Related
Greetings,
This is an open letter to all developers, big, small, whatever. Just a trend I'm seeing with the last few apps installed. Ads in the Notification Bar/Status bar of my phone....NOT COOL!!
You want to put ads in games/aps then sure but not in my status bar. That is an auto-fail and I don't care how pretty (bottle widgets I'm looking at you!!) your app is its just spam to me and I will not support you or buy the paid version.
Anyone else want to second this (third, etc) and send a message to developers be my guest. I love to support the little guy, but not this way, its waaayyy to intrusive.
Steve (WarrGrinn/Deathstalker)
I've yet to see this happen on my phone, but I'd definitely be pissed if it did.
Sent from my Liquid Thunderbread HTC Thunderbolt
That is definitely going too far but if you like and use an app that has ads, click them it makes a dev happy.
Well I can understand your anger, but let me convince you to have some sympathy for these devs.
Writing code, most of the time, is a tedious job, you need an idea, the skills and then the long testing. And then the worst part, getting your app recognised, even by a small populace of the community, is incredibly hard, seeing as you're pitted against an overwhelming number of "rivals".
Now say no one is to buy your "$2" or only a incredible few buy, you can't even make up for the amount of time in the creation of the app, and then people like you (take no offence please, simply using your mindset as an example) do not view the ads, well that dev is in a bit of crisis now eh?
Just shedding some light and hope you now don't have much of a critical view on ads.
$1 gets you a reply
Ads in general I don't have a problem with....its the delivery method. Imagine your watching a tv show, and instead of a comercial break they suddenly run a 1/3 screen tickertape below your show for ads during the program.....your reaction? Probally not good.
Don't mind ads, even clicked on a few and downloaded apps I wouldn't have known about without them. But in my status bar??!! No thanks, at least give notice in your app where/how the ads are placed or even better a box to check on how you'd like them. I can see some people wanting statusbar ads if they block game content/make it hard to play.....
Other question, does this take up data? Are these statusbar ads eating up my capped 1gig limit/month, if so then even more ticked (or do they count as a sms message?). I can just see some apps being made solely as delivery packages for ads, and thats not cool.
Just my 2c.
They're definitely eating up your data. Check out the permissions of the app when you install it, anything that has ads will require internet. 1 gig though? Owch man. I don't see how you make that work.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Questions or Problems Should Not Be Posted in the Development Forum
Please Post in the Correct Forums
Moving to General
1gig, lots of hooking up for usb internet passthru to use the market/update apps.
Only hit 97% use once, mostly 70+ at end of month.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
I understand where you're coming from, it is annoying, especially when you don't know where the ads came from (from which app).
But still, let's cut the dev some slack, he's trying to make a few cents from his hard work (he has some really nice apps)...
onestoploser said:
I've yet to see this happen on my phone, but I'd definitely be pissed if it did.
Sent from my Liquid Thunderbread HTC Thunderbolt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, not seen any ads in my notification bar as yet but the app would be instantly uninstalled if it happened.
Ad support i have no issue with but not in the notification bar of my phone
I use this app https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bigtincan.android.adfree&hl=en
it used to block out most ads but in recent times id estimate over 70% of apps i have which are not paid apps still have annoying ads in them and despite updating ad free every day the ads are still there so im thinking of uninstalling it as it's become worthless and does not stop ads, can anyone recommend an app which blocks all ads from apps, some ads aren't too bad and are barely visible other ones are really annoying.
Thanks
Try adAway also in market.
Sent from my Arc to your eyes.
punkmonkey1984 said:
Try adAway also in market.
Sent from my Arc to your eyes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will do thanks.
punkmonkey1984 said:
Try adAway also in market.
Sent from my Arc to your eyes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will also try this out...
Thx!
I basically stay away from free apps due to the ads.
90% of the apps loaded on my phone are paid and if the developer offers a paid app to lose the ads, I purchase it.
augie7107 said:
I basically stay away from free apps due to the ads.
