Blapkmarket: Gone, For Now, But Not Forgotten
If you are unfamiliar, Jesusxxx has been maintaining a black market for pirated Android applications until recently, when he received an email from his host that he was being shut down. His blapkmarket provided a place where you could obtain free applications that would normally cost money in the Android Market. Although this type of behavior cannot be condoned, I’m sure if you knew about blapkmarket, you’ve used it. If you’re just now hearing about it, I’m sure you wished you had. I believe we’re all guilty.
Obviously, I recommend that you use the Android Market for its intended purpose as many developers and companies depend on their purchased applications for further development and support. With that being said, Jesusxxx has brought to everyone’s attention some minor flaws in the Android Market as we know it.
The first flaw is that is that when you purchase an app from the market you have a 24 hour grace period to make a decision to keep or return the app for a full refund. Many take issue with this fact since they might not actually be able to fully test the use and/or need for a particular application in such a short time frame. Some would perfer a week to truly get down to the nitty gritty with an application. You also only can return an application to the market for a refund once. So, if a different build or update to application rolls out and you decide to give it another shot and still don’t like the app, you can uninstall it but not get a refund. Maybe Jesusxxx was providing a place where we can continuously test applications and provide feedback without having to lose $1.99, or so, at a time.
Also, we regularly get help questions via Android Forums from our friends in other countries complaining of an application not appearing in their Android Market, or their market not functioning at all. Jesusxxx provided a market for those to be able to enjoy the market and applications as we get to here in the states
So, I ask you, is Jesusxxx really a bad guy? Not that we support piracy by any means, just a question to get the pot stirring devils advocate if you will. Like I said before, does giving users the opportunity to continually test applications in order to further their development along with allowing access to applications to those in foreign countries outweigh the negativity of piracy and the blapkmarket?
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hey it’s Rob, just want to address some negativity in the comments. Phandroid has not, does not, and never will endorse piracy on any level. Anthony admits he is playing “devil’s advocate” and says the goal was to “get the pot stirring”. The comment about “we’re all guilty” needs to be read in context. If you’ve ever burned a CD from a friend – you’re just as guilty – yet that seems to be a much more “accepted” practice. When AndroidAndMe held a contest for Android Developers to create a Droid Torrent App it was praised and all these developers flocked to enter – the winner got a TON of buzz and press. Do you see the contradiction here?
THIS is why Anthony is saying we’re all guilty. Musicians, Android Developers and large companies ALL deserve compensation for their hard work and shouldn’t have their creations stolen. From Napster to Limewire to Piratebay and other torrents, if you’ve NEVER pirated anything you’re exempt and can flame away. You’re also one of 12 people on earth who also have internet access and/or a CD Burner. There is a reason we’re called “Phandroid” and the fuel that keeps this Mobile OS running is undoubtedly the developers – PLEASE don’t think this article was meant to sleight you. But at the same time, put in perspective that this particular form of piracy “hits home”, whereas you’ve likely crossed the same line somewhere else. And if you have, which is likely the vast majority of us… we’re all guilty. So yeah, I stand by Anthony’s article and ask that you take a deep breath, re-read it and understand that this wasn’t meant as a “free pass” for pirates and those who make pirating accessible.
[Via AndroidGuys]