It was no secret that Amazon was working an Android app store, including some early work with developers, but Amazon’s “Appstore” (see what they did with the space there?) Developer Portal just went live. So, no doubt that this is happening, if there was any left in your mind, and we’ve got a nice stack of details on the store to tide us over until Amazon launches this thing. Amazon is looking to strike a balance between Apple’s ultra strict store rules and Google’s unvetted mayhem, and will be examining and testing each app before it goes onto the store. Amazon is also going to control pricing, with developers allowed to set a “list price” that Amazon will riff on, adjusting the price based on magical algorithms. There’s the standard 70 / 30 split, and Amazon promises that the developer will get no less than 20 percent of the list price. Apps will be promoted to folks browsing Amazon.com just like how Kindle books pop up among physical goods, and can be “pushed” to your device similarly. It’s all very intriguing if it catches on, which seems particularly likely on non-blessed devices that don’t have access to Google’s Market (like the bevy of WiFi-only tablets, the market Amazon claims to be targeting), and developers who want to get in on the action can fork over $99 today to get started.
Amazon is certainly taking Android seriously, with the promise of tablet-centric Kindle apps later in the year, but it’s the new Amazon AppStore for Android that really shows the retailer’s aim. Now accepting developer submissions ahead of a launch on devices sometime in 2011, according to TechCrunch the AppStore will combine Amazon’s One-Click payments system, the retailer’s recommendations engine, and flexible pricing to take on the official Android Market.
Developers will be able to set a “List Price” for their apps, but final decisions on pricing will be made by Amazon; they can choose to significantly discount an app, or even make it free. The usual 70-percent profit share applies, though if the app is steeply discounted Amazon guarantee developers will get 20-percent of their list price.
Unlike in the Android Market, and more akin to Apple’s approach, Amazon AppStore submissions will be validated and checked prior to them being added to the store. Users will be able to browse the apps online, buy and send them to their device remotely, though they’ll need an Amazon AppStore app on their handset to actually install them. That local app will also require some settings tweaking, with “Unknown Sources” install permissions granted.
The Amazon AppStore for Android will arrive later in 2011, complete with a storefront designed for tablets.
The PlayBook is seeing quite a bit of video love today. Earlier, we saw how Flash and HTML5 work on the tablet device from Research In Motion, along with the Browser having some time in the spotlight. And now, thanks to RIM’s Developer Relations Team, we get to see what the tablet OS Software Development Kit will look like, for those who want to take some time and develop applications for the device.
The video is straight forward in the presentation. It’s meant to show the features that developers should expect when they load up the SDK, and start developing for the tablet. The Relations Team want developers to be able to see how to create apps, so that by the time the tablet device releases early this year, there are plenty of applications ready to go. You can check out the video below.
A couple of days ago, we reported that, thanks to a proof-of-concept video, it was more than evident the security behind the applications on Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Marketplace’s isn’ the best in the world. Or even close. Through a simple crack, anyone could easily strip the Digital Rights Management (DRM) tools in place, and download a paid application from the Marketplace, and install it on any Windows Phone 7 device they wanted. And while the conversation towards illegal downloads could have easily exploded, in which case Microsoft would have had an ever-worsening case on their hands, it looks like it’s taken a different turn. The developer behind FreeMarketplace, the tool needed to crack the DRM on applications, has actually turned his knowledge over and has begun trying to figure out a solution for the problem.
The developer behind the tool is named Tobias, and he believes that he has figured out a potential solution to the situation. However, it’s not a permanent fix, and it’s not completely fool-proof, either. He points out that the problem with the DRM that Microsoft uses for the apps within the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is the fact that Microsoft decided to use the same DRM for every application in the Marketplace. Meaning, there’s no extra steps for a tool or program to crack individual DRM with each app. It’s all the same, so an automated tool works too well.
Tobias says, “The code and the guides I gave you here will not stop piracy. Anyone with the corresponding skills can still startup reflector, go through your code, remove any checkes, remove DRM and install it on a device. YES, but it got a lot more difficult to do it in an automated fashion. So, there might be one or two who can still break your security measures by hand but the masses won’t be able as there is no generic tool available.”
It’s not a permanent fix by any means, but it may be a stop-gap until Microsoft can step forward and make some kind of fix that works for all apps, all the time.
Microsoft’s online gaming and media service, Xbox LIVE for the Xbox 360 is a place where gamers, and entertainment-loving folks in general can go and download all sorts of things to pass the time. A strong moneymaker for the Redmond-based company is Xbox LIVE’s Arcade, where developers and publishers can release “classic” titles, along with smaller games that may not be big enough to fit into a full “retail” package. Titles like Limbo and Monday Night Combat managed to garner plenty of rave reviews, and even some “best of” lists. But, there’s another section on Xbox LIVE that hasn’t received so much attention: Indie games. In fact, getting any kind of face time on Xbox LIVE for the Indie game developer has been sort of a rough patch recently.
Back at the beginning of November, Microsoft decided to shove the Xbox LIVE Indie Games section way, way into the depths of the Marketplace. No longer could you find it with a few flicks of a joystick. You’d have to go all the way into the “Specialty Shop,” and there you’d find your favorite “small-time” games. This didn’t sit well with the developers of these titles, and they made it apparent that they believed Microsoft was worried about these other games taking the limelight away from Microsoft’s cream-of-the-crop Arcade titles.
Microsoft eventually relented, and returned the Indie Games panel back to the main section of the Marketplace. However, it doesn’t look like that’s enough for some Indie game developers, as they still believe they do not receive the same treatment that Arcade developers get. The result? The Indie Games Winter Uprising. It started off from a pair of developers coming together to promote not only their titles, but other Indie games that they believed looked too good to pass up. After the Xbox LIVE Indie Games panel was moved into the Specialty Shop, a lot of developers started losing money as sales dropped suddenly. It was bad enough that, according to Robert Boyd, the development head of Breath of Death VII, “a lot of developers talked about quitting the service.”