90% of the apps loaded on my phone are paid and if the developer offers a paid app to lose the ads, I purchase it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I refuse to pay for an app just to be ad free ill pay for extra features but certainly never just to be ad free,hopefully this ad away will be better than ad aware.
jonny68 said:
I refuse to pay for an app just to be ad free ill pay for extra features but certainly never just to be ad free,hopefully this ad away will be better than ad aware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You refuse to support developers that support you? How gracious of you...tho I can understand expectiong everything for free. Just makes sense right? Hell thos developers loving wasting there time for others benifit!
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
jug6ernaut said:
You refuse to support developers that support you? How gracious of you...tho I can understand expectiong everything for free. Just makes sense right? Hell thos developers loving wasting there time for others benifit!
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what the hell are you talking about i have over €70 worth of paid apps alone on my phone and i have given more than €40 in donations alone on this very forum so don't start talking rubbish with me does that sound to you like i "don't support developers" ive done nothing BUT support developers,i refuse to pay just to get rid of ads when ad away (thanks again OP works much better)does it for free,i have no problem paying for paid apps that offer extra features but not just to get rid of adds.
edit - i see you have a "donate" link in your signature,and exactly what is this for charity is it????
jonny68 said:
what the hell are you talking about i have over €70 worth of paid apps alone on my phone and i have given more than €40 in donations alone on this very forum so don't start talking rubbish with me does that sound to you like i "don't support developers" ive done nothing BUT support developers,i refuse to pay just to get rid of ads when ad away (thanks again OP works much better)does it for free,i have no problem paying for paid apps that offer extra features but not just to get rid of adds.
edit - i see you have a "donate" link in your signature,and exactly what is this for charity is it????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...allow me to clarify then. Again from a developers stand point.
Would you rather there be a payed only version that u can only test for 15minutes or have a free ad supported version that you can test as long as you like? Just because they choose to offer you all the features up front does not make there paid version any less worth the money. Forgive me if i'm wrong but your justification is its the same just without ads. Would you rather they remove the features from the free version? I mean if you don't like ads don't use the program! You have that choice! But blocking ads its exactly the same as stealing the program to the developer of the app. Effect its exactly the same, one more user who had paid experience without paying for it.
I'm not telling you what to do, not even remotely. I'm just giving a view point. But I will say this as this gets worse it will have adverse effect.
As for my donation link if was for when I made roms for the HTC touch pro few years ago. Of which I've gotten...I think $25 last donation being well over 2 years ago. Honestly I had forgotten about it/ never thought about it. But if you have a problem with me spending my time for the community then...o well. Donation an paid apps are two entirely different things entirely. Keep in mind charity its just that, at complete discretion of the donater. I have never and will never ask for one.
Jug6ernaut
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Allow me to jump in
I have to agree. I LOVE ( I'll repeat), I LOVE how much free stuff is on the Android market. It's part of why I love android so much. But do you know why it's free? Well most of the time because it has ads. Ads are REVENUE for the developer, which comes from Google, not the "buyer". This allows the buyer to have a full user experience of the app for FREE, while the developer gets paid. Blocking ads is stealing. Plain and simple; It steals revenue from the developer.
All I have to say is this; keep blocking ads you guys. You know why? Because sooner or later the developers will wise up, and there will be no more free apps in the market and you'll have to buy anything, even just to try. Saying "Oh I have paid apps on my phone", or "I donate" is like going to the store to buy a couple CD's to justify the 20 Gigs of torrents on your PC.
All you're doing is biting the hand that feeds you, and when that hand stops feeding you, I'll be on a WP7 phone saying Hi!
My 2 cents........
AndGuard for Root/AndGuard Pro (w/Iptables) by Soapbox Apps - blows all the others away.
Devs that make money from ads are few and far between. Just multiply the average number of downloads x payout per ad. You need a wildly successful app to get any money out of ad banners.
