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Amazon App Store Thread - Daily Free Apps

Again, just FYI, it's the same with Google. You have to have the Market apk to run licensed/DRM'd apps from the Android Market.

This gives apps a way to not need permissions such a "full internet access" just to check DRM since the Market apk (or Amazon in this case) handles the DRM for them. (Although apps may often augment the DRM with internet access). It also reduces the amount of code require for each app to implement DRM.

I think it's OK to not like DRM, but having the market (or appstore) app installed is actually a pretty practical way to implement it. It's not perfect, but given the alternatives (1000 different kinds of DRM which would likey mean much larger apps taking more space on your phone) I think it's a decent solution from a tech standpoint.

The ethics of DRM in general are another discussion altogether though.
 
alostpacket said:
Again, just FYI, it's the same with Google. You have to have the Market apk to run licensed/DRM'd apps from the Android Market.

This gives apps a way to not need permissions such a "full internet access" just to check DRM since the Market apk (or Amazon in this case) handles the DRM for them. (Although apps may often augment the DRM with internet access). It also reduces the amount of code require for each app to implement DRM.

I think it's OK to not like DRM, but having the market (or appstore) app installed is actually a pretty practical way to implement it. It's not perfect, but given the alternatives (1000 different kinds of DRM which would likey mean much larger apps taking more space on your phone) I think it's a decent solution from a tech standpoint.

The ethics of DRM in general are another discussion altogether though.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with your points. It does make sense.

I was hoping to be able to delete the Amazon app (and reinstall periodically for brief moments) and enjoy whatever free apps I downloaded. Now, it appears that it makes more sense for me to probably purchase/install from the built-n Android Market.

Of course, who am I to complain when I am getting free apps? :D
 
Those are Android services we developers developed based on the API provided by the Android SDK. Basically Android will re-start those services automatically as and when a request came in. Just think of services as app that runs without UI in the background. To remove is to just uninstall the app.

For those services that need to connect to internet, turning off all internet access on your smart phone will drain your battery fast as the service keep on trying to connect to Internet. Beware.

I as a developer do not assume all Android smart-phone owners has a data plan with their network operator.
 
I figured the app would be smart enough to see there was no wireless service and wouldn't try to connect
 
Please dont post instructions on warez, even if it is the most successfull dev/publisher.

As a dev I'm getting hammered by warez and it's really quite frustrating. There are more people linking to the paid version of my app BlueMuze than have bought the app. And they are putting ads all around it trying to make money for themselves.

I understand your frustration being in a market where you dont have access yet, and that's a perfectly valid frustration. But you know they aren't going to leave out the UK in the long run.

What it comes down to sometimes, is the business of releasing where you can, getting some revenue, which then allows you to expand to other markets. I'm sure Amazon is already working on the technical, legal and business hurdles of expanding to other markets and the UK is probably right at the top of that list.

I'm not one to defend the Angry Birds devs or Amazon in general, but pirating this stuff isn't really ethical IMHO.

I hear where you're coming from I really do. But piracy is so problematic on Android and hits me so personally I just wanted to voice the concerns (so please don't take this personally).
 
Yeahha said:
I figured the app would be smart enough to see there was no wireless service and wouldn't try to connect
Click to expand...

But if the apps is free but depends on ads coming in, they will sleep not so long before trying to connect isn't it ? After-all the free app developer derive the revenue from those ads isn't it ? Even if there is no ads appearing on screen, it may still need to send data it gather from the smart-phone and send out to some servers isn't it ?

Gist is they need to connect out to outside world somehow and I can guarantee their sleep period isn't very long. Sleep -> wake-up -> try to connect -> Sleep -> wake-up -> try to connect cycle repeating will drain your battery fast slowly.

Of cuz it all depends on each Android app implementation and some are nasty and some are nice.
 
Today's free app is SwiftKey Keyboard, normally $1.99

I am very happy with Swype (official beta) in portrait and default keyboard in landscape so I'm not going to give this a try. However I have heard a lot of good things about this keyboard so if you are looking for a different keyboard and want to pick up a good one for free you should probably give this a try today while it's free!
 
I registered here now just to post how I feel about this. It took me 15 minutes to go through the hoops with Amazon just download this free app. I had to first sign in, then confirm my email, then download the app store, then sign in again, then I had to download the app (which failed twice), then I had to sign in AGAIN, then I had to enable 1-click ordering which required me to enter my mobile phone number, then finally I was able to load the app. This is the exact reason why people pirate things. I will NEVER use the amazon app store again, even for free things. It's just way to much of a hassle. Make it as easy as it is to download it illegally, then I'll use it.
 
oddtoddy said:
I registered here now just to post how I feel about this. It took me 15 minutes to go through the hoops with Amazon just download this free app. I had to first sign in, then confirm my email, then download the app store, then sign in again, then I had to download the app (which failed twice), then I had to sign in AGAIN, then I had to enable 1-click ordering which required me to enter my mobile phone number, then finally I was able to load the app. I will NEVER use the amazon app store again, even for free things. It's just way to much of a hassle. Make it as easy as it is to download it illegally, then I'll use it.
Click to expand...

apparently you didnt read a previous quote. Do not post warez information here. If people don't want to get a app the right way, no one on here should/will make it easier for them to get it and pirate it.
 
