4 ms·

Eric Schmidt: Multiple Android App Stores A “Net Win For Everybody”

18 points by sahillavingia 16y ago

lzw 16y ago
Multiple app stores, multiple phone configurations, multiplies confusion for customers. I'd like to make apps for android, but it is such a moving target in so many ways.
- aphexairlines 16y ago
  Just go back to what you learned developing PC software instead of web software. It might run on a core2 dell, or a slow eeepc, or an i7 lenovo. You might sell it direct, or at best buy, or at Amazon. The diverse PC industry has done just fine against homogenous computing platforms and appliances. You'll be fine too.
  - hboon 16y ago
    But the smaller screen on mobile devices sets a different constraint. On a PC, you are pretty safe assuming say, a minimum resolution of 800x600, 1024x768 [1], and generally software can just move autoresize to shift UI widgets to make use of additional space. On the other hand, for mobile devices, with resolution of say 320x480 (iPhone/iPod touch) vs. 1024x768, you need to be much more specific with the UI to make efficient use of the space. E.g you find that good apps running on the iPhone often have different looking counterparts on the iPad. Add to it things like certain devices having touchscreens, vs. non-touchscreens for Android which affects the entire UI and even nature of the software, it makes handling such variations much more difficult than for the PC market. [1] Unless you are writing software for very specific purposes that need to utilize the whole screen efficiently, then we are back to the same problem.
  - gamble 16y ago
    There is no market for PC software. Not counting the software that ships with the computer, the average person spends approximately nothing on software for their PC. At best they might buy a virus scanner and QuickTax. Platform fragmentation and the relatively difficulty of finding and installing software for the PC played a big part in destroying that market.
    - bryanlarsen 16y ago
      Tell that to the [minecraft developer](http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30767/Indie_Game_Minecrafts_Sales_Pass_320K.php http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30767/Indie_Game_Minecraf...), who's making more than $10K a day selling a PC game he basically developed himself.
andrewljohnson 16y ago
I'm in the Android business and have submitted apps to multiple markets. What a pain! It's not like this stuff can be reasonably automated. It does not scale to make developers submit multiple places, or to have users search multiple places. The Android Market doesn't even have a real web presence... there's not even bubble gum and rubber bands holding these markets together. It's all disjoint and hurting progress. We're hoping the Amazon Marketplace fixes this crap.
- StavrosK 16y ago
  Why can't it be automated? I'm not sure a web app couldn't be made that would submit your Android app in all marketplaces, as well as an aggregation app that displayed apps from all (or some) of them...
- biafra 16y ago
  How can one more market fix your problem with too many markets? The Android Market by Google is not as good as it could be. So it is good that there is the possibility of more markets. The market will decide who survives and who will not. At least here in Europe where the carriers do not decide which market I can have on my phone. Choice is good!
Ataraxy 16y ago
Sounds like someone needs to make an android app that combines all the markets into an easy to use UI. ;)
btilly 16y ago
Free markets look messy and disorganized. But they also tend to be very efficient. I like that Google recognizes this. (Disclaimer. I may be biased because I work for Google.)
- grovulent 16y ago
  I agree with this sentiment. No doubt many will disagree - but I'm really surprised how many developers have swallowed the Apple coolaid on this issue - and this despite the horrid issues many have faced with the apple app store approval process. The less centralization of control of a platform the better in my opinion.
gamble 16y ago
In the long run, this is going to be a huge mistake for Google. Access to the Market is the only lever Google has to enforce some level of conformity on Android devices. If they give up the market, it will lead to even more fragmentation and, eventually, to Google's services being excluded from Android phones unless Google is willing to match the kickbacks Microsoft and other companies are willing to pay.

18 points by sahillavingia 16y ago

lzw 16y ago

Multiple app stores, multiple phone configurations, multiplies confusion for customers. I'd like to make apps for android, but it is such a moving target in so many ways.

aphexairlines 16y ago
Just go back to what you learned developing PC software instead of web software. It might run on a core2 dell, or a slow eeepc, or an i7 lenovo. You might sell it direct, or at best buy, or at Amazon. The diverse PC industry has done just fine against homogenous computing platforms and appliances. You'll be fine too.
- hboon 16y ago
  But the smaller screen on mobile devices sets a different constraint. On a PC, you are pretty safe assuming say, a minimum resolution of 800x600, 1024x768 [1], and generally software can just move autoresize to shift UI widgets to make use of additional space. On the other hand, for mobile devices, with resolution of say 320x480 (iPhone/iPod touch) vs. 1024x768, you need to be much more specific with the UI to make efficient use of the space. E.g you find that good apps running on the iPhone often have different looking counterparts on the iPad. Add to it things like certain devices having touchscreens, vs. non-touchscreens for Android which affects the entire UI and even nature of the software, it makes handling such variations much more difficult than for the PC market. [1] Unless you are writing software for very specific purposes that need to utilize the whole screen efficiently, then we are back to the same problem.
- gamble 16y ago
  There is no market for PC software. Not counting the software that ships with the computer, the average person spends approximately nothing on software for their PC. At best they might buy a virus scanner and QuickTax. Platform fragmentation and the relatively difficulty of finding and installing software for the PC played a big part in destroying that market.
  - bryanlarsen 16y ago
    Tell that to the [minecraft developer](http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30767/Indie_Game_Minecrafts_Sales_Pass_320K.php http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30767/Indie_Game_Minecraf...), who's making more than $10K a day selling a PC game he basically developed himself.

andrewljohnson 16y ago

I'm in the Android business and have submitted apps to multiple markets. What a pain! It's not like this stuff can be reasonably automated. It does not scale to make developers submit multiple places, or to have users search multiple places. The Android Market doesn't even have a real web presence... there's not even bubble gum and rubber bands holding these markets together. It's all disjoint and hurting progress. We're hoping the Amazon Marketplace fixes this crap.

StavrosK 16y ago
Why can't it be automated? I'm not sure a web app couldn't be made that would submit your Android app in all marketplaces, as well as an aggregation app that displayed apps from all (or some) of them...
biafra 16y ago
How can one more market fix your problem with too many markets? The Android Market by Google is not as good as it could be. So it is good that there is the possibility of more markets. The market will decide who survives and who will not. At least here in Europe where the carriers do not decide which market I can have on my phone. Choice is good!

Ataraxy 16y ago

Sounds like someone needs to make an android app that combines all the markets into an easy to use UI. ;)

btilly 16y ago

Free markets look messy and disorganized. But they also tend to be very efficient. I like that Google recognizes this. (Disclaimer. I may be biased because I work for Google.)

grovulent 16y ago
I agree with this sentiment. No doubt many will disagree - but I'm really surprised how many developers have swallowed the Apple coolaid on this issue - and this despite the horrid issues many have faced with the apple app store approval process. The less centralization of control of a platform the better in my opinion.

gamble 16y ago

In the long run, this is going to be a huge mistake for Google. Access to the Market is the only lever Google has to enforce some level of conformity on Android devices. If they give up the market, it will lead to even more fragmentation and, eventually, to Google's services being excluded from Android phones unless Google is willing to match the kickbacks Microsoft and other companies are willing to pay.