6 ms·

Introducing The App Center

127 points by akarambir 14y ago

masonhensley 14y ago
I took a quick peek and am not familiar with the Facebook app ecosystem; but am I getting it right that if you develop an HTML5 Facebook app that it will be able to run inside of FB's native application on both iOS and Android? Or is this just a showcase for Facebook enabled applications (native & web.)
- alaskamiller 14y ago
  This is like Apple's App Store.
- tomwaddington 14y ago
  Yep. It'll run within a Webkit frame on Mobile.
  - acanby 14y ago
    FTA: "if a mobile app requires installation, they will be sent to download the app from the App Store or Google Play". This would lead me to believe it is going to run like some existing iOS apps, such as Bejeweled 2. If you click that menu item from the Facebook iOS app, it will launch the Bejeweled application instead of running inside any FB container.
  - wilfra 14y ago
    Performance would then be similar to a native app or similar to running on the mobile browser?
    - TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
      If I remember correctly, iOS Mobile Safari performance is significantly worse within App Store Apps, possibly a deliberate restriction.
      - wilfra 14y ago
        Mobile Safari performance is absolutely worse than a native app. That is why I'd like to know how the HTML5 apps running within a webkit frame in the FB app will perform. If the answer is similar to a native app it would allow HTML5 apps to 'code once and deploy everywhere' within FB's apps. Which would be f%$&ing amazing. I suspect however the answer is that they'll perform simliar to Mobile Safari, which as others have mentioned has some pretty severe limitations for all but the simplest HTML5 apps.
chadyj 14y ago
This is a good move. With the proliferation of Facebook apps there needed to be a better way to discover apps, especially ones that your social network is using. It is a social version of Apple's App Store.
spaghetti 14y ago
Apparently developers will be able to charge fixed price for their apps: http://gamasutra.com/view/news/170047/Facebook_now_allows_developers_to_sell_their_games.php http://gamasutra.com/view/news/170047/Facebook_now_allows_de... Wonder what this means for the App Center running on iOS?
- jonnycoder 14y ago
  I suspect the Facebook Apps will be HTML5 embedded in Facebook? The Apple App Store still has the advantage of native apps. Is this basically the Chrome Web Store but built within Facebook (full access to user's data)?
  - untog 14y ago
    I think the App Store terms forbid that, though- that's why game emulators have so much trouble, they're not allowed to download remote code.
hkmurakami 14y ago
Apple: App Store Google: Android Marketplace Facebook: App Center If you take all combinations of similes for "App" and "Store/Market/Center/Hub" and trademark all of them, I wonder if some random company could become a trademark troll.
- mullingitover 14y ago
  You missed Amazon: Appstore And Apple went after them for trademark infringement, so we already have our trademark troll.
- dannyr 14y ago
  Actually it's now Google Play
- jasomill 14y ago
  This wouldn't work nearly as well, given that trademark law generally only protects marks one actually uses in trade. So, given N and M synonyms for "app" and "store," respectively, your potential troll would actually need N*M storefronts, each sufficiently similar to one or more of the established app stores to cause confusion and sufficiently successful to be considered "use in trade". In contrast, one can hold patents without making or doing anything (including licensing the patents).
cmelbye 14y ago
This is fantastic. It might solve the issue of low quality apps on Facebook, and it's awesome to see that they're using their knowledge on who their users are in developer analytics - that's something Apple can't provide.
bgilroy26 14y ago
Is total sales volume good metric to compare the Ubuntu, Apple App store, Amazon app store, Facebook App Center, the Microsoft Metro app store, and Google Play with one another? Is the consensus that Google Play has too many free apps and they need to move many more apps for the same $ volume? Should app stores be working to establish a more enterprise-y (Amazon and Microsoft) or sophisticated (Apple) culture so that customers expect to spend money? How serious is the potential for one successful store to sell HTML/CSS/Javascript apps that start eating the other stores' lunches? Is Facebook in good shape because others' apps won't run directly in its domain? Or is it more vulnerable because it has so many vendors working against it to make "sticky" apps that could pull them away from the Facebook experience altogether?
- Trezoid 14y ago
  App stores should make it easier to pay for the apps without having to register a credit card. Going for an enterprise feel won't help if people don't want to (or can't) register a credit card but can't pay any other way. Apple has done this extremely well with the iTunes cards, which has made people more inclined to pay for apps.
wilfra 14y ago
Finally! This is the beginning of the end for Zynga. Quality will now drive users to new games, not news feed spam and who has the biggest userbase to promote to or the biggest marketing budget. Bravo Zuck! Though I suspect Zynga's declining growth led to this decision more than them wanting to level the playing field.
yangez 14y ago
Facebook's App Center has a distinct advantage over alternatives: they have much more information on the users of their apps. Also, because ratings are based on real names, they'll have a much easier time preventing ratings spam. Because of this, Facebook has the potential to develop a more accurate app recommendation engine and solve the problem of app discovery. If Facebook can make their platform more merit-based than the capricious Apple App Store, both users and developers will flock to them. And this isn't even considering Facebook's social graph. Not only could Facebook recommend apps based on your demographics + interests, it could also recommend them to you based on how much you previously liked the games that some of your OTHER friends liked. Things like this could add a whole new dimension to app discovery - all completely exclusive to the Facebook platform.
- magicalist 14y ago
  > Facebook's App Center has a distinct advantage over alternatives: they have much more information on the users of their apps. Also, because ratings are based on real names, they'll have a much easier time preventing ratings spam. How bad is the ratings spam problem? (I'm not a mobile app developer) Don't Apple and Google require a credit card to have an account, which means there's at least some barrier to making accounts to spam? They also have data on if a user actually downloaded an app they're rating, if they've made many ratings before or if this is a brand new account, etc. Meanwhile, there are already "Like" farms that you can pay to boost like counts on Facebook for your content. It seems like if there's motivation to spam ratings, Facebook won't have a great advantage over the problem.