For most developers ads are not revenue. They're just a nag screen to encourage users to get the paid version. Small developers are better off if they'd replace their online ads with a donate button or an offline advertisement for the paid version. It's less annoying for their users, and ad blockers won't touch them.
rogier666 said:
Devs that make money from ads are few and far between. Just multiply the average number of downloads x payout per ad. You need a wildly successful app to get any money out of ad banners.
For most developers ads are not revenue. They're just a nag screen to encourage users to get the paid version. Small developers are better off if they'd replace their online ads with a donate button or an offline advertisement for the paid version. It's less annoying for their users, and ad blockers won't touch them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are 100% correct, ive had over 100k downloads...making money right? Nope not really lol... $40 total off ads.
What devs would do if smart(i should listen to my own advice hehe) is do what you suggest BUT first check for ad blockers(most common method being host files, second check for internet connection) If no add blocking, show ads, if not show donation link. Would be easy to do really...
I think some are missing an important thing.
In the grand scheme of apps, how many people actually go to the trouble to block the ads? Maybe a great percentage on XDA, Modaco etc, but, the "Sally secretary, Bill the bowler" are not the types that frequent this site, and more importantly, will not be blocking the ads. I would guess that the large percentage of downloads is by your non "geek" types, and therefore, will see the ads. Now, if they click on it, that is another thing, but they will at least be pushed to the phone.
On a personal note, I use LBE security to limit what "phones home" which also has as a side option of blocking the ad, since it can't phone home. Now, obviously if it is an app that needs internet, it's not going to work, but for the majority of the apps, if they are an app that doesn't need access, then I block it. I have purchased many apps, and would rather they keep the model they are using now, leave the ads on the free apps, and unlimited use, no ads on the paid. I do not even bother downloading the ones you have to buy, since 15 minutes is NOT enough time to evaluate an app.
Blocking ads ain't a good thing. After while Google will block you form getting most apps or even being able to update. Remember Android is built around the Android Market which constantly checks app status, use and crashes. You block Google, they will block you.
Trust me I been through this with my previous tablet blocking ads and stopping apps from accessing the internet and it got frustrating espicually having a Gmail account. Google knows what u do that u should not. Don't believe me?
Go to google.com/dashboard/ and I'm sure you will think twice about blocking Google. Just like a few guys said already, if u don't like ads don't use the app. Point blank
Sent from Wicced's rooted A100 16gb HoneyComb 3.2 using XDA PREMIUM
I will gladly pay for any app that is well made and usefully. Regardless of the situation. If there is more feature in the paid version the cool. If it just removes adds that cool too. Bottom line is I know my money is going to further development of that app. So if its useful and a well made app. I will gladly buy the paid version.
Same here as Scarmon25 said. I download lots of apps to try out, some i delete after testing, some i keep. The ones that are useful for me i buy (have +20 paid apps on my phone). Some of the pro versions offer additional features like Titanium, UberMusic or Easy Money, others i just buy because they are really useful for me. The rest of +100 apps i use with the ads, and that does not bother me at all. I must admit there are apps with very annoying pop up reminders or ads, but i understand that . Be aware that a developer spends many hours, weeks and sometimes months, to build an app that looks nice and works perfectly, taking into account the needs and requests of the users, so it is only correct when he tries to get at least a beer or two as reward for his effort.
So cheers and thanks to all developers and please please support them guys.
wicced247 said:
Blocking ads ain't a good thing. After while Google will block you form getting most apps or even being able to update. Remember Android is built around the Android Market which constantly checks app status, use and crashes. You block Google, they will block you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is 100% untrue.
Blocking ad servers has nothing to do with "blocking google"
BenKranged said:
This is 100% untrue.
Blocking ad servers has nothing to do with "blocking google"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mainly my point is, nobody likes ads but ads build revenues and revenues helps us get lots of stuff free. Blocking ads in time will affect the app production of apps we all use. Nobody works for free and developers ain't going to be working for free.
