AndroidCentral: Amazon updates Appstore Developer Portal FAQ for Kindle Fire

kjk · 10-07-2011, 12:25 PM

http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon...aq-kindle-fire

Quote:

They have a list of no-nos, which your application can't require (as in, need for correct operation) to run. This list includes a gyroscope, camera, WAN module, Bluetooth, microphone, GPS, or micro-SD. In addition, if your app uses Google's mobile services, like cloud to device messaging, they need to be removed "gracefully". Amazon gives us an example of graceful as "an error message such as "This feature is not currently available on this device".

There's also a notice that Google's in app billing won't be supported, but they're working on their own solution.

Definitely going their own way on this. Can't wait to see it.

Hellmark · 10-07-2011, 12:54 PM

that knocks out a lot of apps. no directions, maps, photo apps, etc.

kjk · 10-07-2011, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

that knocks out a lot of apps. no directions, maps, photo apps, etc.

Wonder if this is just a stopgap though-I'll be a bit surprised if the rumored 10" tablet next Spring didn't have a camera, maps, GPS, and such.

But Amazon is in this for the long haul, so I'm sure the policy will evolve with their hardware. A huge advantage when you control the whole stack.

Giggleton · 10-07-2011, 02:12 PM

So Amazon is going to create clones of all google softwares?

RainingLemur · 10-07-2011, 02:25 PM

Hmm. That's interesting. I wonder how the "in-app" billing alternative is going to work.

kjk · 10-07-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

Hmm. That's interesting. I wonder how the "in-app" billing alternative is going to work.

Knowing Amazon, I'd say "seamlessly"

OtterBooks · 10-07-2011, 05:10 PM

Maps and directions apps probably aren't too useful on a device with no 3G. While I'm personally disappointed in the lack of a camera, mic, and gyroscope on the Fire, it makes sense for them to avoid having Fire customers shop through their appstore and find apps that say "Not available for your device." That would cause some unhappy people crying "Why would you put these apps in your store if I can't use them on the tablet you just sold me?" (not to mention highlight the Fire's absent features)

Unfortunately it alienates customers who shop the Amazon appstore for third party Android devices, but they chose to compromise that in favor of prioritizing the experience on the Fire. IMO it was a smart decision, even if they lose some Android users to the Google Market.

Many photo editing apps don't require a camera. People can just load photos onto the fire via their cloud storage and edit them.

One question I have is are they going to continue those restrictions if/when they release their second tablet, which may have some of the features lacking on the Fire.

Hellmark · 10-07-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Unfortunately it alienates customers who shop the Amazon appstore for third party Android devices, but they chose to compromise that in favor of prioritizing the experience on the Fire. IMO it was a smart decision, even if they lose some Android users to the Google Market.

Yeah, screws over the companies that have signed deals with Amazon. Like Velocity Micro now has the Amazon App Store as their official marketplace on their devices. Those devices don't have the Android Market, just the Amazon store. People with those devices will be forced to root, and install the Google Apps in order to get apps that amazon now disallows.

murraypaul · 10-07-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Yeah, screws over the companies that have signed deals with Amazon. Like Velocity Micro now has the Amazon App Store as their official marketplace on their devices. Those devices don't have the Android Market, just the Amazon store. People with those devices will be forced to root, and install the Google Apps in order to get apps that amazon now disallows.

But it was always the case that the Amazon app store only allowed apps approved by Amazon, and was not a free for all like the Google store, so they knew that going in. The owners of those devices would always have been forced to root and install the Google store to gets apps that Amazon disallowed.
What has changed is that some of the rules have been published.
And the Amazon rules don't say that apps can't use GPS,... if they are available, just that they can't require GPS to be there.

OtterBooks · 10-07-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Yeah, screws over the companies that have signed deals with Amazon. Like Velocity Micro now has the Amazon App Store as their official marketplace on their devices. Those devices don't have the Android Market, just the Amazon store. People with those devices will be forced to root, and install the Google Apps in order to get apps that amazon now disallows.

You don't have to root iirc. You can download something like the Appbrain app from their website directly onto the device, which browses and installs from the Android Market. You may even be able to do this for the Fire.

