Related
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/05/spotifys-android-app-should-frighten-apple/
Anyone know if this app is out yet? Its only available to UK and some other countries. But I would like to get it working over in the US. I've never used the service before but it looks damn cool.
No, it's not been released anywhere yet to my knowledge...
There was an app released to Market yesterday and removed today Called Droidify, did anybody dl it and would be willing to share it?
http://getsatisfaction.com/spotify/...t?utm_medium=widget&utm_source=widget_spotify
I've downloaded Droidify and removed it right away because it asked for a premium account.
Yeah I was trying to locate it as well and to no avail.
Droidify
Here's Droidify I have from backup.
You DO have to have a premium account for full access.
It's a zip files, so I think you will need to unzip it, put it on your sdcard, then install from there.
(MODS: If this is inappropriate, please feel free to delete this message. I don't think it is because it was a free application).
so, how are we gonna get this to work in the states? proxy?
innerspace said:
so, how are we gonna get this to work in the states? proxy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I removed it.
I just happened to have a copy because I had backed up before doing a flash.
I was able to get spotify working on my computer but I get a force close with droidify while trying to log in and I'm in the us by the way.
to clarify...
The RIAA is slowly killing anything decent as far as web-based apps like pandora and is currently bogging down spotify's entry into the US market in an attempt to basically blackmail them into unreasonable and exorbitant royalty scales which (IMO) are entirely designed to "prop-up" and perpetuate a bloated, ineffective and out of touch industry. So my question is, for those of us that have the spotify apk, or have the droidify apk, will they stream to US based IPs? Or will the transmission be blocked (as it implies on spotify's homepage) and if it is, is there a nifty way to route the traffic through a proxy based overseas so the US users can actually enjoy this innovative app instead of being locked out by the corporate, capitalist will of the RIAA?
innerspace said:
The RIAA is slowly killing anything decent as far as web-based apps like pandora and is currently bogging down spotify's entry into the US market in an attempt to basically blackmail them into unreasonable and exorbitant royalty scales which (IMO) are entirely designed to "prop-up" and perpetuate a bloated, ineffective and out of touch industry. So my question is, for those of us that have the spotify apk, or have the droidify apk, will they stream to US based IPs? Or will the transmission be blocked (as it implies on spotify's homepage) and if it is, is there a nifty way to route the traffic through a proxy based overseas so the US users can actually enjoy this innovative app instead of being locked out by the corporate, capitalist will of the RIAA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here's a link that let me set up spotify on my computer in the us
http://tinyurl.com/q9khoo
thx for the link
Think I'll play with it a bit and see what all the fuss is about. If I like it enough I suppose the monthly fee would be worth it. A lot more functionality here with custom playlists, caching of playlists on my mobile and whatnot. I'm currently a Pandora subscriber, spotify is offering everything I wish they could, though their pricing is much more attractive. I wonder if spotify would balk at the use of a US credit card?
The site allows you to download the official app manually if you're having problems with the market, so here it is. Still need a premium account, though. The download was free and since you need to pay to use the service, I don't think I'm doing anything bad by posting it here...
Rather pissed off I have to have a pay account, because they wont take american credit cards
Pretty sweet, check it out:
http://layar.eu/
yeah i saw it on gizmodo, looks pretty cool. Gizmodo said it was only available in the Netherland store, could someone upload the apk if it is?
but their site does say it will be released in the store soon, so who knows.
Yeah, but the problem then lies in there not being any servers in the US...
Supposed to be some this year though.
Worlds first? Wikitude has been around for ages.. looks pretty damn similar!
I talked to a couple iphone users today and they were all hyped about this until I pointed out that they'd have to have a 3G-S to run it (if/when it comes out for the iphone), which means a nice 400-500 dollar upgrade for them just to use it. Android is a beautiful thing.
"the main difference between them and Wikitude is having many content layers"
Interesting.
looks pretty cool.
That's pretty cool. Imagine if the bars has a counter on the occupancy you can either choose if you want to go to a bar that has a ton of people or not! Or if it'll show you a restaurants menu or specials before walking in.
looks cool
very neat cant wait until it comes out
seems intresting, cant wait for it so i can try it, since it gives real time info im aware it will use data but i wonder if it will require the gps to be turned on as well
From what I can tell the gps is used to determine what info to retrieve
Senorkabob said:
"the main difference between them and Wikitude is having many content layers"
Interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is different layers marketing speak for different ways to filter?
I can't "see" any difference with it and wikitude and their claim at the first AR browser is dubious at best, wikitude beat them to the punch.
is this gonna be a free browser or will it cost us??
For all that work? Somebody would be insane to publish it for free unless they're supporting themselves otherwise.
jordanjay29 said:
For all that work? Somebody would be insane to publish it for free unless they're supporting themselves otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you look at the various "layers" provided out of the gate, it seems like it might be sponsored by the various groups providing data. I mean how often are you going to want to use this program to find real estate in the Netherlands (or anywhere in the world for that matter)?
