, no ads, and more additional features. If people like the free one and want the extra features, then they will buy it. As for not everyone in the world can buy Google apps, yeah that's on Google, not going to deny that. There are many factors and I’m only going to list a few.

1. Apple doesn’t allow refunds, so obviously companies will make more money. Even if it’s rated good/okay, there are people that will buy it.
2. Apple’s app store has been up longer and has more consumers than the market, so if you want to make money. It’s quite obvious which one to go to first.
3. These game companies should actually make the game for Android and not port it from iPhone. I’ve played with many ported games and they aren’t good. They aren’t even worth the money because of controls, lag, whatever.

As for ads in apps. That’s all in the developer. If they cannot implement the ads at the right time, then they will suffer the ratings. Although it’s stupid, but that’s how many minds work. Especially when some of these Android phones are geared to teens. One way they could go at it is release 2 different version on day one. One is free, with non-obtrusive ads, and has the main features that makes the app what it is. The second version could be a paid app, no ads, and more additional features. If people like the free one and want the extra features, then they will buy it.

As for not everyone in the world can buy Google apps, yeah that’s on Google, not going to deny that.

]]> By: Masque http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62509 Masque Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:50:32 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62509 @Ben- Thanks for the informative post. I honestly think one of the issues with Android as a gaming platform is the size restriction of the applications. You can't even fit the top 10 games listed on iTunes (collectively 318mb) on the Droid, which is ridiculous. @Ben- Thanks for the informative post. I honestly think one of the issues with Android as a gaming platform is the size restriction of the applications. You can’t even fit the top 10 games listed on iTunes (collectively 318mb) on the Droid, which is ridiculous.

]]> By: master http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62422 master Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:26:32 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62422 Sadly the Android Market app isn't available if the producer of the phone hasn't licensed it. Obviously Google should enable consumers to buy the market app directly from Google! Sadly the Android Market app isn’t available if the producer of the phone hasn’t licensed it. Obviously Google should enable consumers to buy the market app directly from Google!

]]> By: Franky http://phandroid.com/2009/11/20/android-market-flaws-causing-developer-exodus/#comment-62401 Franky Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:21:00 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=8163#comment-62401 When there are good games on Market as on AppStore, then I'll buy those games... but now I see only slow and ugly apps from Gameloft. When there are good games on Market as on AppStore, then I’ll buy those games… but now I see only slow and ugly apps from Gameloft.

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