Google 'Not Happy' with Android Market Purchases.

[cheezy321]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/google-not-happy-with-android-market-purchase-rates-many-chan/

Looks like the fact that nobody on the Android store buys apps is finally forcing google to make some changes.

People like to argue about how both of the app stores have quality apps. I agree with that, but it seems like google is having a hard time monetizing those apps for the quality developers out there. Will developers keep on flocking to a platform when they know they might not receive a return on their investment?

Could it be that the 'open' app store might not be the best policy? In my opinion, google should police it more and remove apps that are trash. Doesn't look like this is at the top of their priority list at the moment.

 

[shortylickens]

Theres plenty of people buying stuff.
I laugh at them as I use my free programs.
I do agree that removing the crap is just fine. Maybe have a basic screening process before stuff can go up.

 

[zerocool84]

It's because there are so many free apps that do the same thing as the paid ones. Open Marketplace as we know has many good things about it and many bad things about it just like a closed one does. Google and it's partners want to make more money so of course they want to change it. Just like they changed the 24hr return policy to appease the app developers, they're doing this to appease them as well. I personally don't like them doing this as it hurts the consumers more than helps them but as always, they're a business.

 

[QueBert]

Funny I'm an Android owner and I haven't been all that happy with most of my purchases either. Google needs to nuke the Market Place and start from the ground up.

The open policy's shit, it's awesome in theory but it just doesn't work well. There's not a single app on there I can't get something better on Apples store, so the whole point of being open is totally meaningless. More choice doesn't always = better apps. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I wish they'd make it closed and actually start rejecting some damn apps.

 

[zerocool84]

Funny I'm an Android owner and I haven't been all that happy with most of my purchases either. Google needs to nuke the Market Place and start from the ground up.

The open policy's shit, it's awesome in theory but it just doesn't work well. There's not a single app on there I can't get something better on Apples store, so the whole point of being open is totally meaningless. More choice doesn't always = better apps. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I wish they'd make it closed and actually start rejecting some damn apps.

What does this have to do with Apple's apps? But of course you have to bring it in here like you always do. This only has to do with Google Marketplace and paid apps being low selling since so many people are getting the free ones instead. Why would someone who has an Android phone worry about getting the same app on Apple's App store when they have an Android phone?

 

[bonkers325]

What does this have to do with Apple's apps? But of course you have to bring it in here like you always do. This only has to do with Google Marketplace and paid apps being low selling since so many people are getting the free ones instead. Why would someone who has an Android phone worry about getting the same app on Apple's App store when they have an Android phone?

because some people have an android, iOS, and WP7 phone at their disposal and like to rotate their usage based on present capabilities.... clearly.

but yea, android marketplace is filled with garbage and the lite apps are usually just as good as the paid versions.

 

[SunnyD]

I've never bought a single app. All free for me. As long as they don't remove sideloading of apps, I won't care. As soon as they do remove it, Android is just about dead to me.

 

[cheezy321]

What does this have to do with Apple's apps? But of course you have to bring it in here like you always do. This only has to do with Google Marketplace and paid apps being low selling since so many people are getting the free ones instead. Why would someone who has an Android phone worry about getting the same app on Apple's App store when they have an Android phone?

Do you think the high quality, free apps will continue to be made at the current rate they are now?

Eventually the developers are going to want to make $$$ on their work...

 

[Anubis]

Funny I'm an Android owner and I haven't been all that happy with most of my purchases either. Google needs to nuke the Market Place and start from the ground up.

The open policy's shit, it's awesome in theory but it just doesn't work well. There's not a single app on there I can't get something better on Apples store, so the whole point of being open is totally meaningless. More choice doesn't always = better apps. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I wish they'd make it closed and actually start rejecting some damn apps.

TB if i had an iphone i wouldn't pay for aps either regardless of how much better you think they are

 

[tatteredpotato]

Rovio made comments about paid apps not selling well on android, hence the free but ad supported Angry Birds on Android.

 

[purbeast0]

as someone who has devved an app for both platforms, which are ports of eachother, i have to say that the Apple market is MMUUCCHH better in general.

from creating your app (other than objective c), to packaging your app, to uploading your app and setting all the info, to maintaning your app and looking at stats ... i feel that Apple is far superior. The Android market just feels as though it is in a beta stage, while the apple one is extremely polished.

 

[I Saw OJ]

I've bought a few apps in the market but the amount of garbage that you have to sort through is astounding.

