Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

I couldn't agree more. At the back end we need to have multiple repositories (don't want to duplicate Apple's control of the iphone) but the front end needs to integrate all sources of software to present to the user. Sure some apps will cost money and some will have no warranty but that's simple to warn the user about.

At the moment the embarrassment is all with Nokia - the Ovi store with so few apps just looks pathetic.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

Pure opinion. Totally. Completely. Absolutely.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

The application manager already displays a warning if you haven't noticed :) How many of you actually read those things when installing something? Does the contents of the warning affect your decision to install the software? At least I have never read the contents of the warning.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

If you mean a central location to install applications from, I beg to differ. Android market didn't fail, Microsoft's App Market Place didn't fail. Blackberry App World didn't fail.

If instead, you are emphasising the word control and mean that one place shouldn't dictate how/where you install apps from, then I agree. However, I wouldnt' say Iphone's app market "failed", considering Apple's revenue.

As for the subject at hand, I'm underwhelmed by the current state of the Ovi store. It seems a bit hackish, considering it technically DOES interface with the app manager (INSTALL files). I think that if there are going to be two independant channels, then they should feel independant OR communicate seemlessly without feeling "tacked on", as Ovi store does. I understand it's a beta, but they've already failed at trying to launch paid apps, what, twice?



Disclaimer: I don't have an Iphone, nor do I want one.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

Yep I read the warning. Didn't affect my installation, but
then I'm a hacker and am happy to cope with re-flashing
or whatever.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

Yes, I agree. The Ovi store is "underwhelming" to say the least.

Why are there so few apps? Does anyone at Nokia actually have a clue?

1. Why does it cost money to register (sure Apple can get away with this but they were first in the app store business)?
2. Where is the best app of the month competition (with a significant prize)?
3. Why did they launch via a cludged web site rather than integration with a nice app manager?

I'm generally in favour of open source (and use it a lot) but I think that a vibrant app store would motivate Nokia to actually support the N900 and future smart phones. But the way it looks at the moment, I'd be surprised if too many people are plunking down their 50 euros and signing up. It just looks like Nokia doesn't care.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

I am talking about App Stores and repositories in general. Not just N900.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

Rubbish. Merging with the Free repo means users will actually bother to look at the paid apps. At the moment I never bother with Ovi, because I can just stick to the free app manager. If the paid apps where merged into the app manager, I would browse them and make a decision.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

At which point it is cheaper for the commercial developer to choose another platform. Seriously, few will want to to pay money on development, Ovi/publishing, advertising just to find themselves alongside an army of free apps so you could make that decision. Commercial devs want to maximize profit, so they'll just go AppStore instead as it has a better ROI in that case.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

A lot of the disagreement is coming from the fact that some are talking about a hypothetical Ovi store that (a) has decent apps in it and (b) works, while others are talking about Ovi as it is. Attila is talking hypothetically, and is right. As things are now it they might as well merge the lot (for all the draw that Ovi is), but in a case where Ovi has good offerings and is therefore a premium service (rather than one that charges a premium for no service) it would indeed be a loss to the devs (and, i would say, the users) to combine everything for the reasons already given.

Edit: A separate consideration given the actual state of Ovi, is whether we want it, meaning whether it would be a good idea to group it with the Extras repo of tested software. It has proven multiple times to house flaky, possibly dangerous software that would (theoretically at least) never make it into Extras.
Small example just coming up now: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=47215
Also see the lack of optification of Ovi apps.

Re: Ovi Store and App Manager must be merge
 

I kinda see this like "the record store and the concert hall should merge", or something. One's a store, the other is an app manager. They should be better integrated, sure, but they serve different purposes.