Just my point everyone is free to do what he/she wants with their device
Sent from Wicced's rooted A100 16gb HoneyComb 3.2 using XDA PREMIUM
Ok that does make some sense. That said I always use a hosts file to block ads on my computers and now phones. I pay for my internet connection therefore I only download what I choose to. (which is not ads) Especially when that internet is metered/capped.
Hi,
I've got 3 apps/live wallpapers currently on the market (links listed below in my signature), all with free and donation versions. Between them they have had just under 32,000 downloads in the last four months. They've been rated between 4 and 5 stars with positive feedback.
Can anyone think of a reason why I've only had a couple of dozen sales of the donation versions? (Many thanks if you have bought one )
It can't be lack of visibility or quality as the free versions seem to be quite popular and are getting healthy reviews. The donation versions have extra functionality as a bonus incentive. It's not price - they are as cheap as I can make them!
Am I missing something? I am at a loss. Please can somebody point me in the right direction?
I'm not naieve enough to think I'll make a ton of cash out of it, just enough to even partially justify the effort I've put in would be nice.
Regards,
Paul
Strangemoo
Hi,
You can get answers to your questions if you look at Wiki - Product Marketing. It is not simple, but when you start to understand this process, your sales will grow.
Sorry for my English.
pphillips001 said:
Can anyone think of a reason why I've only had a couple of dozen sales of the donation versions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because people want things for free is the simple answer.
pphillips001 said:
Hi,
I've got 3 apps/live wallpapers currently on the market (links listed below in my signature), all with free and donation versions. Between them they have had just under 32,000 downloads in the last four months. They've been rated between 4 and 5 stars with positive feedback.
Can anyone think of a reason why I've only had a couple of dozen sales of the donation versions? (Many thanks if you have bought one )
It can't be lack of visibility or quality as the free versions seem to be quite popular and are getting healthy reviews. The donation versions have extra functionality as a bonus incentive. It's not price - they are as cheap as I can make them!
Am I missing something? I am at a loss. Please can somebody point me in the right direction?
I'm not naieve enough to think I'll make a ton of cash out of it, just enough to even partially justify the effort I've put in would be nice.
Regards,
Paul
Strangemoo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are the free versions ad supported?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
I am speaking from a position of total ignorance here but, if I were in your shoes, I would totally just remove the free versions...
Or stick ads in the free versions
Sent from my X10a using xda premium
Yep it is very very simple. Free, even with ads people will choose over the paid versions. Even at 99 cents it's enough for people not to purchase.
Plus if your apps make it to pirating sites, there is no point in buying the app. Even my sister can figure out the piracy stuff for android and she cant even install Windows 7.
I will give you my objective experience as a random android user.
I don't think you have done anything wrong. I installed both Dino Pop and Zombie Pop and found myself chuckling and having fun.
I think that it's just something that doesn't fit in the paid app category as much.
I usually pay for apps that I find useful or have promise of future, as of yet unrevealed, entertainment.
I don't know what the limitations of live wallpaper are, but even a simple game needs a) unpredictable change of scenery b) the need for strategy (to entice the mind to test its abilities) c) some kind of final challenge (maybe like a boss zombie or something, to give that sense of accomplishment)
These are just my super honest thoughts, 100% intended to help out.
On a related note, I used to love this arcade game called strikers 1945 plus. I always thought it would be awesome to have a live wallpaper game like that (but obviously not as in depth..it's wallpaper lol)...again, not sure how difficult something like that would be. Just my two cents.
Sent from my Nexus 6 through tears in rain.
My thinking...
Case 1: If I find an app for free that also has a Donate version, without any extra features, I will never pay for it. Period.
Case 2: Usually when there is a free app, that also has a paid version without ads, I will buy it if I use the free version enough to wish it didn't have ads.