The kind of stuff i'd want an augmented reality program for (finding local eateries, sights to see, etc) seem conspicuously missing in the demo video.
delta_foxtrot2 is right. For all of you that want to try it, it's already in the market, called wikitude, may be this new browser have more POIs or have better way of allowing others to add those POIs but as far as the mechanism goes, it's already in the market, and it is free.
jordanjay29 said:
For all that work? Somebody would be insane to publish it for free unless they're supporting themselves otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From their "About" page:
Layar is a free application on your mobile phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it was released in the netherlands already. I think the webpage mentioned that.. maybe someone can get the apk on here
an apk would really be great, I'd like to evaluate it
So where is the promised January/mid-February NC 2.2 update from B&N??? Here's what I found recently:
"B&N plans to update the OS sometime in 2011. Regarding applications, we are committed to the NOOKdeveloper program and on track to add apps to our store in early 2011, but do not have plans enable Android Marketplace at this time."
It was never promised. Just rumoured. And then pretty much debunked:
http://nookappreview.com/2010/12/31/nook-apps-might-arrive-in-march-2011-developer-mode-in-jan-2011/
Still sounds promising seeing how i'ts March already. But it looks like it's more of a refined update as opposed to a general android OS update. The inclusion of flash would be nice. And if they are in charge of making flash available then maybe we'll get a decent working version of one a little easier.
The current build just feels sluggish. Especially the browser. Hopefully they can rectify that in whatever updates they have brewing.
In general I think BN just needs to get the app store out but maybe they are waiting on actual developers for this? At the very least...Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging, e-mail, Youtube, etc. would be nice. Support for more types of video codecs as well as allowing side loaded content to be added to the home screen would help make those features actually useful. I think they really are a few steps away from the stock, unrooted OS being decent enough where some of us less adventurous people will be dissuaded from going through the trouble of rooting.
Web browsing is a lot worse than on my iPhone 4 at the moment. The video quality on m.youtube is a horrendous pixelated mess. No difference at all between HQ and Normal.
To watch YouTube in HD, dig around for and install "signed_YouTube.apk". I believe this is the gingerbread version and plays YouTube vids in HD on the nook properly
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App
henhowc said:
The current build just feels sluggish. Especially the browser. Hopefully they can rectify that in whatever updates they have brewing.
In general I think BN just needs to get the app store out but maybe they are waiting on actual developers for this? At the very least...Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging, e-mail, Youtube, etc. would be nice. Support for more types of video codecs as well as allowing side loaded content to be added to the home screen would help make those features actually useful. I think they really are a few steps away from the stock, unrooted OS being decent enough where some of us less adventurous people will be dissuaded from going through the trouble of rooting.
Web browsing is a lot worse than on my iPhone 4 at the moment. The video quality on m.youtube is a horrendous pixelated mess. No difference at all between HQ and Normal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could see them waiting for more apps... its also possible their riding the hype and waiting for it to die down before releasing it.
However as I + others have said... theres NO REASON for B&N to update the nook. At least from a android firmware standpoint
Admiralvic said:
I could see them waiting for more apps... its also possible their riding the hype and waiting for it to die down before releasing it.
However as I + others have said... theres NO REASON for B&N to update the nook. At least from a android firmware standpoint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to a B&N employee, there will be an update to stock NC to Android 2.2 based firmware which will also support Flash, at the end of March.
Remember that this is third-hand, may be incorrect, and could be delayed even if it is correct.
I really wish there was going to 2.2 update.
ADude said:
According to a B&N employee, there will be an update to stock NC to Android 2.2 based firmware which will also support Flash, at the end of March.
Remember that this is third-hand, may be incorrect, and could be delayed even if it is correct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard the same thing from an employee except it was 2-3 weeks ago and the date they gave was the end of February.
Admiralvic said:
theres NO REASON for B&N to update the nook. At least from a android firmware standpoint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may not be true, it depends upon how "Enhanced NookBooks" will work, which according to their website are coming soon. Flash maybe?
I had not seen this thread and I just got back from BN. I showed the guy my rooted Nookand he was impressed.. although I dont think he liked my kindle app.
He did volunteer that there would be an update by the end of March. What was included .. he did not say.
Admiralvic said:
I could see them waiting for more apps... its also possible their riding the hype and waiting for it to die down before releasing it.
However as I + others have said... theres NO REASON for B&N to update the nook. At least from a android firmware standpoint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We can hope and dream can we not?
If a B&N store employee is telling you when the update is coming they are talking out of their anus.
No company is going to give out any information like that to bottom level sales employees. When B&N settles on an official date they will at best give the employees a couple days warning.
Honestly we will probably know when its coming before the employees do.
notinterested said:
If a B&N store employee is telling you when the update is coming they are talking out of their anus.
