Paid applications in Extras ?
 

There's a least one company willing to upload commercial games(paid via paypal) to Extras[1], what do you think about it ?

IMO with the price added to the package description, I can't see any problem.

[1] - http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=43739

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I assume that means people could download it without paying, so it does rely on people being honest?

If i liked it i would pay :)

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

If you do a lit" version with the option to pay(in game, that is) for the full game that would not be a problem.

Personally I think this would be great, maybe we can see more games for the N900 that way :D

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

At the moment the paypal thing works so that you download and install the game but cannot start before you make a donation.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Well, you can download it, but you've to activate the games in order to play (in this particular case).

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

ToJa92: Like what Im doing there:

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=43202

You would think its a bit to harsh? You would prefer to download a LITE version for free, and in-game have a button or something that you click to activate the full-game am I right?

Cheers,

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

VDVsx: I go agree that the customer should have a preview or something... since its coming directly from the repo. there's no way to redirect the user to a webpage or something, to show him what the game is all about... that is a problem...

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Should be no problem if the package description line mentions the price, so you know that you install something that you to pay for using.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Well, you can do that before the paying process, opening the game page, since installing is free :D

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Hummm so basically the workflow is:

- Download & Launch the App
- App Start Redirect to Game Preview Page
- User have to click on buy now button on page
- Goto payment process
- Restart the game

Not so sure about that... I think an In game button to buy or show the game website is the only way...

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Exactly, best option for sure, and less annoying.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

There's another small problem, we also have an Q&A system[1], so without using the apps, how can the testers evaluate them ? Probably the companies have to give way a couple of free licenses to our testers.

[1] - http://wiki.maemo.org/Extras-testing/QA_Checklist

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

How about we just put together a maemo.org Application Store? :D

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Well a demo is always nice, so you can see what you really get for you money. Lite versions often include one track/course, so in a sense it's a demo.

Or you can do like Vodafone did a long time ago, limit playtime to a half hour or something like that.. But then you could play through the whole game so that's not all to good.

I don't really know how you're do right now as the game crashes right before it should start on my N900(I see a picture for like 0.2 seconds, then it crashes).

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

As GeneralAntilles mentioned this is the best approach. Since the ovi store is not developing as it should for the best interest of all Maemo devices we should take the lead and make it happen, if Nokia/Ovi dont like it they should pull their finger out and make it happen.

We need a paid store to get paid for apps onto the platform to increase the available apps and to give a single appstore (just like apple) where everyone can find all the apps they need (free & paid) in one place under one tree, otherwise we will never compete with Apple.

We must take the best bits from apple and leave the rest.

This was something i raised as a brainstorm:

http://maemo.org/community/brainstor...ication_store/

It would probably be best to have a seperate section for paid apps/games so people dont get mislead, or a tag on the app so when you are looking through the directory you can see that it is a paid for app.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Everyone push for a paid appstore, let Maemo take a cut of the profits for running it, remember apple takes about 30% from developers so if Maemo takes 10% to goto running towards the Maemo store how can anyone hate this !!

Everyone comment here if you agree !! the more voices then perhaps we can make Maemo make this happen.

Also if any companies are reading this add your say that you want this !!!

More voices = more chance of making this a reality.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

We really need a donation framework.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

this is ironic as I just started this thread today: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=43773. look at my post #4 http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=516441&postcount=4

specifically:
______________
I am stuck on the fact that I see lot's of old Palm apps that did a variety of things on what is supposed to be a more archaic platform. Why?

I suspect it is the root drawback of the "open platform": there is no reward for spending energy and time if the end product is given away for free!

I think this is where the iphone and Android platforms have got it going on with the "freemium" model.

Now, if this is NOT the case, I would really like to hear more as to why not...

And thanks again for all of your input here in this community. It is valuable!
___________________

I brought this topic up around 9 months ago and got nowhere. I guess it took Android growth to cause this concept to resurface.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

There was talk of a micro-payment system being setup for the developers of the current apps in Extra's.

Surely it would make sense to use that system?

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

s/Maemo/maemo.org/g

(Maemo is Nokia :))

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Well lets push this brainstorm:

http://maemo.org/community/brainstor...ication_store/

and try to get a paid appstore started this time round.

Your definetrly on the right trak coosbaytv

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

No, it took Nokia failing to implement an app store which can actually deal with requiring payment for apps.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I think the initial app should be free. Then I would like to be able to contact the developer to ask how much would I have to pay him/her (through paypal) to add a feature request. I would be willing to pay $20 to $100. Of course, this new release would now be free with my added feature.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Sorry GeneralAntilles i meant more of the community people pushing rather than Nokia doing it.

If more people push for an app store on Maemo rather than Ovi store we will have more weight !

That was a bit of an "idiot" moment from me but i was thinking more of the community putting its weight together and saying "This is what we need to progress" since the Ovi store is not progressing as quickly as the Maemo Extras catalog.

Im sure there must be lots of companies that want to devleop/sell apps on Maemo, so lets give them a forum here (which is where it should be) not on Ovi.

We need to have everything in one place like what apple does to compete with them.