Case 3: There is a free app (usually a game) that I use continuously every/every other day and I will see that there is a paid version. The paid version has tons of cool features, options, game levels, etc. If I get a little bored of the free version, and really need something extra, I usually won't hesitate to buy it. (Ex. Noogra Nuts, Navy Wars)
Then there's those apps like FriendCaster and Twitter apps with ads. The paid version of FriendCaster is $5. I won't ever buy it to remove the ads. I won't pay for it simply because they don't get in the way, and I can access Facebook/Twitter in many different ways.
Even the name "Whatever App - DONATE" is just a red flag to users. Basically they might see that, and just not even look at it. They won't even see that there are extra options available. You might be able to get away with changing the name (to 'Pro version' or just without 'Donate') and really push the extra functionality.
Just my thoughts about free/donate/paid versions of apps. Hope it helps
Oh, and I like your LWs, keep up the good work!
I agree and have had a somewhat similar experience. I have bought a live wallpaper before because it had added functionality and got rid of upgrade messages on the homescreen (photolive wallpaper). The free version was good enough for me to try it and see what its like, but still restrictive enough for me to have to buy it. I have also donated to an app called Llama, but this is a special case where I will donate more than the small amount in the android market because I love the app and the dev isn't asking what I am willing to pay.
I would say to restrict the free versions of features and really give people both an incentive and reason to upgrade the product if they like it. If not people will generally make do with what they don't have to buy. I went for 2 years with my first Droid experience without buying a single app, I just used add supported or completely free versions, but now I'm much more inclined to support developers when I find something I like and usually but not in all cases, that I can try first.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Many thanks to all of the inciteful responses. All very inteteresting points.
In a nutshell it appears that I'm basically giving too much for too little. I've withheld going down the adverts route as I'm not a great fan personally - but if that's how the 'many' prefer to go then who am I to disagree!
Does anyone else find it funny that you have to actually annoy Android users into paying for apps?!
Lol - what a world.
Thanks again,
Paul
Strangemoo
pphillips001 said:
Many thanks to all of the inciteful responses. All very inteteresting points.
In a nutshell it appears that I'm basically giving too much for too little. I've withheld going down the adverts route as I'm not a great fan personally - but if that's how the 'many' prefer to go then who am I to disagree!
Does anyone else find it funny that you have to actually annoy Android users into paying for apps?!
Lol - what a world.
Thanks again,
Paul
Strangemoo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The key to money is think "free = demo," "paid = full featured."
If you do that, and people like it, then you will get more money. I play a game, I like it, it's a demo, that person made a sale. They give it away for free, I'm likely to just use it for free and never even visit their "donation page."
It's like the old saying: Why pay for a cow, when you can get the milk at home for free?
Being not married, that doesn't really apply to me, and I don't pay for cows either way
---------- Post added at 09:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 AM ----------
Oh yeah... It should probably also be mentioned that when people pay for something, it usually gives them a license (or so they think) to rate it and comment more harshly, so don't be all shocked if ratings go down when you implement a pay-per-app methodology.
pphillips001 said:
Many thanks to all of the inciteful responses. All very inteteresting points.
In a nutshell it appears that I'm basically giving too much for too little. I've withheld going down the adverts route as I'm not a great fan personally - but if that's how the 'many' prefer to go then who am I to disagree!
Does anyone else find it funny that you have to actually annoy Android users into paying for apps?!
Lol - what a world.
Thanks again,
Paul
Strangemoo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
majorpay said:
The key to money is think "free = demo," "paid = full featured."
If you do that, and people like it, then you will get more money. I play a game, I like it, it's a demo, that person made a sale. They give it away for free, I'm likely to just use it for free and never even visit their "donation page."
It's like the old saying: Why pay for a cow, when you can get the milk at home for free?
Being not married, that doesn't really apply to me, and I don't pay for cows either way
---------- Post added at 09:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 AM ----------
Oh yeah... It should probably also be mentioned that when people pay for something, it usually gives them a license (or so they think) to rate it and comment more harshly, so don't be all shocked if ratings go down when you implement a pay-per-app methodology.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're both right. If you could offer a demo with built in restrictions and then an unlock key. If you can avoid ads and thus the network access permission, which personally I prefer not to see on a live Wallpaper, that would be even better. Then the user has a decent live wallpaper with no strange permissions (for a wallpaper) but something always there to give an incentive to buy it if one likes the developer's work and or the demo product and want to unlock features. This adds value to the product because I would bet less people really care about donating than they would paying to unlock a full version!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
jontornblom said:
I will give you my objective experience as a random android user.
