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> On the other hand, if the appstore didn't exist then mobile developers would still be begging for crumbs from OEMs. Is that in the same imaginary universe wh
by jarek 14y ago
> On the other hand, if the appstore didn't exist then mobile developers would still be begging for crumbs from OEMs.
Is that in the same imaginary universe where phones before the iPhone had tiny black and white screens? (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1519377 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1519377)
Because in this one there were several third-party mobile application stores and distribution platforms.
- dasil003 14y agoUh no, you would do well not to conflate everyone who you disagree with into one ignorant boogeyman. Please cite your figures for the pre App Store mobile app economy. I'm genuinely curious.
- jarek 14y agoWhich figures are you looking for in particular? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_store http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_store is a good place to start. Getjar and Handango/Pocketgear are some of the more recognizable names in the list.
- shadesandcolour 14y agoNo but it is the universe where lots and lots of people were not aware that there was a way to get more software onto a phone or even a computer. People used to look at me like I had three heads when I told them about those other mobile application stores.
- jarek 14y agoUnless you completely ignore Getjar, Handango, Pocketgear, many other repositories, and direct sales, mobile developers were not begging for crumbs from OEMs regardless of how many people knew you could put software on a computer. To be sure, the market was smaller, there were significantly less developers and less software available overall, but they all had options.