BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
There has been a lot of discussions about BB10, but I haven't seen any credible post or article devoted to the apps BB10 will have at launch.
By apps I mean high-grade applications made by noteworthy software companies and developers (Adobe, Microsoft, Google, Electronic Arts, Rovio, Instagram, QuickOffice to name just a few).
No Blackberry fan would like to see the sad situation as with nearly empty Windows store.
I suspect for many (as for me) the lack of such applications could be a real deal breaker. Also since such applications are not made in the last moment, they must already be in the works.
Is RIM very secretive on this or is it a sign that not many of the big software companies are actually concerned about BB10?
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Based on 6 months of hard work put in by the Dev relations team, I'm sure they'll be ready to rock with a number of great apps.. I don't need quantity just quality!
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Mr. Petrov, welcome to CB!
I think EA and Rovio have some apps in the pipeline already and some are on the PlayBook as well. As for Instagram:
Don't believe everything you read, Instagram is coming to BlackBerry 10 | CrackBerry.com
There are a few other posts which show a few confirmed apps coming to BB10.
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
Mr.Petrov Is RIM very secretive on this or is it a sign that not many of the big software companies are actually concerned about BB10?
Oh, they absolutely are being secretive on this, and they haven't been reluctant to say so either. As they've said in various ways, they haven't "shown their hand" (as in a card game) yet.
Don't expect any news on such tidbits to come out until they're ready to let them out, whether it's with official announcements or convenient leaks...
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
I wonder how this works. I contacted Lastpass to ask if they were making a BB10 app, and they said they have no plans to build a native app, but they were porting their Android app. As far as I'm concerned, that's just not good enough. If these "big name" apps are just going to be Android ports and running in the player, this is just an ugly kludge. Native apps or bust, I say.
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
adam-schuetze I wonder how this works. I contacted Lastpass to ask if they were making a BB10 app, and they said they have no plans to build a native app, but they were porting their Android app. As far as I'm concerned, that's just not good enough. If these "big name" apps are just going to be Android ports and running in the player, this is just an ugly kludge. Native apps or bust, I say.
Part of RIM's value proposition to developers is the ease of portability. It gives a developer more options if they don't have to rewrite/recompile code.
If LastPass is publishing (and supporting!) their Android version on BB10, that's still a win. I'll take that over them walking away entirely.
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
Thunderbuck Part of RIM's value proposition to developers is the ease of portability. It gives a developer more options if they don't have to rewrite/recompile code.
If LastPass is publishing (and supporting!) their Android version on BB10, that's still a win. I'll take that over them walking away entirely.
Yes, but then we end up with these apps that run in the Android player, and are not well integrated into the OS, and don't follow the Cascades design aesthetic. While it helps to get developers on board, the apps we end up getting are just the Android versions, which don't fit into the BB10 flow experience. I still think the Android player was a huge mistake.
As far as I'm concerned, the only acceptable outcome is for RIM to approach all these companies (such as Lastpass), and basically say "ok, how much money will you charge us, to build us a native app."
If RIM has money left in the bank after the launch, that could have been spent on marketing and on buying name-brand apps, then they have failed.
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
adam-schuetze Yes, but then we end up with these apps that run in the Android player, and are not well integrated into the OS, and don't follow the Cascades design aesthetic. While it helps to get developers on board, the apps we end up getting are just the Android versions, which don't fit into the BB10 flow experience. I still think the Android player was a huge mistake.
As far as I'm concerned, the only acceptable outcome is for RIM to approach all these companies (such as Lastpass), and basically say "ok, how much money will you charge us, to build us a native app."
If RIM has money left in the bank after the launch, that could have been spent on marketing and on buying name-brand apps, then they have failed.
I agree with your points absolutely, but given how little faith there is in RIM in general there are a lot of developers out there who don't want to risk a lot of time and effort on a platform that they aren't sure is going to stay around. Android Player gives these devs a low-risk option.
For a lot of devs, the choice isn't "BB10 or Android Player", it's "Android Player or wait 6 months to see how well the platform sells". Again, if it's an app I like I'll take an Android port over no app at all.
BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
Thunderbuck I agree with your points absolutely, but given how little faith there is in RIM in general there are a lot of developers out there who don't want to risk a lot of time and effort on a platform that they aren't sure is going to stay around. Android Player gives these devs a low-risk option.
For a lot of devs, the choice isn't "BB10 or Android Player", it's "Android Player or wait 6 months to see how well the platform sells". Again, if it's an app I like I'll take an Android port over no app at all.
This is why I advocate RIM paying these devs outright to do the development. Call it payment, call it a bribe. Doesn't matter to me. If all we get are Android ports with apps that don't properly integrate into the Flow paradigm, then RIM has failed. They need to be going after these devs and covering the cost of developing native BB10 apps.
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
As tempting as this approach is, there are two big problems worth considering...
First, its going to be a lot more expensive than the "10K guarantee" thing they're doing to entice all the indie devs. They'll need to pay the actual compensation cost of at least one or two real employees (possibly with more overhead for padding) which can add up quite quickly.
Second, RIM may be putting themselves on the hook to keep paying these costs if they want the application maintained and supported past the initial release.
FWIW, I've heard that Microsoft has taken a similar strategy with WinPhone, and I'm not sure its actually worked all that well.
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
dkonigs As tempting as this approach is, there are two big problems worth considering...
First, its going to be a lot more expensive than the "10K guarantee" thing they're doing to entice all the indie devs. They'll need to pay the actual compensation cost of at least one or two real employees (possibly with more overhead for padding) which can add up quite quickly.
Second, RIM may be putting themselves on the hook to keep paying these costs if they want the application maintained and supported past the initial release.
FWIW, I've heard that Microsoft has taken a similar strategy with WinPhone, and I'm not sure its actually worked all that well.
I know it's going to be more expensive. But I'll say it again.. if RIM has money left in the bank, and there are apps missing, then they have failed. If they have to pay Microsoft a fee for every BlackBerry sold, to get Skype, then they should do it. Damn the cost.
I've been talking to a Tapatalk developer, to find out if he's going to build a BB10 app. Basically the answer is "yes, but he's very busy with his day job, trying to make money." Why the isn't RIM going after these developers, and actively giving them a big fat cheque to write these apps? Tapatalk is kind of a big deal!
Re: BB10 Apps - deal makers or breakers
Originally Posted by
adam-schuetze I know it's going to be more expensive. But I'll say it again.. if RIM has money left in the bank, and there are apps missing, then they have failed. If they have to pay Microsoft a fee for every BlackBerry sold, to get Skype, then they should do it. Damn the cost.
I've been talking to a Tapatalk developer, to find out if he's going to build a BB10 app. Basically the answer is "yes, but he's very busy with his day job, trying to make money." Why the isn't RIM going after these developers, and actively giving them a big fat cheque to write these apps? Tapatalk is kind of a big deal!
Because paying a developer to make an app gets you that app and nothing more. The Build for BlackBerry program is better for the platform than just paying for an app. It is my belief that if the money you make is dependent on the quality of your app, you will make better quality apps. And as for Skype, Microsoft is retiring Live Messenger and replacing it with Skype so I wouldn't be surprised if we do see Skype on BB 10 but that is pure speculation.