I don't think you have done anything wrong. I installed both Dino Pop and Zombie Pop and found myself chuckling and having fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jontornblom said:
I think that it's just something that doesn't fit in the paid app category as much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you mean. I figured I'd start off with a couple of live wallpapers to 'test the water'. I have a couple of neat ideas for some original games - but am still unsure it'll be worth the effort on this platform (which is a shame as I love writing for Android).
jontornblom said:
I usually pay for apps that I find useful or have promise of future, as of yet unrevealed, entertainment.
I don't know what the limitations of live wallpaper are, but even a simple game needs a) unpredictable change of scenery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The paid for versions allows you to change the background to anything in your gallery.
jontornblom said:
b) the need for strategy (to entice the mind to test its abilities)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol - got me on that one! Finger popping is a bit strategy deficient! I suppose I could add more baddies with different traits...
jontornblom said:
c) some kind of final challenge (maybe like a boss zombie or something, to give that sense of accomplishment)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had tried to keep both Zombie and Dino Pop lightweight on purpose - largely because they are just wallpapers. But point taken.
I am in two minds whether to polish them up and wrap them both into stand-alone apps.
jontornblom said:
These are just my super honest thoughts, 100% intended to help out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sincerely appreciated and many, many thanks!
jontornblom said:
On a related note, I used to love this arcade game called strikers 1945 plus. I always thought it would be awesome to have a live wallpaper game like that (but obviously not as in depth..it's wallpaper lol)...again, not sure how difficult something like that would be. Just my two cents.
Sent from my Nexus 6 through tears in rain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have a look for that - it may turn into my next project
Kind regards,
Paul
Strangemoo
All the best! I'll keep an eye out for your new products!
Sent from my Nexus 6 through tears in rain.
Is it possible that some developpers have managed to trick Market and leave so many raving reviews for their awful apps? I'm talking thousands of reviews for less than 500 downloads.
I don't want to name any and contribute to this unfair promotion of those apps.
Possible? Very.
ten characters
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A
It looks like a question but it's not really a Q&A... It's a discussion.
RainZzz said:
Is it possible that some developpers have managed to trick Market and leave so many raving reviews for their awful apps? I'm talking thousands of reviews for less than 500 downloads.
I don't want to name any and contribute to this unfair promotion of those apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you said the apps are awful, then why not list those apps out?
If you are telling the truth, then why scare?
I've noticed that Google play only updates how many downloads it has at certain intervals. Like for instance, when i got titanium backup installed for the first time, Google play said that it was at 1,000,000 downloads, and in the description, it said that it had just hit 6,000,000. It seems that the next time Google play updates it from 1,000,000 is at 10,000,000 , so sometimes what you see is a bit false!
Maybe thats why?
Then I said I didn't want to contribute to the promotion of those apps. By naming them here I'd be advertising them and more people would go and download them. And the ones I saw require almost all permissions for stuff they don't even need, so they're more likely very malicious.
AlwaysDroid said:
It seems that the next time Google play updates it from 1,000,000 is at 10,000,000 , so sometimes what you see is a bit false!
Maybe thats why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's possible but unlikely in this case. Cause there's a big difference in numbers. Normally Market takes a day at most to refresh the stats data.
Plus all new reviews are negative and say those apps are fake. So i think there's way to cheat the review system.
RainZzz said:
That's possible but unlikely in this case. Cause there's a big difference in numbers. Normally Market takes a day at most to refresh the stats data.
