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The rules are some of the most developer-unfriendly I've ever read, far surpassing Apple in pretty much every way possible. This will fail miserably.

shib71 16y ago
It's not as simple as that. Amazon offers developers at least two things even Apple can't: 1) a vast, vast pool of consumers (vast), and 2) a network of recommendations, referrals, and reviews, honed over years for the single purpose of finding the consumer something they will buy. There is a reason Walmart is still a must-have retailer, in spite of the demands they place on wholesalers.
- Zev 16y ago
  1. The iTunes Store is pretty big by now. 2. Apple's Genius recommendations suggests that they are, at the very least, toying with this concept as well.
- foobarbazetc 16y ago
  iTunes has like 180M+ users with credit cards and 1-click buying integrated into every iOS device, so I'm not seeing how Amazon can compete in any way with a store that'll only be accessible via something people have to install. Plus, iTunes is international -- anyone can run a US-only store. http://slideme.org/ http://slideme.org/ is more impressive, IMHO.
petervandijck 16y ago
Amazon understands developers (see aws) and buyers (see amazon) much better than google. They have a good shot at this.
- jonhendry 16y ago
  The way they've handled their kindle apps API developer program suggests otherwise.
- shpxnvz 16y ago
  However, I know from personal experience that they treat their sellers (see seller central) terribly. I've personally witnessed arbitrary changes in listing policies (a couple of years ago they started banning all low volume sellers from offering toys during the christmas season), horrible database issues (on two separate occasions a year apart over six hundred items have just disappeared from a single seller account with no warning or explanation), and really poor customer service. I am curious to see if they will treat app vendors in the same way.
- foobarbazetc 16y ago
  Just because one part of Amazon seems developer friendly, doesn't mean they all are. Those "rules" are all about treating developers like crap. Which is fine, but I won't be going near this thing with a 20ft pole.

shib71 16y ago

It's not as simple as that. Amazon offers developers at least two things even Apple can't: 1) a vast, vast pool of consumers (vast), and 2) a network of recommendations, referrals, and reviews, honed over years for the single purpose of finding the consumer something they will buy. There is a reason Walmart is still a must-have retailer, in spite of the demands they place on wholesalers.

Zev 16y ago
1. The iTunes Store is pretty big by now. 2. Apple's Genius recommendations suggests that they are, at the very least, toying with this concept as well.
foobarbazetc 16y ago
iTunes has like 180M+ users with credit cards and 1-click buying integrated into every iOS device, so I'm not seeing how Amazon can compete in any way with a store that'll only be accessible via something people have to install. Plus, iTunes is international -- anyone can run a US-only store. http://slideme.org/ http://slideme.org/ is more impressive, IMHO.

petervandijck 16y ago

Amazon understands developers (see aws) and buyers (see amazon) much better than google. They have a good shot at this.

jonhendry 16y ago
The way they've handled their kindle apps API developer program suggests otherwise.
shpxnvz 16y ago
However, I know from personal experience that they treat their sellers (see seller central) terribly. I've personally witnessed arbitrary changes in listing policies (a couple of years ago they started banning all low volume sellers from offering toys during the christmas season), horrible database issues (on two separate occasions a year apart over six hundred items have just disappeared from a single seller account with no warning or explanation), and really poor customer service. I am curious to see if they will treat app vendors in the same way.
foobarbazetc 16y ago
Just because one part of Amazon seems developer friendly, doesn't mean they all are. Those "rules" are all about treating developers like crap. Which is fine, but I won't be going near this thing with a 20ft pole.