Tag: blackberry app world

BlackBerry App World catalog now online with purchasing to follow

Posted
by
Kyle
on August 18, 2009, at 11:06 am
in News and Spotlight
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4 Comments

blackberry_app_world_web

The BlackBerry App World catalog is now available online. You can browse all the applications available to download online and while you can’t purchase anything from the web, this feature is just around the corner.

The online catalog lets you browse by featured items, top downloads, categories or subcategories, as well as search for applications by name, “free,” “paid,” or “new.”

Each application page features a description, pricing, size of download, screenshots and reviews. Users can also see which BlackBerry smartphone, language and carrier the application is available for.

To download an application, you currently select “Get it Today” which allows you to enter an email address where a link to App World is embedded. From there, you pay for the app like any other from App World. This feature is going to get a major overhaul in the coming months.

Eventually, you’ll have an online version of App World that has all the functionality of the on-device App World. You’ll be able to purchase applications and keep an inventory of what apps you have downloaded in the past.

Personally, I would also like to see RIM implement much of the functionality you see in the Mobihand stores such as affiliate programs and potentially, the ability to push the app to your device from the web, thus circumventing the email portion of the process.

Check out the BlackBerry App World online catalog.

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Lessons for App World: Keep your market open for developers

Posted
by
Kyle
on July 31, 2009, at 12:27 pm
in Editorials, News and Spotlight
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3 Comments

iphone-smash

Steven Frank, co-Founder of Panic, an iPhone and software development house, has recently posted saying he is quitting the iPhone. While his statements don’t reflect the views of the company as a whole, we’ve been seeing similar complaints from other popular developers. Om Malik of GigaOM is also frustrated with AT&T and Apple and vented his frustrations a couple of months ago.

“I’m furious with Apple and AT&T right now, with regard to the iPhone” says Steven. The removal of the Google Voice application was the final straw for him, as Apple has removed several third-party Google Voice apps that had passed the approval process, leaving developers having to refund customers who had misplaced anger about the removal.

RIM on the other hand is leaving developers very content. App World has left the Google Voice client available for download, regardless of how it may compete with future native software, or what AT&T may think of the client. The software dictates the smartphone in many ways, and RIM understands that you need a flourishing developer community to drive innovation. Removing apps because they conflict with your internal strategy is going to do more long term harm than good.

According to Steven, it’s not that you should approve every single app, “it’s that rejected apps should be rejected for reasons that at the very least make consistent, logical sense, without garbage form-letter rejection notices that explain nothing, and with at least some sort of guidance available to the developer about how to fix the problem instead of meeting them with a brick wall.”

While Steven won’t be switching to BlackBerry, this is a crucial lesson for RIM and App World. While RIM has been known to reject applications based on branding (you can’t use “berry” in your app) and illegal community driven content, they are maintaining a relatively free marketplace. Let’s hope it stays that way.

[Steven Frank's post]

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Increasing BlackBerry device memory for bigger and better apps

Posted
by
Kyle
on July 29, 2009, at 11:26 am
in News
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11 Comments

blackberry_memory

RIM has updated their App World documentation from version 1.0 to version 1.1 and there are a couple interesting changes.

The most interesting feature is the ability to store applications on the SD card to be used later. BlackBerry users will be able to remove applications and reinstall them without paying a second time. BlackBerry App World archives a record of the application to save memory and so that the user does not have to maintain the application on the BlackBerry device.

Some BlackBerry users have complained that the Flash memory on the device is too small, and that it’s stagnating to the app experience and development process. For example, some iPhone games are upwards of 100mb, which until recently wouldn’t make any sense to download. Now we’ll be able to download applications which are much larger in size, and only call them to the device when needed.

From a technical standpoint, the SD card isn’t able to run applications. This would be great in that you could be running very large apps without worrying about using too much of your on-device memory. Currently, it just can’t work because the SD card and the Java “brain” don’t communicate in that fashion. There are also a ton of quality assurance concerns with running an app from an SD card. RIM can’t control the quality of the SD card and therefore would lose control of the software experience. Keeping software running on the flash memory maintains internal control.

In the end, this is a small step in the right direction but we aren’t totally there. On device memory should be in the tens of gigs, in order to future proof the device.

See the official documentation from RIM.

Question: What are some of the larger apps you’ve downloaded?

[Via]

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App Store numbers are deceptive – beware of “bulk apps” RIM

Posted
by
Kyle
on July 16, 2009, at 10:11 am
in News
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7 Comments

LBS apps by category

In a recent interview with RIM VP Jeff McDowell, it was brought up that App World had hit its 2,000th application. This may seem insignificant compared to the 40,000 applications in Apple’s App Store but there is a lot going on that is skewing the numbers.

While Jeff’s answer was good, saying “I don’t think it matters whether it’s 40,000 or 2,000, you’ve still got a broad range of choice,” there is something deceptive going on that should have been exposed during the interview.

Apple’s App Store, to put it simply, is bloated with “bulk apps.” These are template-based applications sold at the same price point with the same look and feel but different content. These applications are responsible for the spike in applications added to Apple’s App Store during the first six months of 2009, according to a new study published by hybrid location system developer Skyhook Wireless.

