These guys were recently interviewed on CBC. In response to a question about how one could make money producing software for $0, the subject responded that most of the software was supported by advertising and mindshare being leveraged for future business opportunities. GetJar is so big, Apple noticed and warned them not to call themselves an “app store”. They continue to call themselves an “app store”… Chuckle.
Here’s another interview with the GetJar guy,
About Robert Pogson
I am a retired teacher in Canada. I taught in the subject areas where I have worked for almost forty years: maths, physics, chemistry and computers. I love hunting, fishing, picking berries and mushrooms, too.
They are a central point of supply a great convenience for the software providers and their customers. Think of a shopping mall for software. They are a great feature for the mobile devices. A user can conceive a need and satisfy it in a minute or so. It’s a great way for a consumer to customize his device without having to know any of the technical minutia of installing software. It’s a simple GUI.
“Does a successful business based on free stuff bother you? BTW, these downloads are not necessarily Free Software but $0. Advertising and commissions are a legitimate means of making money from a cluster of servers.”
I take back the I dont care comment. It was a moment of dyspepsia not a discussion point.
If this were a software commune pooling resources to sell products, that would be another thing entirely. But this is a one off company who appears to be making money of the work of others who choose to offer software for 0$.
I am impressed that they have monetized free software, but I question what real good they are in the end for the software creators.
If you don’t care, why reply? Does a successful business based on free stuff bother you? BTW, these downloads are not necessarily Free Software but $0. Advertising and commissions are a legitimate means of making money from a cluster of servers.
I care because I like to see the little guy succeed even in the face of monopolies. Thanks to ARM (small cheap computers), Android/Linux (Free Software and $0), all kinds of software developers, hardware makers large and small, and entrepreneurs have fresh opportunities to succeed in a world where Wintel was locking out the little guy.
Even though GetJar is free, it’s mostly Java apps, so people with smartphones aren’t inclined to get them, and instead use alternate app store, like Cydia on iOS.
“GetJar is so big, Apple noticed and warned them not to call themselves an “app storeâ€. They continue to call themselves an “app storeâ€â€¦ Chuckle.”
This is no different than sites like tucows Pog. In fact IMHO its more limited than tucows because it only offers free software – a lot of which is crap.
Perhaps Apple is worried about this, perhaps they are just trying to protect trademarks. In any rate it is doubtful that this site is going to hurt commercial entities.
My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. Now that I'm retired I still use GNU/Linux on every computer in my home except the smartphones which run Android/Linux.
Lately, I've been giving lots of thought to the world I inherited and which I will leave to my descendants. I'm planting grass, trees, flowers and vegetables in my large lot and I've ordered a Solo EV. I plan to charge my Solo by means of a tracking solar array. Life is good if you have a purpose. I do.
True, but most of them are for regular cell phones. Smartphones won’t be as effected, as they will tend to buy from their app store.
They are a central point of supply a great convenience for the software providers and their customers. Think of a shopping mall for software. They are a great feature for the mobile devices. A user can conceive a need and satisfy it in a minute or so. It’s a great way for a consumer to customize his device without having to know any of the technical minutia of installing software. It’s a simple GUI.
“Does a successful business based on free stuff bother you? BTW, these downloads are not necessarily Free Software but $0. Advertising and commissions are a legitimate means of making money from a cluster of servers.”
I take back the I dont care comment. It was a moment of dyspepsia not a discussion point.
If this were a software commune pooling resources to sell products, that would be another thing entirely. But this is a one off company who appears to be making money of the work of others who choose to offer software for 0$.
I am impressed that they have monetized free software, but I question what real good they are in the end for the software creators.
If you don’t care, why reply? Does a successful business based on free stuff bother you? BTW, these downloads are not necessarily Free Software but $0. Advertising and commissions are a legitimate means of making money from a cluster of servers.
I care because I like to see the little guy succeed even in the face of monopolies. Thanks to ARM (small cheap computers), Android/Linux (Free Software and $0), all kinds of software developers, hardware makers large and small, and entrepreneurs have fresh opportunities to succeed in a world where Wintel was locking out the little guy.
“A billion downloads. How do you explain that?”
Don’t care.
A billion downloads. How do you explain that?
Even though GetJar is free, it’s mostly Java apps, so people with smartphones aren’t inclined to get them, and instead use alternate app store, like Cydia on iOS.
“GetJar is so big, Apple noticed and warned them not to call themselves an “app storeâ€. They continue to call themselves an “app storeâ€â€¦ Chuckle.”
This is no different than sites like tucows Pog. In fact IMHO its more limited than tucows because it only offers free software – a lot of which is crap.
Perhaps Apple is worried about this, perhaps they are just trying to protect trademarks. In any rate it is doubtful that this site is going to hurt commercial entities.