[F2]

It wouldn't be a problem if the search wasn't terrible, but like someone else said you have no idea what that garbage pushed off the new list, and good luck ever finding it unless you know the EXACT name already.

Exactly. Now I don't recall the app I was looking for yesterday. One mentioned in the Blog last week and in a posting yesterday. For offline reading of web content. I searched on the partial name and did not find it. The search is very poorly implemented.

[kennyliu]

Hey Folks,

We do censor hard core porn. So long as the scantily clad women and books are labelled appropriately as adult content we let them through. And yes, we can do a better job of filtering. On my list.

My apologies to anyone who found this material offensive.

A

Can you also make sure that ebooks are labeled appropriately. That is, as "ebooks", not "apps".

Otherwise, the number of Playbook apps (last reported at 15,000?) is pretty meaningless as I suspect a very large portion of those apps are Digi-Media or similar "apps".

Thanks.

[OniPod]

Even searching for the exact name of an app doesn't guarantee it shows up in the search results. Always wondered why RIM hasn't fixed that yet.

[TheScionicMan]

Who exactly are we looking to protect? Children with PlayBooks and their own credit card? Parents are going to blame RIM for their kids not getting minimal supervision? If you were offended by those tiny thumbnails of the apps, you must not watch TV or go on any other part of the web besides CrackBerry. Turn up your parental control level and move on...

I haven't read any of these books, so maybe it's not fair to judge,

Yeah, probably not fair... but let's throw them on the fire anyway...

[MountainProud]

Hey Folks,

We do censor hard core porn. So long as the scantily clad women and books are labelled appropriately as adult content we let them through. And yes, we can do a better job of filtering. On my list.

My apologies to anyone who found this material offensive.

A

Welcome.

As a side note, this post says a lot to me.
- It tells me that RIM (at least some people at RIM) are reading these forums of the blackberry users, probably their most passionate users.
- This is a great response, this one post goes a long way to elevate RIM in my opinion as it helps (again in my opinion) to create that 'relationship' that I view as critical. Some gaming companies have community reps that, while flagged as that, post on community forums.

I view this as a very positive post / move.

[kstock]

Yeah, probably not fair... but let's throw them on the fire anyway...

It's not my job to read and judge them. I was merely expressing surprise that, based on the descriptions, they had been deemed acceptable. That said, if they have been looked at and considered not to have "crossed the line" then, like you, I believe that they should be available, and that it is up to the user to decide what is appropriate to them and their family. It's not up to RIM to determine the interests of it's users, but it is their responsibility to ensure that their products respect the law. Hope that clarifies my earlier comment.

[Majestic Lion]

Welcome.

As a side note, this post says a lot to me.
- It tells me that RIM (at least some people at RIM) are reading these forums of the blackberry users, probably their most passionate users.
- This is a great response, this one post goes a long way to elevate RIM in my opinion as it helps (again in my opinion) to create that 'relationship' that I view as critical. Some gaming companies have community reps that, while flagged as that, post on community forums.

I view this as a very positive post / move.

You may want to wait for some sort of confirmation that that's actually Mr Saunders. Anyone can make a username.


Also, there's adult content in the world. OH NOOOOEEEZZ. Downfall of civilization.

[MountainProud]

You may want to wait for some sort of confirmation that that's actually Mr Saunders. Anyone can make a username.


Also, there's adult content in the world. OH NOOOOEEEZZ. Downfall of civilization.

I'm well aware that could be anyone. However, the account creation does closely coincide with his appointment at RIM. As a side note, I don't believe I made any such statement that was actually regarding the topic at hand.

oh, yea...



can't forget that

[Edit]
In a non smartass comment to clarify my earlier statement. Pending approval of this account, having someone at RIM interact with the community is a -positive- thing. That is what I was trying to get across, that maybe, just maybe the higher ups aren't living in their ivory towers and do have their feet grounded.

[Majestic Lion]

That's more than fair, if it's him then it's him. It'd be great to have an actual spokesperson for RIM around here, despite the likelihood of the trolls getting in line to harass him. I'm just pointing out that the place is prone to trolls impersonating people. That's just the kind of stunt that they'd pull.

No smartass vibe detected, either.

[nextlevel88]

It's not my job to read and judge them. I was merely expressing surprise that, based on the descriptions, they had been deemed acceptable.

I'm surprised that you're surprised that BDSM is such a "thing", especially now. That book trilogy "50 Shades of Grey" is one of the hot topics of current events (just typing the number '5' into Google brings it up as the top search suggestion, netting over 20 million results, many of them news stories). It's an erotic novel based on the subject, and it has already sold more than 250,000 ebook downloads and is getting a run of 750,000 paperbacks.

I've never read the books, so I can't judge , but every review I've read said the books were poorly written, leading most to believe that it's simply the content driving the sales.