According to Skyhook, the App Store, which now has over 65,000 applications, added thousands of 99-cent bulk apps during the first half of the year. One unnamed developer, sells more than 850 travel applications based on the same template, with each individual app swapping out content based on specific vacation destinations. These mass-produced local search and travel guide apps now account for around one third of total iPhone LBS apps, Skyhook adds.
Continue reading about the deceptive numbers behind the App Store

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Lessons learned from App Store to help sell your software

Posted
by
Kyle
on July 15, 2009, at 12:52 pm
in Editorials and News
.
1 Comment

Apple App Store

A recent article in the WSJ points to success factors for developers with software in Apple’s App Store which could serve as great tips for BlackBerry developers in App World as well.

As App World and the App Store become increasingly cluttered with applications, developers are finding new and innovative ways to gain exposure for their software and push their products to the top.

Tip # 1 – Constantly experiment with price points

PopCap Games Inc., maker of the popular Bejeweled puzzle game, experimented in June by cutting the price on its Peggle game from to 99 cents from $4.99 for four days. Peggle, which had been ranked at around 60 in top paid apps, shot up to second place within 24 hours.

There are a variety of reasons why it’s important to experiment with pricing points. While one dollar may not seem like a lot of money, it could be just the right discount that your customer base needs. Also, discounts are news and news means more exposure. By lowering your prices, users will take notice and the news spreads virally, thus further helping downloads. PopCap has not commented on revenue, but said that sales during the discount period increased 20 to 25 times the previous volume.
Click through for tips and lessons learned that will help developers sell more software

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Top 10 applications RIM should incorporate into BlackBerry

Posted
by
Kyle
on May 27, 2009, at 7:31 am
in Editorials, News, Spotlight and Top-Story
.
15 Comments

research-in-motion-headquarters

There are several ways for the average BlackBerry user to experience an application. They can either download the app from a store or App World, get the application through their carrier, use the application if it comes preloaded or experience it as part of the BlackBerry OS.

It is rare that RIM will purchase a company to include it on the OS, but it’s a great way for everyone to enjoy an improved BlackBerry experience. Some technologies acquired by RIM include: the browser is purchased IP from various companies, BlackBerry maps is from Tele Atlas and the media player uses technology licensed from Roxio.

I have compiled a list of 10 apps that provide additional functionality to the BlackBerry and that I think all BlackBerry devices should come with.
Click through to read the Top 10 applications that should be included in the BlackBerry OS

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Amazon app arrives in BlackBerry App World

Posted
by
Kyle
on April 9, 2009, at 12:08 pm
in News
.
7 Comments

Amazon blackberry app world

Although the announcement is out that Amazon has arrived in App World, it isn’t actually there. I suspect that Amazon released the news a little prematurely without getting confirmation that there app is ready for download.

Amazon’s BlackBerry includes the incredible “Amazon Remembers” feature. This feature allows you to snap a photo of a product, the photo then gets uploaded to Amazon and then a few seconds later it spews out a listing for that product. Other features include:

* Purchase using Amazon’s 1-Click ordering and Amazon Prime
* Track packages or modify orders using the Your Account feature
* Receive personalized recommendations
* View editorial and customer reviews
* Get the Gold Box Deal of the Day
* Access to their Wish List

Navigate your BlackBerry browser to amazon.com/bb

Or

Head over to the Amazon homepage to download the BlackBerry app.

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CTIA 2009: I Heart Radio

Posted
by
Nan Palmero
on April 3, 2009, at 8:46 am
in News and Videos
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2 Comments

If you’re a terrestrial radio gal or guy, you might recognize Clear Channel – owners of the radio airwaves in the United States.  If you’ve fallen in love with one of Clear Channel’s many stations from across the USA and find yourself unable to hear your favorite stations or on-air personality, don’t fret, I Heart Radio is here!  You can still listen to your favorite station via your BlackBerry now.  The I Heart Radio application is available for free via the BlackBerry App World.

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CTIA 2009: LIVESTRONG Application

Posted
by
Nan Palmero
on April 3, 2009, at 7:45 am
in News and Videos
.
0 Comments

Are you finding that you’re getting a little soft around the mid-section from reading too many blogs and eating more than your body intended? Lance Armstrong’s foundation, LIVESTRONG is here to save you from yourself. The BlackBerry LIVESTRONG application, available now for $2.99 from the BlackBerry App World, helps you set goals for your physical fitness, including caloric intake and exercise. Check out the video above for more details.

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CTIA 2009: Movela Netflix Manager

Posted
by
Nan Palmero
on April 3, 2009, at 7:44 am
in News and Videos
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0 Comments

Pyxis Mobile, better known for delivering financial applications, created something a bit more fun.  Movela Netflix Manager for BlackBerry allow you to control your queue of dvd and instant video streaming.  The changes made on your BlackBerry typically take about 14 seconds to be applied to your Netflix account.  Check out the video for more information on the Movela Netflix Manager and Pyxis.  You can pick up the app on the BlackBerry App World for $2.99

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