[Devhux]

It's pretty pathetic when someone can't pay 2.99 for an app.

It's even more pathetic when an app is available for any other platform for free, yet I have to pay for it on the PlayBook.

Don't get me wrong - I have not pirated any PlayBook apps, nor am I trying to justify piracy in general. I am simply stating that it's inexcusable to charge on one platform, yet give it away on others. That is why I have not grabbed any AB title for my PlayBook.

[jivegirl14]

Talk about smacking your self on the .

" no one is really right or wrong"
Really?

Mind boggling... but ultimately amusing to see the lengths to which people will go to justify helping themselves to other people's stuff without paying for it and without permission. Last time I looked stealing was universally wrong.

[anon(703338)]

I don't think piracy necessary hurts app sales...for instance sometimes before I buy an expensive app I haven't heard of or when I am unfamiliar with the developer, I sideload the pirated app to test it out and see if it meets my needs. Then if it does I buy it...if not I delete it....

it's just like having a trial before purchase....

[Anke6831]

It's even more pathetic when an app is available for any other platform for free, yet I have to pay for it on the PlayBook.

Don't get me wrong - I have not pirated any PlayBook apps, nor am I trying to justify piracy in general. I am simply stating that it's inexcusable to charge on one platform, yet give it away on others. That is why I have not grabbed any AB title for my PlayBook.

Well it would be nice to have a choice, like we have with so much other software - free version with ads or paid version without.

[Hgouck]

Justifications are excuses you believe are strong enough to do the wrong thing.

[EricB1968]

Didn't Alec Saunders say that if developers wanted their app encrypted to give it to RIM and ask to be encrypted ?

RIM needs to just encrypt all submitted apps that were approved for app world.

[bounce007]

Sometime ago we didn't have any apps... Now we have a piracy problem. Glad the PlayBook is gaining some traction in the app section!

[tmelon]

Ahaha. If you think that's bad then you need to look at the piracy rates for Android.

[codiak]

For those who have been complaining about RIMs recent efforts to crack down on Playbook App piracy, I point you to the following factoid:

*** Within 12 hours of its release to App World, the latest Angry Birds title was already ripped into BAR format and made available through one of the more infamous PB warez sites. Anyone can now freely download Rovio's hard work gratis and simply side load the full, working version of Angry Birds Space HD for the Playbook. ***

Now that's some impressive turnaround! Shades of eztv.it and its devoted community of content rippers that makes first-run TV shows available almost as soon as they've finished airing.

And people question why RIM is cracking down - it really is out of control...one reason why I refuse to code for the PB platform.

RCK

Out of control - NO...... On part with Android - Yes!

For the record I don't side load!

[chaddeus]

For those who have been complaining about RIMs recent efforts to crack down on Playbook App piracy, I point you to the following factoid:

*** Within 12 hours of its release to App World, the latest Angry Birds title was already ripped into BAR format and made available through one of the more infamous PB warez sites. Anyone can now freely download Rovio's hard work gratis and simply side load the full, working version of Angry Birds Space HD for the Playbook. ***

Now that's some impressive turnaround! Shades of eztv.it and its devoted community of content rippers that makes first-run TV shows available almost as soon as they've finished airing.

And people question why RIM is cracking down - it really is out of control...one reason why I refuse to code for the PB platform.

RCK

Can you tell me which platform are you coding for now and that doesn't have any problems with piracy? So if RIM fixes this issue, would you guarantee immediate commitment coding for PB platform?

If RIM has 100 million PB users but still have the same piracy issue, would you code for PB platform?

- Charles

[sportline]

thank god i have never sideload an android app - never mind pirated ones.
the whole android app debacle is becoming so lame.

[GeneralTech]

How is this different from apk files on android?

[GeneralTech]

Even if piracy was especially bad on playbook as opposed to other platforms which i don't believe is the case, i actually doubt that playbook piracy is on par with the rest of the platforms. It came directly from developers neglecting the playbook. The playbooks ecosystem has been very much community based as a result, the apps that could just be easily ported to playbook weren't being done by big companies. Dolphin HD had to be stolen and put in the appworld without their permission before they offered it officially for the platform. None of these developers cared until they actually saw the playbook dollars running away because frustrated playbook owners were taking matters into their own hands. I think most of us were not privy to that knowledge you provided about angry birds space being available for bootleg download until you posted this thread. The playbook and its software platform is under served, if you develop now you can be on the ground floor of the bb10 phones as far as i see it with a company with 75 million subscribers you will probably regret not attempting to get on the bb10 wave.

[EricB1968]

Even if piracy was especially bad on playbook as opposed to other platforms which i don't believe is the case,

2176 illegal downloads so far on just that 1 app in its first 24hours from one site. Combine with all other paid PB apps that are illegally downloaded and it adds up to a whole lot of money.

[samab]

Dolphin HD had to be stolen and put in the appworld without their permission before they offered it officially for the platform.

For the Nth time, the Dolphin browser is not stolen.