I am really enjoying the Amazon App Store. Today they offered the swype keyboard for free and I'm noticing that I really enjoying my experience on the store. One free (paid) app a day is cool, plus, i really like the amazon layout with reviews and recommendations. Am I crazy or is this perhaps the future for Android?
 
I can't see the Amazon app store replacing the Market place just because you have to jump through so many hoops to get it on your device. I do see it as a nice supplementary app source though. I'm enjoying the free apps a day thing so far, but not enough to choose it over the market place. The market can push apps directly to my phone which is a huge plus for me.
 
Hey thanks Charles for starting this thread. I think it's great Amazon started this app store and who doesn't like free stuff?? I got my first game Angry Bird Rio when it aired for free, great no ads and on my droid incredible , the graphics are amazing, its addicting to play.

I had a question though, does anyone know what time zone Amazon uses, I watched last night at 12:01 eastern time and the app store still showed the day before's app. I also got an update when I awoke this morning that the app store had an update to install, I wonder what the update was? Did anyone else get the update for the app store?
 
A.Nonymous said:
I can't see the Amazon app store replacing the Market place just because you have to jump through so many hoops to get it on your device. I do see it as a nice supplementary app source though. I'm enjoying the free apps a day thing so far, but not enough to choose it over the market place. The market can push apps directly to my phone which is a huge plus for me.
Click to expand...

Yeah but more importantly, look at the malware that was able to infilterate the android market place, there is just no monitoring of apps to make sure they are malware/spyware free. That alone makes me want to jump over to Amazon and the free stuff is awesome. I have even paid 99 cents for apps over at Amazon after the free stuff just to support them. I think it's great that Amazon started their own app store. I will support them.
 
I also wanted to mention that I don't know why so many people are writing that it's harder using Amazon to buy apps, I actually find it easy, you purchase or download the free app and it pushes it to your phone, all you do is agree, it's like 1 or 2 steps taking seconds to do. It is easy for me, all I have to do is make sure my phone is set to allow 3rd party apps to install and then after its done I go back and set my phone to not allow 3rd party apps to download. I find the whole Amazon process as easy or easier than Marketplace.
 
ONJFan said:
Hey thanks Charles for starting this thread. I think it's great Amazon started this app store and who doesn't like free stuff?? I got my first game Angry Bird Rio when it aired for free, great no ads and on my droid incredible , the graphics are amazing, its addicting to play.

I had a question though, does anyone know what time zone Amazon uses, I watched last night at 12:01 eastern time and the app store still showed the day before's app. I also got an update when I awoke this morning that the app store had an update to install, I wonder what the update was? Did anyone else get the update for the app store?
Click to expand...

I got the update for the appstore also, not sure what the update was for though. I really like the free app everyday also. I got Angry Birds Rio and the WSOP game, I already had Shazaam Encore but my wife picked up that one. That is $12 in free apps already :D

Right now I just checked the time left for today's app and it ends at midnight PST. I live in Seattle so I am on PST so it either uses local time based on your address or PST, someone outside PST would have to confirm.
 
So far, I'm loving the Appstore. I've grabbed everything released so far, even if just to be sure to tie it to my account in case I don't use it right away. I went ahead and bought Highborn too (an Appstore exclusive). I haven't played it yet, but it looks awesome, especially for 99 cents.
 
alostpacket said:
This gives apps a way to not need permissions such a "full internet access" just to check DRM since the Market apk (or Amazon in this case) handles the DRM for them. (Although apps may often augment the DRM with internet access). It also reduces the amount of code require for each app to implement DRM.
Click to expand...

That's good for security. Full internet access could allow a bad app to do anything.
Amazon has a testing regime but there always has to be a plan B in case some bad actor sneaks an app through their system.
 
abn75 said:
apparently you didnt read a previous quote. Do not post warez information here. If people don't want to get a app the right way, no one on here should/will make it easier for them to get it and pirate it.
Click to expand...

Besides, piracy is a major catalyst for viruses and all that other crap.
 
Great, thanks I really appreciate this staying at the top. I think this free app thing is cool what Amazon is doing I hope they can keep it going.

Yeah I got Angry Bird Rio as my first free app then I got Shazam free, really cool that these both have no ads and yet they were free. I then went back today and paid .99 cents for the original Angry Birds app (I guess this is what Amazon was hoping, right? lol) I guess I'm officially addicted to this game. :D
 
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