  - cageface 14y ago
    You don't actually need a credit card to open an iTunes account now. You didn't need one when I opened a Google account either and I don't think that's changed.
  - sad_panda 14y ago
    Google accounts don't require CC numbers.
- 14y ago
nigham 14y ago
The most interesting thing about this is that it's the first app store that will be available across devices. You could (potentially) own an Android phone and an iPad; but today you need to buy two copies of the app. With Facebook, you only need buy it once.
- spaghetti 14y ago
  Wonder how Apple will treat FB apps purchased via the FB iOS app running on iOS device? iirc there's been some controversy in this area regarding Apple taking a cut of the sales. Also wondering what Google will think of the FB Android app helping users side-step the Chrome store or whatever it's called. Think it's time for FB to get a device of their own ;-)
- ja27 14y ago
  It's not a store. There is no purchasing through Facebook (except for I guess apps that run on Facebook, rather than Android or iOS). It's just a user review site like hundreds of others except for the scale.
- jackyyappp 14y ago
  Mobile native apps are not cross platforms so if you download the app in Android, I don't think it will show up in your iPad. The documentation from Facebook Developer says: "If a mobile app requires installation, they will be sent to download the app from the App Store or Google Play."
bobwise 14y ago
It's an app store for apps that only run inside the Facebook app. Facebook is a platform in a platform - the "Inner-platform effect". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner-platform_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner-platform_effect "The inner-platform effect is the tendency of software architects to create a system so customizable as to become a replica, and often a poor replica, of the software development platform they are using."
- ja27 14y ago
  It's for more than just canvas apps that run inside Facebook. It's also for apps that use Facebook login, but they can be full-blown iOS or Android apps like Draw Something or web apps. I wonder if they'll allow apps where Facebook Login is just one authentication option, like Draw Something. I'm guessing not for the little guys.
  - ThomPete 14y ago
    Eligibility These apps are eligible for the App Center: An app on Facebook.com in a canvas page A mobile app built for the web, iOS or Android that uses Facebook Login A website that uses Facebook Login and has an immediately logged-in, personalized experience (see App Quality for more info) An App for Pages built to manage or enhance other companies’ Facebook Pages
    - TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
      Could you double-newline those lines so it's easier to read? Thanks!
    - ja27 14y ago
      Right, but what does "uses Facebook Login" mean? Can it be optional and still get in their App Center? They mention Pinterest but their app allows login via Twitter or their own account infrastructure. I guess we'll see.
      - ThomPete 14y ago
Tyrant505 14y ago
What if this causes apple to pull the facebook app?
- spaghetti 14y ago
  I'm Curious: what's the incentive for Apple not to ship the FB app w/ iOS like they do w/ Twitter? Seems like Apple would benefit from all the consumption of Facebook on the iOS devices.
  - rahoulb 14y ago
    There were many rumours of forthcoming iOS/Facebook integration a while back - but then it all went silent. I guess they couldn't agree legals, but all we have is speculation.
soup10 14y ago
HTML5 Apps for mobile are such a lost cause for non-trivial apps. Native apps have so much more control over the user experience and aren't crippled by poor performance. Facebook and other internet companies that think HTML5 is a viable choice for mobile are naive and putting their monopolies at risk.
- bignoggins 14y ago
  It doesn't need to be an html5 app it can be a native app that uses Facebook login
acanby 14y ago
This is a good way for Facebook to leverage existing mobile App infrastructures without stepping on too many people’s toes. Developers are responsible for developing an app, and putting it on as many stores etc as they like. In this sense, there is no additional lock in by using the Facebook App Center if you are already using Facebook Connect. I think the big question is - what happens for paid apps? Will Facebook be asking for a cut of any referrals? Take Draw Something for instance, which is $1.99 (or free). I know Facebook gets benefit from people playing and using Facebook Connect, but they have essentially handed that store the sale. I would think they would want to monetize this, and will be interested to see how this plays out. I wouldn’t be surprised if agreements are in place - as it would really be of mutual benefit.
zomgbbq 14y ago
I am wondering how this will be implemented on iOS without violating the App Store Review Guidelines. > 2.7 Apps that download code in any way or form will be rejected. > 2.8 Apps that install or launch other executable code will be rejected
- chc 14y ago
  JavaScript executed through the SDK-provided API are exempted — otherwise you couldn't have any apps that displayed the Web at all.
  - zomgbbq 14y ago
    I believe the rule is that the Javascript cannot be dynamically downloaded. It must be a static resource that ships with the phone.
GuiA 14y ago
Their screenshot of a fake phone is interesting. I've been convinced for a couple years now that Facebook's next big thing will be a Facebook phone (likely based on Android, but partnering with a single manufacturer).
- buss 14y ago
  Fake phone? I see a Galaxy Nexus and an iPhone.
  - mapleoin 14y ago
    Ceci n'est pas une pipe.
lakshmibalu 14y ago
The app center will be a milestone in mobile computing process. The developers will definitely get their share of income by placing their android or iPhone based applications.This platform will be easy to find their app by the random users who will otherwise find it difficult to search the apps. http://www.techendeavour.com/Mobile_Application_Development http://www.techendeavour.com/Mobile_Application_Development
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
captaincrunch 14y ago
I'd like to get my start-up (Verelo.com) using this, but its more suited for technical/IT guys.. is this something that would fit in? We've been mostly going with places like Heroku Apps, Wordpress plug-ins, etc.