Handster is a subsidiary of the Opera browser company, a very large and legitimate company. Handster wrote their own licensing agreement --- which NOBODY (including the Dolphin developer) bothered to read --- which gives Handster the right to republish your submitted apps in other app stores.

[Jonathank]

For those who have been complaining about RIMs recent efforts to crack down on Playbook App piracy, I point you to the following factoid:

*** Within 12 hours of its release to App World, the latest Angry Birds title was already ripped into BAR format and made available through one of the more infamous PB warez sites. Anyone can now freely download Rovio's hard work gratis and simply side load the full, working version of Angry Birds Space HD for the Playbook. ***

Now that's some impressive turnaround! Shades of eztv.it and its devoted community of content rippers that makes first-run TV shows available almost as soon as they've finished airing.

And people question why RIM is cracking down - it really is out of control...one reason why I refuse to code for the PB platform.

RCK

This should have been taken down IMMEDIATELY, Really Crackberry??? I will say Angry Birds Makes a lot of money, Maybe 200 people side-loaded compared to the 1000's that paid, Because of this post that 200 went to 700 and rising. I know ur frustration but I think we can agree u made the situation worse.

[eternalemb]

2176 illegal downloads so far on just that 1 app in its first 24hours from one site. Combine with all other paid PB apps that are illegally downloaded and it adds up to a whole lot of money.

Millions and millions of iOS and Android users. Cydia and .apks all over the net. Yeah, I'm sure the PBs 1m+ users are stealing more apps than the millions and millions of users of iOS and Android...

[GeneralTech]

For the Nth time, the Dolphin browser is not stolen.

Handster is a subsidiary of the Opera browser company, a very large and legitimate company. Handster wrote their own licensing agreement --- which NOBODY (including the Dolphin developer) bothered to read --- which gives Handster the right to republish your submitted apps in other app stores.

Yes Yes but the dolphin folks did not become aware of the level of piracy that was going on with their app on the playbook until it ended up in the appstore and sure 2100 plus downloads is a lot of money but id be willing to bet more than half of them wouldnt have paid for it any way and there are what 2 million playbooks sold?

I had a samsung galaxy s at one point and for some reason there was a problem where we couldnt get the market application to work the entire time i had that phone i had no access to android market, amazon market was in the process of launching when i sold it but i had more than a dozen websites or alternative markets to download almost any apps i needed. Android was built on piracy. Angry birds didnt have any security on their apps for android until angry birds rio and with how easy rooting your android was i wouldnt be surprised if a minimum of 1 out of every 10 folks that had angry birds on their android didn't pay for it.

[tobiasar]

This discussion I think that does not make sense, if not the spread of pirated software, genuine software will not universal.
The key lies in the software itself is how to promote and operational, easy to use and valuable software, I was willing to pay, but if you just wanted to profit from, and I definitely will not pay. Because he did not accountable to us.

[soren203]

have device, will hack. No company is safe from piracy.

[xeju]

There are several things they could do to reduce piracy I thought of just off the top of my head.

#1 If they really wanted to actively do something, they could encrypt the purchaser's BlackBerry ID into the app somehow. Then when that app appears on the pirate scene, they can prosecute the pirate. This of course would require lawyers and money.

#2 They could automatically encrypt some or all of the backup files or otherwise eliminate the ability to construct a .bar file from them. This would probably be easiest to implement, but they'd need to be sure backups could be restored from different PC's and to replacement or future, upgraded PlayBooks.

#3 They could eliminate sideloading. Then they tick off as many developers as they help, and really irritate some of their more devoted user base by removing the ability to add free Android apps and even native apps not approved for AppWorld.

Personally, I choose option #2.

EDIT: For the record, I bought ABS last night - not even because I particularly wanted it, but to show support for a PB developer - and because the other AB games cost more than I wanted to pay to show support, haha. I have played it, and it's fun though.

[Khameleon05]

2176 illegal downloads so far on just that 1 app in its first 24hours from one site. Combine with all other paid PB apps that are illegally downloaded and it adds up to a whole lot of money.

You're assuming every illegal download=someone who would have bought it.

That's not at all the case.

[Angus_CB]

...
And people question why RIM is cracking down - it really is out of control...one reason why I refuse to code for the PB platform.

RCK

Sure it is. I believe you where thousands wouldn't.
Can you list the Operating Systems that you do code for that don't have a piracy problem?

[bounce007]

Sure it is. I believe you where thousands wouldn't.
Can you list the Operating Systems that you do code for that don't have a piracy problem?

I've been asking the OP this same question! He has yet to answer...

[Guyzer]

I had no idea there was a site dedicated to pb warez. Thanks for the heads up

When i was 13 years old our social studies teacher encouraged us to watch the news. So like a good little boy i did. interesting story that nigh talked about how little corner convenience stores were selling porno mags and lottery tickets to those under aged.

The next day i found 3 places willing to sell us porn magazines and a store near our junior high that would sell us lottery tickets.

My social teacher taught me a very valuable lesson i treasure till this day