Plus all new reviews are negative and say those apps are fake. So i think there's way to cheat the review system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Such as someone setting up multiple accounts and giving rave reviews to an unworthy app that said someone published? I'm sure there are other ways as well. Always a way to "cheat" at something.
ten characters
I think it's even more than multiple accounts. It's some sort of a script or a bot or whatever you wanna call it. Cause it's just impossible to leave so many reviews in so little time.
Ok. Here's an example. But for the love of humanity do not go download it.
There's an app that claims to recharge your device if you shake it. Now anyone with the tiniest shred of intelligence knows that that's impossible by an app, it's a complicated mechanism and you need the hardware for it. Yet, as of now, it's got 1550 reviews in just a few days but only less than 500 downloads, but that soon's gonna change because it's on the Top New Apps because all of the nice reviews.
Again, DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT because first it looks malicious with all the permissions it require, and second, it doesn't deserve to be on the TOP list.
There are a whole bunch of others like that, that i don't care to promote.
RainZzz said:
Then I said I didn't want to contribute to the promotion of those apps. By naming them here I'd be advertising them and more people would go and download them. And the ones I saw require almost all permissions for stuff they don't even need, so they're more likely very malicious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to think like that.
If you find some good apps, just list so other members aware and use, even paid apps.
If you find some shytty apps, just list so others know about it and stop using.
And more important, choose to use or not to use is others' decision.
That's how community works.
You're right about good interesting apps, I'd be more than happy to share them, and a good community is all about sharing, and it's up to others to decide whether they want them or not, that's all good.
But that's outside my point. I'm talking about bad apps that are plaguing the Android Market, that are being spread like a virus due to dirty tricks. We should not ecourage those. If I had posted a link more people would have downloaded them, and then I would be contributing negatively to the Android Community. Bad publicity is still publicity.
But anyways if you read my last post, i eventually did mention one that you can easily find, just for the purpose of providing evidence that some apps, whether malicious or not, are getting ahead in the game and on top of many lists by inserting an overwhelming amount of positive reviews (thousands) in just a few days within release. We should not encourage those. And Google should find a solution to this problem.
Different philosophy here, I guess.
My take, if you find a BAD app and you choose to be quiet, not let anyone know, then NO ONE knows it's bad and when they don't know, they might use it and becomes a victim. In other hand, if you post and CLEARLY indicate "this is a BAD app, DO NOT use" then people acknowledge and stop using.
It's just like a true, un-biased review. If I want to purchase a device and seeing NO rating, I might give it a chance but if I see it has BAD rating, I wouldn't buy it.
Whenever my automated system finds an Android App Review online it sends an email to the developer telling the link to the review.
Each day I get between 5 - 10 thank you mails from both large app companies and indie developers, which I guess is a good indicator that it's a great tool in order to be able to take advantage of the review in their marketing. (I know how hard it is to be seen with a good app)
The question is, how do I monetize that service?
You have to pardon me if I sound desperate, but I actually am desperate and starting to worry about my ability to provide for my family.
Do you have an idea on how I could either monetize the service, or give it away to someone who can actually afford running it?
There are three main problems with it:
- Donations doesn't work (noone evidently donates anyway, so that went down the drain)
- Advertising, might have worked but there are far too few visitors.
- Most dev's have an invalid email address specified for their account at google play, which makes them not receive the notice from the service,
They can however subscribe for reviews of a certain package name, but how the heck could they when they don't even know the service exists?
I feel so stupid for having these great ideas and realize them, just to later find out that the only thing I've gained is more time away from my kids. I am honestly starting to loose all energy for the creation process of apps, web sites and services, just due to the fact that I can't even reach out enough to make anything out of it. And I can't afford advertising the services/apps/whatever crap I've made. Which even might be an indicator that I should stop trying, but I can't really do that either since I struggle to even afford the food for the month, yeah it's gotten that bad, and I hate sounding this pathetic.
Anyway, the link is in my sig called something like 'Android App Reviews' if you wish to have a look in order to give feedback on my question.