127 points by akarambir 14y ago

I took a quick peek and am not familiar with the Facebook app ecosystem; but am I getting it right that if you develop an HTML5 Facebook app that it will be able to run inside of FB's native application on both iOS and Android? Or is this just a showcase for Facebook enabled applications (native & web.)

alaskamiller 14y ago
This is like Apple's App Store.
tomwaddington 14y ago
Yep. It'll run within a Webkit frame on Mobile.
- acanby 14y ago
  FTA: "if a mobile app requires installation, they will be sent to download the app from the App Store or Google Play". This would lead me to believe it is going to run like some existing iOS apps, such as Bejeweled 2. If you click that menu item from the Facebook iOS app, it will launch the Bejeweled application instead of running inside any FB container.
- wilfra 14y ago
  Performance would then be similar to a native app or similar to running on the mobile browser?
  - TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
    If I remember correctly, iOS Mobile Safari performance is significantly worse within App Store Apps, possibly a deliberate restriction.
    - wilfra 14y ago
      Mobile Safari performance is absolutely worse than a native app. That is why I'd like to know how the HTML5 apps running within a webkit frame in the FB app will perform. If the answer is similar to a native app it would allow HTML5 apps to 'code once and deploy everywhere' within FB's apps. Which would be f%$&ing amazing. I suspect however the answer is that they'll perform simliar to Mobile Safari, which as others have mentioned has some pretty severe limitations for all but the simplest HTML5 apps.

chadyj 14y ago

This is a good move. With the proliferation of Facebook apps there needed to be a better way to discover apps, especially ones that your social network is using. It is a social version of Apple's App Store.

spaghetti 14y ago

Apparently developers will be able to charge fixed price for their apps: http://gamasutra.com/view/news/170047/Facebook_now_allows_developers_to_sell_their_games.php http://gamasutra.com/view/news/170047/Facebook_now_allows_de... Wonder what this means for the App Center running on iOS?

jonnycoder 14y ago
I suspect the Facebook Apps will be HTML5 embedded in Facebook? The Apple App Store still has the advantage of native apps. Is this basically the Chrome Web Store but built within Facebook (full access to user's data)?
- untog 14y ago
  I think the App Store terms forbid that, though- that's why game emulators have so much trouble, they're not allowed to download remote code.

