The Palm App Store

[DennisOS2]

Palm will have a store similar to the iPhone Store. But what type of apps does the hardcore Palm / Pre user want or need from that store?

I'm a power business user and need:

a full featured PDF viewer and expense report app.

[JavaJiveJump]

I just hope they can somehow centralize all the apps that are already out there scattered on various webpages. The FREE category has always been large for the Palm.

[AndrewP]

Build it and they will come...

Initially, this doesn't need to be about the number or type of apps - it needs to be about a slick installation experience for the user.

On my Treo, I've a couple of apps that have a "Check for updates" option. The good ones call home and, if there's a new version available, simply offer me a choice of taking the update and then install OTA. Easy-peasy.

The bad ones fire up the web browser and take me to a download page where I have to figure out if the version on the screen is newer than the ones on the device. Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.

Obviously the store also has to take in the developer's PoV as well but if I get a good user experience from the Palm store, I will be asking the developers of the software I use to get in on the act, as it were.

Andrew

[harpgliss]

Hi,

I am not trying to dump on the Pre here but do have a question.

I remember reading back a month or so that developers would be able market their apps through the Palm App Store or do it on their own site as many do toady with the PalmOS, would this not create issues for consistency of delivery and stability of said apps?

Just curious as I feel Apple got it right with everything going through them for to insure stability and consistency of delivery method.

Does the Android store and the Blackberry stores allow users to purchase apps directly from the developer, bypassing their system of delivery?

David

[DennisOS2]

Hi,

I am not trying to dump on the Pre here but do have a question.

I remember reading back a month or so that developers would be able market their apps through the Palm App Store or do it on their own site as many do toady with the PalmOS, would this not create issues for consistency of delivery and stability of said apps?

Just curious as I feel Apple got it right with everything going through them for to insure stability and consistency of delivery method.

Does the Android store and the Blackberry stores allow users to purchase apps directly from the developer, bypassing their system of delivery?

David
Don't remember hearing that developers could sell from their own site. My son is one of the 200 approved developers, I'll ask him next time I see him. I guess they could allow that only after certification. I would think, though, that developers and users alike would prefer a one stop shop. Sorta like getting everything from the government.

Apple got it right with their store. Although, the high number of apps that is quoted as an advantage for the iPhone is a bit misleading. To be sure, many are quite useful, greatly increasing the iPhone functionality. However, many apps are duplications and many are novelties, not at all useful.

With the Pre, the issue will be how fast they will allow access to the base OS so true system level apps can be created .......... like a screen based keyboard for use in landscape position ;)

[harpgliss]

Hi,


The trouble with any of these stores is the level of support if you have an issue with the program, where if you bought directly from the developer, the level of support may be better.

I do like the one stop shopping but having had a few issues with apps, getting help or support can be problematic.

200 approved developers? that better increase sharply and quickly if they plan to build a user base.

David

[DennisOS2]

Hi,


The trouble with any of these stores is the level of support if you have an issue with the program, where if you bought directly from the developer, the level of support may be better.

I do like the one stop shopping but having had a few issues with apps, getting help or support can be problematic.

200 approved developers? that better increase sharply and quickly if they plan to build a user base.

David
Good point with the support angle. I imagine with so many "developers" there are many that work from their basement with no way of resolving one-off issues.

With the 200 developers (like my son), it is a small fraction of those that applied. For example, my son started his company 10 years ago and is already approved for BB and iPhone developers. He was at the head of the list. Palm is looking for high-end developers first to ensure the first and second wave of apps are bulletproof. Then they'll open to second level developers, the mom&pop shops. This way they protect the brand. Good strategy. 200 quality developers can develop a TON of really useful, quality apps. I believe that, unlike Apple, Palm is going first after quality rather than quantity in their store. Once established they will become more liberal in their developer standards. Who can't love 'liberal', right?

[DennisOS2]

My understanding is there are 6 apps in the store and all are free, except for classic. My understanding is that it took a year for the Apple App Store to get up and running.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

The comparison to Apple does not work.

First, Apple was the first to do the appstore concept here so it was not competing against another phone.

Second, if Palm takes a year to get their store up and running and developers on board, they will be further eclipsed by Apple, RIM, and the Android OS.

Caution is one thing but once you launch the phone, you need to have your appstore, or at least the SDK out for developers to get on board.

The phone, at least right now for the techies who went out and bought it, looks to have been accepted reasonably well.

Major complaint now will be, what can I do on it and why do these other phones have all these apps available and the Pre does not.

Thirty dollars for Classic is a Classic ripoff.

David

[DennisOS2]

Hi,

The comparison to Apple does not work.


First, Apple was the first to do the appstore concept here so it was not competing against another phone.
FOR THAT YEAR, PEOPLE WERE WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR IPHONES BESIDES MAKING CALLS AND SURFING ........... NO APPS

Second, if Palm takes a year to get their store up and running and developers on board, they will be further eclipsed by Apple, RIM, and the Android OS.
IT IS UP AND RUNNING WITH 6 APPS. AS HAS BEEN STATED IN ANOTHER THREAD, THERE ARE 200 TOP-LEVEL DEVELOPERS, AND A SECOND TIER IN THE THOUSANDS. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT HUNDREDS OF APPS AVAILABLE AT LAUNCH AFTER ONLY 15 MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE ENTIRE HANDSET AND OS. EVEN SO THEY OUTSHINE THE IPHONE IN MANY AREAS.

