Comments on: Sony Ericsson PlayNow Android Apps

By: Victor

Victor — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:30:50 +0000

This mess is partly created by Google. Its implementation of Android Market on unlocked phones has issues with paid apps. Also the Android Market is not open to many countries for paid apps. Lastly the Market App is proprietary and doesn’t blend with Android’s open agenda. That means each manufacturer has to negotiate with Google (means $$) to put Google’s Android Market on its device. So overall Android Market is a mess.

By: decon

decon — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:03:35 +0000

It is as if they don’t even look at what makes the iPhone so popular. It’s the simple UI and that everything just works – there’s an iPhone, whoever got an iPhone is the club. If they want android to be competing with iPhone then they should stop making all these stupid extra app store. It confuses people. I sell cellphones with contracts. How do I explain this to cellphone noobs?
“So there’s two market for you to download things on. The Google Market and the Sony Ericsson PlayNoW Market. Some things you find on the Google Market others on the Playnow Market”. It’s just a mess.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:07:03 +0000

So as of now I count 3 places to find Android Apps. Moto, Sony and Android Market.
Humm this surly will get confusing for people new to Android. As a follower of Android since the first rumors of a GPhone 2 years ago I can handle this, but what about none teches?

By: josh

josh — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:22:16 +0000

Did that lady in the video just wake up? Theres nothing wrong with a little hygiene. Try washing your hair next time and maybe even brushing it.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:32:56 +0000

This seems like a totally worthless idea. I feel like it will only pull away from the Android app store and make it more difficult for developers to put out their products. Why would you do something that makes things more complicated. Devs are already complaining about phones and such being different making it harder to program, now they are also going to have to put their app on another store so they can get their full demographic. Dumb..

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:50:36 +0000

I tried to submit my app and stuck on step 3 (of six :)
http://www.droidsector.com/blog/2009/12/22/sony-ericsson-did-it-wrong-again/

By: EuroDroid

EuroDroid — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:23:55 +0000

Surely all Sony Ericsson’s Android apps will also appear on the Android Market as well?

It’ll only splinter the “scene” if it starts asking or encouraging developers to offers apps exclusively via PlayNow, right?

By: ari-free

ari-free — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:13:46 +0000

if lack of global market is such a problem then why didn’t slideme take off?

By: swehes

swehes — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:29:28 +0000

@Josh and everyone else
If you are interested in this idea of setting up a repository for all developers for developers to upload their apps send me an email at android@swehes.com

thanks,
Maybe we will just give the developers something that they sorely need to make it easier for everyone.

By: josh

josh — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:20:09 +0000

@ swehes i think that’s the way it should work. One app repository and all these markets can link to the apps or host them themselves. Im not about to try and maintain every update on all of these markets.

By: swehes

swehes — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:14:47 +0000

@Josh
And what if the developers only uploaded to this repository and if the other markets want to have access to it, pays a fee to the developer to “link” to it? Developers would have to only upload it to one place, and developers would make money from the other market places that want access to it. Maybe even better, maybe just make it into a repository and make ppl buy from the other market places, and developers makes money for each sale because of contract between repository and market place?

By: swehes

swehes — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:11:23 +0000

@Josh
I can see your pain, and google being so big can afford to take their time. What if the developers came together under one big name, such as PhandroidStore or some other well known name that are associated with Android, that will allow people to go to this page. We could create a great system, and focus on usability, and then take it to beautify it. If enough developers think it is a good idea, to create that type or a repository, we can make it in the way that we think it should be instead of having to wait for the big companies such as Google, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, etc. Let’s make it so that developers make the profit, and just have enough for the store to sustain itself. Who ever takes this initiative with Rob and Phandroid, will be able to make it OK I would think.

By: josh

josh — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:58:26 +0000

As an Android Developer it’s getting very difficult to manage my apps on all these markets popping up. The Android Market does need a little help but I really don’t see the need for all these alternative markets.

Im starting to think it’s not worth my time to upload and maintain apps on all of these different markets because the majority of my downloads come ferom the Android Market and the downloads just trickle in on all of the other markets i have used.

By: swehes

swehes — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:41:59 +0000

Maybe we should look into creating a better market than google. Any good webdesigners out there that want to create an Android market? I would think that there is a market for it as it seems that most of the companies out there are falling short. Maybe make a PhandroidStore.com?? You should jump on this one Rob. Almost felt a desire to buy the domain name myself. :) I know a url like that would pull alot of ppl to it. I’ll take a commission for the idea. :D

By: hnybom

hnybom — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:41:31 +0000

Yeah the thing is, sonyericssion is part swedish company and guess what the allmighty Google is ignoring the norther parts of Europe in a freaking big way. To be specific this means that in Sweden (or in for that matter Finland where I’m from) Google does not allow you to purchase/publish paid apps from the android market. You only get free apps. So I see a really good reason why SE wants to publish it’s own market. Though I have to agree with Rob on the fact that fragmentation is not a good thing. But come on Google take your thumb out of ass and allow us to buy apps! I really don’t understand what is taking so long. Apple app store was available at day one. This thing annoys me especially since I am a developer and would really like to publish some of my apps as paid apps.