Maybe it's just a bad day 'cause I'm not usually this whiny, but even on a good day, the question stands.
Ah.. whatever. You have a good idea, let me know.
Later
very nice idea, perhaps most of your emails mistakenly get weeded out as SPAM. I have an APP published on Google Play with our company gmail address there, but in more than one ocasion we had people trying to contact us and those emails got to the SPAM folder automaticly by mistake and we never saw them.
DarknessWarrior said:
very nice idea, perhaps most of your emails mistakenly get weeded out as SPAM. I have an APP published on Google Play with our company gmail address there, but in more than one ocasion we had people trying to contact us and those emails got to the SPAM folder automaticly by mistake and we never saw them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, actually I was very glad myself when I got an email from my own service once, so yeah I think it's a great idea also.
So yes, one problem is, as you mention that most emails probably ends up marked as spam.
The other problem is money, it's running in a very low priced environment and actually doesn't require much juice to run but I can't afford maintaining it if it doesn't generate enough income to even support itself.
I would consider running it for nothing and I could even spend some personal money just for the satisfaction and appreciation, but given the gravity of the current financial situation in my family I can't do that.
So let's just see what happens, and thanks for taking the time to read.
Cheers
have you tried selling it? For about how much would you be willing to sell it? As i said the idea is pretty awesome and you got it pretty much nailed down. Perhaps with a few tweaks to the search algorithm it could be the next Google for Apps!
have you tried selling it? For about how much would you be willing to sell it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- Actually, no I haven't tried selling it yet as I don't have any experience selling these kinds of things, and don't really know where to turn.. So I haven't really thought of for how much I should sell it for,
what do you think something like this could be worth?
Thanks again
Actually i have no idea loool
I would buy it if I had the means.
The value of it probably based on how many views does your site has per day, how many apps does it have categorized, how many it crawls per day... idk.
For example i tried searching it and it seems to have few apps catalogued... my app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rtt3ch.suecaonline) isn't there.
EDIT: About how much do you spend on it a month? If it's not much and you're willing to give it away because can't afford it I wouldn't mind getting it lol, i think i can keep it alive.
If you want to generate income from your site, you have to run your site like a business. The ideas you have in your first post are too linear, especially for a small website with limited exposure (i'm sure you'll know ). Websites and youtube channels grow in exposure and size exponentially. Your site is still in the growth state of a business life cycle (the slowest, most challenging phase of business), so it's best to get as much exposure as possible, which means expanding.
- Try to create some sort of quasi-partnerships with other sites by sharing content or linking to each other. I've noticed you have some links on the side of your site, but try to get in contact with 'bigger names' out there
- Create a youtube channel and start reviewing apps like that. That way you have another avenue of traffic to your site
- Reviews of products may also be an idea.
Hope this helps It's what I can remember from business studies classes >.<
sup MetalDroid, any news?
I'd go with what SammiSaysHello said, you need to run it like a business. Personally I'd make the homepage look more like a professional a sales page and introduce a subscription fee if you want to use it for more then one app. Or even a one time fee for more then one app. I end up logging onto my developer console several times a day so I'd gladly pay a couple bucks a month to have the reviews sent straight to my inbox.. Just my two cents
Hey!
Sorry for not posting an update, I've been having the mother of all flues on and off for the past several weeks now!
sup MetalDroid, any news?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, actually yes. The associated twitter account is growing, and the number of web page visitors is also increasing. Very slowly but I'm still positive about it. I've also, shockingly, had a few interesting partnership/business proposals drop down in my mailbox, so I'm gonna have a look to see what is offered there..
If you want to generate income from your site, you have to run your site like a business.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd go with what SammiSaysHello said, you need to run it like a business
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, that seems like a logical next step. I might add a low subscription fee if you wish to use for more than one app,
that seems like a very good suggestion, I'll have to wait a couple of days though to see how things turn out from some of the email proposals
I've had.
If you're interested I'll keep you updated on what happens, and I'm very grateful for your input,
Cheers