Caution is one thing but once you launch the phone, you need to have your appstore, or at least the SDK out for developers to get on board.
SDK HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE ....... HAVEN"T YOU DONE YOUR RESEARCH?

The phone, at least right now for the techies who went out and bought it, looks to have been accepted reasonably well.
UNDERSTATEMENT, BUT MATTER OF OPINION.

Major complaint now will be, what can I do on it and why do these other phones have all these apps available and the Pre does not.
YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT? I CERTAINLY KNOW MANY PEOPLE WITH IPHONES. WHAT DO THEY DO WITH IPHONES OF SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE?? CERTAINLY NOTHING IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR OTHER THAN EMAIL AND CALENDARING. AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, DTC WILL PROVIDE A BASIC MS OFFICE COMPATIBLE SUITE TO WORK WITH. GIVEN THE TWO SMARTPHONES, THEIR TARGET AUDIENCES, AND RELATIVE CAPABILITIES AT THIS VERY MOMENT, I BELIEVE YOUR COMMENT TO BE A BIT DISINGENUOUS.

Thirty dollars for Classic is a Classic ripoff.
ARE YOU THE SAME GENTLEMAN THAT PAID HOW MUCH FOR A TOUCH JUST TO PLAY MUSIC AND GAMES?? PRE HAS YOU COVERED AT LEAST WITH MUSIC. AND $30 IS TOO MUCH TO ALLOW ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF SERIOUS APPS? A REASONABLE TRADE-OFF AND STOP-GAP MEASURE NOT TO MENTION ALLOWING A LOYAL FOLLOWING TO TRANSITION SLOWLY TO THIS NEW PLATFORM. WE CAN QUIBBLE ABOUT WHETHER CLASSIC SHOULD BE $0 OR $30. EITHER WAY IT IS OPINION AND WILL ULTIMATELY BE DECIDED BY THE MARKETPLACE .............. NOT YOU OR ME.

David
Please see comments above. Remember, this is v1.0. They did get it right. Not perfect, but certainly right. If they continue on this course (and they may not), we'll see the demise (no, relegation to niche status) of the iPhone. Not for sure. Time will tell.

[intellidryad]

So far I like the Palm Appstore, but a little unsatisfied because I still remember the days when there were new app coming out for Palm OS 5 every single day. I know it takes time, but still miss a robust, mature platform.

I don't like Classic, and am not going to buy it. Not because the price, if it could replicate over 50% of what I was doing on my TH55, $30 is quite good. On the contrary, to me, the only value in it is that you can run Bejeweled, with huge fingers that never achieves the accuracy of a stylus.Main problem is the file system. You are restricted to load apps on a virtual memory card's Palm/Launcher folder. Thus apps that run better or had to run in RAM won't work. I also have some apps (like Kdic) that needs to read data files either from RAM or the Palm/Programs/MSfiles folder. Well, the "Launcher" folder is virtual in the first place, so there is no way to make a Palm/Programs folder. I tried making the folders with FileZ (it's a pain with no stylus, again), and behold, the whole folder and all your apps are wiped out by doing this. This is a great concept wasted by absurd restrictions.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

Dennis, did I p*ss you off in a previous life that I do not remember?

As for my use of my Ipod Touch, it does everything my Clie, and my Dell Axim did.

Makes a fine pda and has other functions unique to it.

SDK, where? OH! wait! the lucky few have access but the general developer community does not.

I stand by my statements above that you respond to rather Angrily?

You have a need to goad me into stuff and just went after a Palm developer in another thread here for his opinion.

You look to need your opinion heard and followed but differing opinions are attacked by you in such a way that does not allow for the fact you may be wrong, or at least prejudiced by the fact your son is one of the privileged to have the SDK and developing for the Pre.

Get a life.

Apologies to everyone else who may read this thread and wonder what is going on.

If you do a search of posts by Dennis, you may have a better understanding for this post.

David

[LupeValenz]

I like the layout of the Palm app store and there are more applications that just came out today, the one I'm happy to see is SplashID. They have infopedia (mobile wiki), and Shortcovers (an ebook reader). and some others as well, oh yeah, a craiglist app...yeah, I want an amazon app though :(. I hope to see some more weekly releases, be better for weekdays though :D.

EDIT: Just played with SplashID and I love how they like to keep your info private. If you go out to card view or swipe to the next application, the SplashID card will blank and have a login screen right away. Might be an annoyance because it does that every time but I think its good to have your info safe.

[DennisOS2]

Hi,

Dennis, did I p*ss you off in a previous life that I do not remember?

As for my use of my Ipod Touch, it does everything my Clie, and my Dell Axim did.