And no i do not hate apple, i do admire them for what they have done and after 18 months of using an Iphone 3G i am a convert to the N900, so i have an idea (like all of you) what needs to be done, even though i am just a simple forum commentator.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I have no problems with the idea of having commercial non-free applications in Maemo.org Extras. I wonder about the technical bits though. Do they land in extras-testing first and we vote for them? What about micropayments that people talked about, would it be feasable to have a framework that would be flexible enough to differentiate between donations and payments?

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Hi Den in USA, no i disagree we need a simple appstore just like apple, where free apps / trial apps and paid for apps are simple to distinguish from one another and that there is a clear price shown on the app's page.

Remember apples appstore is what we need to have, anything less than that and we should not even bother.

With a proper system in place, payments are taken via Maemo and sent onto the respective developers minus a cut from Maemo which would go towards hosting the app and dealing with all the payments.

Remember Apple have set the standard, we must match it first then beat it !!

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I agreee Tomaszd if Maemo was taking a cut from the app being sold like apples 30% from their apps let the developers here benefit from the community or pay Maemo community members to only test their products.

That way people can be employed through Maemo, paid for apps can get specialist development help from you guys here which (you are the experts) is the best way to handle it.

Remember we need to keep everyone on this site "Maemo.org". Just like apples app store, all in one place (without their random app selection process).

As long as the app passes the testers in devel & testing repo's and all the rules are followed for developing an app, it should be brought in here.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I second this.. and now that I'm starting to use the development system to promote packages... I also think in addition to this we need a much simpler "voting" system for Testing. Some ability to cast a vote directly from the App Manager or something.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I agree with your point, however, I am merely offering my opinion based on the "Paid application in Extras?" title of this thread, to which my answer is "all initial apps (in extras) should be free". This has nothing to do with an apps store.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

My apologies Den, just getting carried away, we need an open debate, but i think the application testing should not be made simplier.

If it is made too simple then spammers with get apps added which have virus's or clever malware and hidden nasties which might get through a simple testing process).

I think the current process is good, it just needs more people testing and commenting on the app.

How can we go about getting a Maemo paid appstore put into place.

Admins / Moderators can we push this ?

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

[QUOTE=sandybeach;516514]My apologies Den, just getting carried away, we need an open debate, but i think the application testing should not be made simplier./QUOTE]

No offence taken, sandybeach, I think we all agree that it would be nice to easily be able to help finance the developement of quality apps.:)

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

...and here's a spec for one:

http://lists.maemo.org/pipermail/mae...ry/023980.html

The same fields could also be included in Daniel Wilms' appdownloader and, long-term, HAM.

However, this isn't a full-blown app store; the infrastructure for that is a lot more complex IMHO.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I've seen you post this many times.. and I'm fully in support of it.. but - what now? Is there something we can do to push this to production?

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Any PHP developers want to write a Midgard enhancement? Prioritisation of it within the paid team may well be lower than some of the "big" ongoing tasks.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

Ah.. well I know PHP.. but have never dealt with midgard :(. So I guess we just wait for it to be coded then...

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

What about apps that have multiple developers? Or apps that are just repackaged for maemo but are largely based on other people's work? I guess developers are not "supposed to" ask donations for those, but I bet some will anyway. As judging and preventing it would be very difficult, I guess it will be OK for every package maintainer to whore for donations like there is no tomorrow? :)

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I do have some PHP experience, but i would be better as a tester rather than a developer but i would be willing to help in any capacity.

I think we are all agreed we need an application store that can do the following:

1. Allow people to pay for paid apps such as Tom Tom
2. Allow people to send donations directly to the developer (if it is a free like all apps in extras).

I feel developing a full blown app store would be best, it may be complex, time consuming and need alot of work and testing, but once it is done and up and running it would serve all our needs for Maemo 3,4,5 and all future editions, plus if we dont have one now we will eventually expand to the point of needing one.

I have a brainstorm about this here:

http://maemo.org/community/brainstor...ication_store/

If everyone who commented on this thread so far add the thumbs up and suggest solutions on it, then perhaps we can get this idea moving, the bigger the brainstorm then hopefully we will get more momentum and the admins will take us seriously and develop this idea into something working !!

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

For something like this it would have to remain as an Extras (free app) where copyright is in dispute.

But the appstore could be setup so when someone pays £1 the money is split say 10% for Maemo and 45% for the two developers.

Nice and easy, anything is possible if we can think it !

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I think you'll find most of these are GPL work.. and it is perfectly allowable from the GPL to repackage someone's app and sell it as long as the source code is available for everyone else to do the same.

And in this case.. you're not even selling it - just asking for donations for the time you took to repackage what someone (or you) wanted on the device - and going through the process to get it approved and uploaded to Extras.

Should the original author get a cut? Sure.. but there's no real automated way to be able to do that.. I'm sure some of the people at least that repackage someone else's app and submit it to the N900 would take a portion of their donations and give to the upstream author - assuming the upstream author has asked or provided a link for donations.

Re: Paid applications in Extras ?
 

I would like to have the store work in the app manager. Perhaps having an Extras Paid repository that automatically prepended the price or "paid:" to the app name would work.