That’s when Ian Stocker, the developer behind Soulcaster II, got in touch with Boyd and suggested that the two of them team up, more or less, to promote their games. Boyd was just about finished with Cthulhu Saves the World, and figured that it would be a good idea. He didn’t want it to just focus on their games, though, and suggested that they should widen their scope to include other top-notch Indie games. And that’s how the Indie Games Winter Uprising was conceived.
In total, there are 14 games that are part of the Winter Uprising. A few of them are already out, but most of them won’t be released until early 2011. What’s interesting, though, is the support that the Winter Uprising has received from Microsoft. After the company wanted to squander the service into the depths of the Marketplace, the Winter Uprising now has its own promotional panel in the main section of the Dashboard. It’s not just in the Marketplace — it’s right there in the front, where everyone can see. And, what makes it better, is that the idea for the large promotion was apparently Microsoft’s.
The developers taking part in the Winter Uprising are not only hoping that their games pick up in sales due to the promotion, but also that the overall traffic increases significantly into the Indie Games section of Xbox LIVE. One of the games, Epic Dungeon has already managed to sell over 10,000 copies. You can see the game in action below.
Security is an important aspect of anything that gets used by anyone, at any given moment around the world. For developers of applications that get purchased through a digital storefront, like Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, making sure that it’s not easy, next to impossible in fact, to steal apps and put them on a device free-of-charge is just as important. But, as WPCentral reports, it looks like the Digital Rights Management (DRM) security tools set in place by Microsoft have been cracked.
Fortunately, though, the program that is being used to do so is not known to the general public. In point of fact, the “white hat” developer that created it is just showing it as a proof of concept. If the program were to make it out into the world, then it would be possible for some people out there to strip the DRM from applications available in the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, and then download them for free.
As of the time of this writing, Microsoft hasn’t made an official comment regarding the security hole. WPCentral has been in contact with Brandon Watson from Microsoft, but so far they have not heard back from him. The video demonstrating the proof of concept program making short work of DRM for the Windows Phone 7 applications can be viewed below.
Palm has begun a fresh round of hiring, and the webOS maker isn’t hanging around when it comes to paving the way for the 4-5 new smartphones and tablet expected to launch in 2011. While various engineer and management positions are open, it’s likely Business Development Manager – expected “to successfully recruit and manage partnerships with top strategic developers to deliver compelling solutions and applications for the webOS ecosystem” – that will pave the way for further webOS success, as they boost App Catalog content.
Palm is believed to be working on a tablet codenamed Topaz – a keyboard accessory for which has already leaked – which analysts have predicted will launch in March 2011. The new Enyo app framework is also pulling in fresh engineers, complete with explicit support for multiple form-factors. One role, senior Linux Kernel engineer, would be responsible for developing and maintaining code for “a variety of upcoming products.” More Palm/HP jobs here and here.
Welcome back! Did you get any sweet gifts over these past few holiday days? Or did you treat yourself to something sweet? Either way, if you’re a brand new (or old, but could use a refresher) user of Android devices, take a look at our 2010 holiday guide on Android Community! Then for all you well-versed Apple product users, check out the new reverse BitTorrent method of downloading hacked apps. Take a look at Chris Davies column by the name of In Praise of Anticipation (or, A Geek’s Christmas), Evan Selleck’s column deciding an important conundrum: When Should a Developer Step In?, and probably the cutest tech-related column I’ve ever seen by Philip Berne: Baby’s First iPad. Check out a review of the OCZ Vertex 2 SSD, get a whole batch of games for less than a buck in EA Android Games $.99 sale for Android, and MORE on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up!
We know how it is, you want to be a hotshot developer, but all that coding sounds like daunting work. Never mind, Apple’s got your back with its new iAds producer, which automates all the HTML5 and CSS3 stuff into the background and leaves you to focus on the crucial task of picking out templates and components for your perfect iAd. To be fair to this new dev tool, it does more than merely dumb down the design process. It also includes “sophisticated” JavaScript editing and debugging, a built-in simulator for testing your creation, and a project validator that checks your code for common errors. Hit the source link to give it a try.
Apple has informed developers that, as of January 6 2011 and the launch of the new Mac App Store, the Mac OS X Download site will be closed down. According to the statement, shared by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple believes the new software store “will be the best destination for users to discover, purchase, and download your apps” and hopes developers will “take advantage of this new opportunity to showcase your apps to even more users”; however, it’s not so easy as porting titles across from one to the other.
Thank you for making the Mac OS X Download site a great destination with apps that offer users new ways to work, play, learn, and create on their Mac. We recently announced that on January 6, 2011, the Mac App Store will open to users around the world, presenting you with an exciting, new opportunity to reach millions of customers. Since the introduction of the App Store in 2008, we’ve been thrilled with the incredible support from developers and the enthusiastic response from users. Now we’re bringing the revolutionary experience of the App Store to Mac OS X. Because we believe the Mac App Store will be the best destination for users to discover, purchase, and download your apps, we will no longer offer apps on the Mac OS X Downloads site. Instead, beginning January 6, we will be directing users to explore the range of apps available on the Mac App Store. We appreciate your support of the Mac platform and hope you’ll take advantage of this new opportunity to showcase your apps to even more users. To learn how you can offer your apps on the Mac App Store, visit the Apple Developer website at <http://developer.apple.com/programs/mac/>.
The news means that OS X widget downloads will have to find a new home, since they’re currently distributed by the Mac OS X Download site and there has been no mention of them in the new Mac App Store. It could also present an issue for OS X users running earlier versions of the platform, who will need a more recent version in order to access the new store.