Now, take a look at all the complaints about breasts in bathing suits, then look at the sales for a lousy book about kinky sex (especially the oh-so-discreet ebook sales), and see what a sexually repressed society looks like…

[mithrazor]

Can you also make sure that ebooks are labeled appropriately. That is, as "ebooks", not "apps".

Otherwise, the number of Playbook apps (last reported at 15,000?) is pretty meaningless as I suspect a very large portion of those apps are Digi-Media or similar "apps".

Thanks.

25,000. And I remember awhile ago there was a thread that had the number of apps. Someone was keeping count of how many apps in each category.

And ebooks were at like 3400 if I remember correctly. 18000-19000 apps at the time. So a safe number would be 5000 ebooks now. So 20 thousand apps on Playbook. Not bad.

[kennyliu]

25,000. And I remember awhile ago there was a thread that had the number of apps. Someone was keeping count of how many apps in each category.

And ebooks were at like 3400 if I remember correctly. 18000-19000 apps at the time. So a safe number would be 5000 ebooks now. So 20 thousand apps on Playbook. Not bad.

How could anyone count the number of ebooks if they are classified as apps? And 15,000 was just a few weeks ago as far as I remember.

In any case, ebooks shouldn't be counted as apps at all. Otherwise, Amazon and Barnes&Noble would have the largest selection of apps.

[kennyliu]

On a similar note, now we have another spammer - S4BB Limited - that spams the AppWorld with audiobooks. And you guessed it right. Each audiobook counts as an app.

Next in line are standalone wallpaper apps

[Alec_Saunders]

Yes, we do keep an eye on what happens here. I can't promise to spend a ton of time in the CrackBerry forums (very active on Twitter though), but when someone draws my attention to a controversy or issue, I look into it.

Had a meeting on this issue yesterday with the team, and are looking at a number of approaches to address. No news yet on what we'll do, though.

A

P.S. and if you want to know if it's really me, select ONE individual (please just one) to send email to alec.saunders@rim.com, and I will respond confirming.

[MountainProud]

Gracias senior. I will take this as confirmation. I don't want to fill up your inbox with crackberry spam.

[416to604]

The more the merrier. I am one of those people who want a million apps for the PB. Why? Because one man's trash is another man's treasure. I don't need a farting app, but I guarantee you that someone out there will. Having 1,000 farting apps does not affect me in anyway. If I need an app, I'll search for it so there's no need to comb through the rest. Why people only want a few quality apps in AppWorld is beyond me.

A) 20 great apps
B) 20 great apps and 1,000,000 useless apps.

I will take choice B any day. Long live freedom of choice.

i have to agree with this. one of my coworkers is the type to download fart apps, lightsaber apps, cheers apps (clinking sound of beer bottles) and the like. while i would view those as absolutely useless, he loves them. to each their own, and more apps means more people are catered to.

[siddo_d]

I've seen porn apps also but they're just pictures and you have to pay for them so children won't be affected..

[samab]

How could anyone count the number of ebooks if they are classified as apps? And 15,000 was just a few weeks ago as far as I remember.

In any case, ebooks shouldn't be counted as apps at all. Otherwise, Amazon and Barnes&Noble would have the largest selection of apps.

Ebooks are counted as apps in iOS and Android.

Amazon fudges their app store numbers so that all the news reporters have reported that the Kindle Fire has 31000 apps when only a very small portion of that number are Kindle Fire apps. Amazon android app store has 31000 apps but most are not compatible with Kindle Fire.

Microsoft fudges their app store numbers by announcing app submission numbers --- i.e. including apps that were submitted to Microsoft but not yet approved by Microsoft.

As House says it (series finale next week) --- everybody lies.

[That70sGAdawg]

Hopefully we get an updated music player app with srs effects, more volume, and equalizer soon to show off what differentiates the Playbook from other tablets - decent stereo speakers!

[juice1179]

Hey Folks,

We do censor hard core porn. So long as the scantily clad women and books are labelled appropriately as adult content we let them through. And yes, we can do a better job of filtering. On my list.

My apologies to anyone who found this material offensive.

A

Hi Alec,
Does RIM also block betting sites from App world? I emailed Paddy Power, a major Irish betting company about an app. They replied that they were not able to get one into app world. There is an Iphone app in the app store, and a Google and Nokia app. With the rating system an app world surly this can be approved.

Thanks

Mike

[bobauckland]

Hi Alec,
Does RIM also block betting sites from App world? I emailed Paddy Power, a major Irish betting company about an app. They replied that they were not able to get one into app world. There is an Iphone app in the app store, and a Google and Nokia app. With the rating system an app world surly this can be approved.

Thanks

Mike

Its bizarre because Betfair has a mini app for BlackBerry phones, but yeah I noticed none of the major betting sites have BlackBerry or PlayBook apps.
It might be a part of RIMs lack of understanding of how restriction works, so they find it easier to just prevent their customers using any apps if possible just in case something goes wrong.
Who knows. Don't expect clarity from RIM.