Hellmark · 10-07-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

But it was always the case that the Amazon app store only allowed apps approved by Amazon, and was not a free for all like the Google store, so they knew that going in. The owners of those devices would always have been forced to root and install the Google store to gets apps that Amazon disallowed.
What has changed is that some of the rules have been published.
And the Amazon rules don't say that apps can't use GPS,... if they are available, just that they can't require GPS to be there.

But until this point, Amazon had shown no intent of disallowing those type of apps. Hell, there are apps in the store now that have the features that are disallowed, and those apps will be removed. If I was someone like Velocity, I see that the app store had all sorts of apps, and the approval process more or less verified quality and that they weren't malecious, why would I expect Amazon to then change their mind and determine what sort of apps to allow. As an app developer, if my app met the guidelines set by Amazon, and then they remove it because it has features they don't want anymore, I'd also be kinda pissed, especially since it costs to submit your app in the first place.

BrowseTheStacks · 10-07-2011, 07:41 PM

Could they be forking the app store for fire like they forked android for the OS?

frahse · 10-09-2011, 08:09 AM

To be perfectly frank, this thing is not well presented.
On the other hand, I just might not know enough to understand it.

What worries me is what will be left, and what won't be usable.

wallcraft · 10-09-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Unfortunately it alienates customers who shop the Amazon appstore for third party Android devices, but they chose to compromise that in favor of prioritizing the experience on the Fire. IMO it was a smart decision, even if they lose some Android users to the Google Market.

These are not restrictions on apps in the Amazon Appstore for Android, but rather restrictions on apps that are in the "Kindle Fire" subsection of the Amazon Appstore. From Amazon's FAQ

Quote:

How do I submit my app for Kindle Fire?
Kindle Fire features instant access to the Amazon Appstore for Android. To submit your app for Kindle Fire, simply join the Amazon Appstore Developer Program and submit your app using the Amazon Appstore Developer Portal. If you already have an app published in the Amazon Appstore for Android, we will automatically review your app for Kindle Fire.

OtterBooks · 10-10-2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

These are not restrictions on apps in the Amazon Appstore for Android, but rather restrictions on apps that are in the "Kindle Fire" subsection of the Amazon Appstore. From Amazon's FAQ

ah. berry interesting. I was not aware of such a subsection.

10-07-2011, 05:10 PM	#7
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	Maps and directions apps probably aren't too useful on a device with no 3G. While I'm personally disappointed in the lack of a camera, mic, and gyroscope on the Fire, it makes sense for them to avoid having Fire customers shop through their appstore and find apps that say "Not available for your device." That would cause some unhappy people crying "Why would you put these apps in your store if I can't use them on the tablet you just sold me?" (not to mention highlight the Fire's absent features) Unfortunately it alienates customers who shop the Amazon appstore for third party Android devices, but they chose to compromise that in favor of prioritizing the experience on the Fire. IMO it was a smart decision, even if they lose some Android users to the Google Market. Many photo editing apps don't require a camera. People can just load photos onto the fire via their cloud storage and edit them. One question I have is are they going to continue those restrictions if/when they release their second tablet, which may have some of the features lacking on the Fire. Last edited by OtterBooks; 10-07-2011 at 05:16 PM.

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10-07-2011, 12:54 PM	#2
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	that knocks out a lot of apps. no directions, maps, photo apps, etc.

10-07-2011, 02:12 PM	#4
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	So Amazon is going to create clones of all google softwares?

10-07-2011, 02:25 PM	#5
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Hmm. That's interesting. I wonder how the "in-app" billing alternative is going to work.

10-07-2011, 07:41 PM	#12
BrowseTheStacks BrowseTheStacks Posts: 127 Karma: 24316 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tampa FL Device: Kindle 3 3G + WI-FI	Could they be forking the app store for fire like they forked android for the OS?

10-09-2011, 08:09 AM	#13
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	To be perfectly frank, this thing is not well presented. On the other hand, I just might not know enough to understand it. What worries me is what will be left, and what won't be usable.

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