Makes a fine pda and has other functions unique to it.

SDK, where? OH! wait! the lucky few have access but the general developer community does not.

I stand by my statements above that you respond to rather Angrily?

You have a need to goad me into stuff and just went after a Palm developer in another thread here for his opinion.

You look to need your opinion heard and followed but differing opinions are attacked by you in such a way that does not allow for the fact you may be wrong, or at least prejudiced by the fact your son is one of the privileged to have the SDK and developing for the Pre.

Get a life.

Apologies to everyone else who may read this thread and wonder what is going on.

If you do a search of posts by Dennis, you may have a better understanding for this post.

David

Dave, Dave, Dave ........... there you go again. You've never made me mad, although you did disappoint me with your thinly veiled vulgarity in your last post. This forum doesn't need that kind of post.

Inane posts backed by personal opinion, such as yours, help no one, but I did try to draw out of you what I was sure was your deeper understanding of the platforms and the marketing of each. I must admit, I was mistaken, and I'm truly sorry.

But what I would suggest is that you get a backbone, stop deflecting, and stand up for your position(s). But do it with substance. This isn't about you and your persecution complex, Dave. Get your big boy pants on, get out of Mom and Dad's basement and stand tall. Forums are for debate. Suggestion: don't reply to those that oppose your opinions ........... and you won't have to rely on either hate speech in your replies or providing substance.

All too often in forums people experience bashing such as yours. Meaningless, uninformed bashing ........ bashing that is not constructive. Please ATTEMPT to provide meaningful discourse to advance this forum, not drag it down. We all benefit from logical input, not emotion that you seem to exhibit. Prove to us you are NOT a hate monger but someone that wishes to promote two sided debate. We'll all benefit from that.

The tattling part of your post was particularly cool, Dave. Do that in grade school, too?

Remember, Dave, you want no one viewing your inane posts :)

[DennisOS2]

I like the layout of the Palm app store and there are more applications that just came out today, the one I'm happy to see is SplashID. They have infopedia (mobile wiki), and Shortcovers (an ebook reader). and some others as well, oh yeah, a craiglist app...yeah, I want an amazon app though :(. I hope to see some more weekly releases, be better for weekdays though :D.

EDIT: Just played with SplashID and I love how they like to keep your info private. If you go out to card view or swipe to the next application, the SplashID card will blank and have a login screen right away. Might be an annoyance because it does that every time but I think its good to have your info safe.
Thank you for your learned review. We've heard from the Palm side of the spectrum and all the positive Pre attributes. We really need individuals with experience such as yours to tell us about the other side of the coin. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Anxiously await you full review.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

First off, I do not know you well enough for you to assume you can address me by some thing other than my given name, which is David.

Or address me by my nickname on the site.

Pleas do not assume I go by or answer to other than David when being addressed.

Second, I guess if you cannot argue against the facts of the post, you change your approach and attack the person.

Debate is not what you have been after but to keep those with differing opinions from voicing them.

I would suggest you go back and read your previous posts if you have forgotten what you have written.

David

[blues]

...
EDIT: Just played with SplashID and I love how they like to keep your info private. If you go out to card view or swipe to the next application, the SplashID card will blank and have a login screen right away. Might be an annoyance because it does that every time but I think its good to have your info safe.SplashID is out! Time to dump Classic!

[scottl]

Lucky for you. I will need Classic until Resco IDGuard makes the jump (among other apps). I'm sure (I hope!) it won't be long.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

I have been curious of Resco developing for the Pre also.

I do know they currently do not have anny apps for the Iphone format and wonder how that will play for the Pre.

I would hope they would develop for both as their apps are some of the best and most stable out there.

David

[blues]

Well, I've been looking for SplashID on the Palm App Store, and it's not there yet... :cool:

[DennisOS2]

Hi,

First off, I do not know you well enough for you to assume you can address me by some thing other than my given name, which is David.

Or address me by my nickname on the site.

Pleas do not assume I go by or answer to other than David when being addressed.
To the extent I offended you, I apologize ......... I honestly didn't know how emotional or sensitive you are.

Second, I guess if you cannot argue against the facts of the post, you change your approach and attack the person.

Debate is not what you have been after but to keep those with differing opinions from voicing them.
It is you that has not responding to my challenges. I'll expect those forthwith.

I would suggest you go back and read your previous posts if you have forgotten what you have written.
Let me make a suggestion (as I have to you in the past) please, I implore you, actually read all post in their entirety before responding. Will help you immensely.

David
Apologies for taking so long to respond

[harpgliss]

Hi,

To the extent I offended you, I apologize ......... I honestly didn't know how emotional or sensitive you are.

Not sure I saw an apology there, just another dig.

As for the rest of your post, I just refer to my post you quoted from.

David

[DennisOS2]

Hi,



Not sure I saw an apology there, just another dig.

As for the rest of your post, I just refer to my post you quoted from.

David
Again, read the post ......... I don't have limitless time to spend on the forums. Therefore, I was apologizing for the delay in response time. Again, I apologize for the delay.