hkmurakami 14y ago

Apple: App Store Google: Android Marketplace Facebook: App Center If you take all combinations of similes for "App" and "Store/Market/Center/Hub" and trademark all of them, I wonder if some random company could become a trademark troll.

mullingitover 14y ago
You missed Amazon: Appstore And Apple went after them for trademark infringement, so we already have our trademark troll.
dannyr 14y ago
Actually it's now Google Play
jasomill 14y ago
This wouldn't work nearly as well, given that trademark law generally only protects marks one actually uses in trade. So, given N and M synonyms for "app" and "store," respectively, your potential troll would actually need N*M storefronts, each sufficiently similar to one or more of the established app stores to cause confusion and sufficiently successful to be considered "use in trade". In contrast, one can hold patents without making or doing anything (including licensing the patents).

cmelbye 14y ago

This is fantastic. It might solve the issue of low quality apps on Facebook, and it's awesome to see that they're using their knowledge on who their users are in developer analytics - that's something Apple can't provide.

bgilroy26 14y ago

Is total sales volume good metric to compare the Ubuntu, Apple App store, Amazon app store, Facebook App Center, the Microsoft Metro app store, and Google Play with one another? Is the consensus that Google Play has too many free apps and they need to move many more apps for the same $ volume? Should app stores be working to establish a more enterprise-y (Amazon and Microsoft) or sophisticated (Apple) culture so that customers expect to spend money? How serious is the potential for one successful store to sell HTML/CSS/Javascript apps that start eating the other stores' lunches? Is Facebook in good shape because others' apps won't run directly in its domain? Or is it more vulnerable because it has so many vendors working against it to make "sticky" apps that could pull them away from the Facebook experience altogether?

Trezoid 14y ago
App stores should make it easier to pay for the apps without having to register a credit card. Going for an enterprise feel won't help if people don't want to (or can't) register a credit card but can't pay any other way. Apple has done this extremely well with the iTunes cards, which has made people more inclined to pay for apps.

wilfra 14y ago

Finally! This is the beginning of the end for Zynga. Quality will now drive users to new games, not news feed spam and who has the biggest userbase to promote to or the biggest marketing budget. Bravo Zuck! Though I suspect Zynga's declining growth led to this decision more than them wanting to level the playing field.

yangez 14y ago

Facebook's App Center has a distinct advantage over alternatives: they have much more information on the users of their apps. Also, because ratings are based on real names, they'll have a much easier time preventing ratings spam. Because of this, Facebook has the potential to develop a more accurate app recommendation engine and solve the problem of app discovery. If Facebook can make their platform more merit-based than the capricious Apple App Store, both users and developers will flock to them. And this isn't even considering Facebook's social graph. Not only could Facebook recommend apps based on your demographics + interests, it could also recommend them to you based on how much you previously liked the games that some of your OTHER friends liked. Things like this could add a whole new dimension to app discovery - all completely exclusive to the Facebook platform.

magicalist 14y ago
> Facebook's App Center has a distinct advantage over alternatives: they have much more information on the users of their apps. Also, because ratings are based on real names, they'll have a much easier time preventing ratings spam. How bad is the ratings spam problem? (I'm not a mobile app developer) Don't Apple and Google require a credit card to have an account, which means there's at least some barrier to making accounts to spam? They also have data on if a user actually downloaded an app they're rating, if they've made many ratings before or if this is a brand new account, etc. Meanwhile, there are already "Like" farms that you can pay to boost like counts on Facebook for your content. It seems like if there's motivation to spam ratings, Facebook won't have a great advantage over the problem.
- cageface 14y ago
  You don't actually need a credit card to open an iTunes account now. You didn't need one when I opened a Google account either and I don't think that's changed.
- sad_panda 14y ago
  Google accounts don't require CC numbers.
14y ago

nigham 14y ago

The most interesting thing about this is that it's the first app store that will be available across devices. You could (potentially) own an Android phone and an iPad; but today you need to buy two copies of the app. With Facebook, you only need buy it once.

spaghetti 14y ago
Wonder how Apple will treat FB apps purchased via the FB iOS app running on iOS device? iirc there's been some controversy in this area regarding Apple taking a cut of the sales. Also wondering what Google will think of the FB Android app helping users side-step the Chrome store or whatever it's called. Think it's time for FB to get a device of their own ;-)
ja27 14y ago
It's not a store. There is no purchasing through Facebook (except for I guess apps that run on Facebook, rather than Android or iOS). It's just a user review site like hundreds of others except for the scale.
jackyyappp 14y ago
Mobile native apps are not cross platforms so if you download the app in Android, I don't think it will show up in your iPad. The documentation from Facebook Developer says: "If a mobile app requires installation, they will be sent to download the app from the App Store or Google Play."