 

[shortylickens]

Do you think the high quality, free apps will continue to be made at the current rate they are now?

Eventually the developers are going to want to make $$$ on their work...

ads

 

[MrX8503]

I think another problem is that the Android Marketplace isn't very organized. Having an open marketplace makes it even more unorganized.

To me this creates a "Everyone throw your shit in" kind of marketplace. There are good apps in there somewhere if you can find them.

 

[dpodblood]

Correct me if I'm wrong but with Android don't you need to use your credit card or paypal for each separate app, whereas with IOS you purchase everything through iTunes?

 

[MrX8503]

Correct me if I'm wrong but with Android don't you need to use your credit card or paypal for each separate app, whereas with IOS you purchase everything through iTunes?

Correct. On iOS its much easier to purchase, which may contribute to people buying more.

 

[dpodblood]

Correct. On iOS its much easier to purchase, which may contribute to people buying more.

That's what I thought. I have an Android phone and aside from the abundance of free/ad supported apps this is the main reason I have never paid for an app. If I were using iOS I think I would have a lot of impulse buys for $1-$2 apps. Another issue for Android is piracy. I have seen torrents containing 500+ apps, which are all to easy to install on your phone.

 

[zerocool84]

because some people have an android, iOS, and WP7 phone at their disposal and like to rotate their usage based on present capabilities.... clearly.

but yea, android marketplace is filled with garbage and the lite apps are usually just as good as the paid versions.

but this has nothing to do with any other app stores, this has to do with Android Marketplace and the paid apps not selling well, nothing else.

 

[zerocool84]

Correct. On iOS its much easier to purchase, which may contribute to people buying more.

I also think the return policy has hurt Android developers more than it has helped them. For Apple store, there is no real return policy other than trying to request a refund which means you are more likely to be stuck with an App even if you don't like it or use it. On Android they've had the 24hr policy forever and now 15min policy and if someone uses an app they don't like they return it and the developer gets nothing. It's obvious the return policy gets abused a lot, someone uses the app for whatever they need in the return time-frame and just return it when they're done. There's a lot that the Android Marketplace needs to change. It's horrible to navigate and find the paid apps you want as well. Hopefully they change this in the next version of Android cus even though they recently changed it, it's even worse now.

 

[Binky]

Correct. On iOS its much easier to purchase, which may contribute to people buying more.

Ummm, huh? Once you link your credit card to Google Checkout, you just click buy then confirm from within the Market app. How is that complicated?

You link the card ONCE. Don't you do the exact same thing in itunes - link a credit card to your Checkout/itunes account (I don't do iphone)?

 

[zerocool84]

Ummm, huh? Once you link your credit card to Google Checkout, you just click buy then confirm from within the Market app. How is that complicated?

You link the card ONCE. Don't you do the exact same thing in itunes - link a credit card to your Checkout/itunes account (I don't do iphone)?

It's infinitely easier to find stuff on the App store compared to the Android Marketplace. That may be what he's talking about.

 

[boomhower]

I have bought a good bit of stuff in the Android market. I have no problem paying for a quality app. I have seen many developers stating they make more on advertising with free apps than they do paid apps.

The market is a mess and it's hard to find new apps. It really does need to be drastically improved.

 

[cheezy321]

ads

If developers could make more $$$ on just ads vs. making the $ up front via the app purchase, they would have all their apps for free.

That just isn't the case. Not everyone wants the unpredictability that revenue from ads brings. This much is obvious, as Google has stated that they want to have more paid apps in their store.

 

[theeedude]

More paid apps is good as long as they aren't steering users into paid apps by filtering free versions. I think people who really want to get monetized will find a way to part with their money.

 

[notposting]

Good thing they are talking to devs instead of the people who actually buy stuff. Of course, it wouldn't fit in with the Google creative credo of churning something out and leaving it half fucking baked and just ignoring and closing the bug reports.

Maybe they can just force you to link a credit card with your Google account and then automatically purchase a new app every week. That should work.

I've bought quite a few apps for my Droid. I think I've only bought two since they went to 15 minutes, and only because in both cases I had been using the free version for a long time and the developer finally came out with a paid version as well.

I've been strongly considering going WP7 once VZW gets it. I know I couldn't foist Android off on my wife at all. And unfortunately i can't afford to get sucked into the Apple camp, so I will cuddle with my widgets and dream of something better.