bobwise 14y ago

It's an app store for apps that only run inside the Facebook app. Facebook is a platform in a platform - the "Inner-platform effect". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner-platform_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner-platform_effect "The inner-platform effect is the tendency of software architects to create a system so customizable as to become a replica, and often a poor replica, of the software development platform they are using."

ja27 14y ago
It's for more than just canvas apps that run inside Facebook. It's also for apps that use Facebook login, but they can be full-blown iOS or Android apps like Draw Something or web apps. I wonder if they'll allow apps where Facebook Login is just one authentication option, like Draw Something. I'm guessing not for the little guys.
- ThomPete 14y ago
  Eligibility These apps are eligible for the App Center: An app on Facebook.com in a canvas page A mobile app built for the web, iOS or Android that uses Facebook Login A website that uses Facebook Login and has an immediately logged-in, personalized experience (see App Quality for more info) An App for Pages built to manage or enhance other companies’ Facebook Pages
  - TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
    Could you double-newline those lines so it's easier to read? Thanks!
  - ja27 14y ago
    Right, but what does "uses Facebook Login" mean? Can it be optional and still get in their App Center? They mention Pinterest but their app allows login via Twitter or their own account infrastructure. I guess we'll see.
    - ThomPete 14y ago

Tyrant505 14y ago

What if this causes apple to pull the facebook app?

spaghetti 14y ago
I'm Curious: what's the incentive for Apple not to ship the FB app w/ iOS like they do w/ Twitter? Seems like Apple would benefit from all the consumption of Facebook on the iOS devices.
- rahoulb 14y ago
  There were many rumours of forthcoming iOS/Facebook integration a while back - but then it all went silent. I guess they couldn't agree legals, but all we have is speculation.

soup10 14y ago

HTML5 Apps for mobile are such a lost cause for non-trivial apps. Native apps have so much more control over the user experience and aren't crippled by poor performance. Facebook and other internet companies that think HTML5 is a viable choice for mobile are naive and putting their monopolies at risk.

bignoggins 14y ago
It doesn't need to be an html5 app it can be a native app that uses Facebook login

acanby 14y ago

This is a good way for Facebook to leverage existing mobile App infrastructures without stepping on too many people’s toes. Developers are responsible for developing an app, and putting it on as many stores etc as they like. In this sense, there is no additional lock in by using the Facebook App Center if you are already using Facebook Connect. I think the big question is - what happens for paid apps? Will Facebook be asking for a cut of any referrals? Take Draw Something for instance, which is $1.99 (or free). I know Facebook gets benefit from people playing and using Facebook Connect, but they have essentially handed that store the sale. I would think they would want to monetize this, and will be interested to see how this plays out. I wouldn’t be surprised if agreements are in place - as it would really be of mutual benefit.

zomgbbq 14y ago

I am wondering how this will be implemented on iOS without violating the App Store Review Guidelines. > 2.7 Apps that download code in any way or form will be rejected. > 2.8 Apps that install or launch other executable code will be rejected

chc 14y ago
JavaScript executed through the SDK-provided API are exempted — otherwise you couldn't have any apps that displayed the Web at all.
- zomgbbq 14y ago
  I believe the rule is that the Javascript cannot be dynamically downloaded. It must be a static resource that ships with the phone.

GuiA 14y ago

Their screenshot of a fake phone is interesting. I've been convinced for a couple years now that Facebook's next big thing will be a Facebook phone (likely based on Android, but partnering with a single manufacturer).

buss 14y ago
Fake phone? I see a Galaxy Nexus and an iPhone.
- mapleoin 14y ago
  Ceci n'est pas une pipe.

lakshmibalu 14y ago

The app center will be a milestone in mobile computing process. The developers will definitely get their share of income by placing their android or iPhone based applications.This platform will be easy to find their app by the random users who will otherwise find it difficult to search the apps. http://www.techendeavour.com/Mobile_Application_Development http://www.techendeavour.com/Mobile_Application_Development

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

captaincrunch 14y ago

I'd like to get my start-up (Verelo.com) using this, but its more suited for technical/IT guys.. is this something that would fit in? We've been mostly going with places like Heroku Apps, Wordpress plug-ins, etc.