No company is going to give out any information like that to bottom level sales employees. When B&N settles on an official date they will at best give the employees a couple days warning.
Honestly we will probably know when its coming before the employees do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen some stores have specific Nook "experts" that just hang around the Nook kiosks all day long and they probably have more general knowledge about the product than say the cashiers or regular employees. I wouldn't say its impossible that an employee knows info that we don't. Or they could read forums like this too.
henhowc said:
I've seen some stores have specific Nook "experts" that just hang around the Nook kiosks all day long and they probably have more general knowledge about the product than say the cashiers or regular employees. I wouldn't say its impossible that an employee knows info that we don't. Or they could read forums like this too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you have to remember this wasnt the first time we went down this road. I remember when every employee was saying the app store + 2.2 would come out in January... then it was Feb, now its end of march... I wouldnt be shocked if these people are just relying on luck, and assuming things.
Not everyone, employees included know that theres android on the low... its always possible that they just think were on Nook firmware 2.1, and just say a date for the next update as its possible.
Logically speaking, if the nook was getting an upgrade... and the employees actually knew, and were telling it why wouldnt it get announced? With something like 2.2, its not like B&N is going to just release it without trying to nab sales.
A. Nonymous said:
I heard the same thing from an employee except it was 2-3 weeks ago and the date they gave was the end of February.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really respect delays in software releases.
This means that the managers are allowing the programmers to fix the bugs, instead of heeding the CEOs' usual call to "release it now regardless of whether it works right".
I am not referring to any particular company or CEO, but there is always pressure from above to release software before it is stable.
PS How do BN employees know ? Someone has to be doing Beta testing before a release to millions of customers. It is typical for large companies to have employees do Beta testing. It would not be unusual for those Beta testers to get an email with link to "release candidate for public release at the end of the month, so please confirm that you do not have problems with this release". Then when problems are confirmed, release slips to the following month, rinse and repeat.
Hello,
just wanted to share that just the other day, must have been thursday, A Nook rep at my local B&N store and i got to talking and he said that he had been told that 2.2 will be out this month! and that he was told that in January. Looks like we might be getting luck! Just gotta be patient. Always fun... lol
henhowc said:
I've seen some stores have specific Nook "experts" that just hang around the Nook kiosks all day long and they probably have more general knowledge about the product than say the cashiers or regular employees. I wouldn't say its impossible that an employee knows info that we don't. Or they could read forums like this too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a digital lead at a BN and I love this forum...
tranquilchao5 said:
I am a digital lead at a BN and I love this forum...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right.
Although it would be nice to have a B&N rep. mulling around the forum. After all, I think communites like this are best at making products better for everyone else. And forum reading typically are strongly tied and loyal to their device. They also are more likely to spread good PR if they are happy with their product and the company attached to it. Read; OG Droid compared to the Droid X fiasco. Ever wonder why they finally allowed an unlockable bootloader on the Xoom? Something caused them to backtrack a bit...even if we only represent a small percent of the consumer base.
Sent from my NC using XDA App
tranquilchao5 said:
I am a digital lead at a BN and I love this forum...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spill the beans!
Seen this on Reddit, works pretty good for MP4 and WebM videos for sites like Vimeo.
https://dabble.me/cast
*I should mention this only works with Chrome at the moment.
I wish there was some way to use this for Amazon Prime video....casting the full tab isn't a great option for me. Of course a mobile app would be the real answer but Amazon just won't do it!
primetime34 said:
I wish there was some way to use this for Amazon Prime video....casting the full tab isn't a great option for me. Of course a mobile app would be the real answer but Amazon just won't do it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree. Amazon Instant Video is pretty much the only thing my TiVos and TV have over Chromecast for my intended use.
r00t4rd3d said:
Seen this on Reddit, works pretty good for MP4 and WebM videos for sites like Vimeo.
https://dabble.me/cast
*I should mention this only works with Chrome at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
List of working sites:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/1x5ik0/send_vimeo_ted_facebook_etc_from_the_desktop_to/
Creators Twitter:
https://twitter.com/@parterburn
Amazing, youporn works. Thanks!
I wish it would work for watchespn
uncrx2003 said:
I wish it would work for watchespn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AMEN!! WatchESPN, along with WatchDisney Junior, are the two channels that I have been wanting more than ANY other channel out there! I'm a huge college football fan and although I've got a pretty nice channel lineup and sports package via Charter, there are still games out there that just simply aren't offered around here on Charter. In addition to WatchESPN, I have a 4 yr old son and like how I used to be when I was younger and how most other kids his age are, he LOVES to watch cartoons, especially the likes of Disney Junior, Cartoon Network, Sprout, etc. The WatchDisney Junior channel coming to the Chromecast would just make my (and my son's) day. I think the only thing holding it back is probably having to do something with licensing issues because if you've ever tried to view WatchESPN or WatchDisney on your computer, you must log-in to their service by typing in your cable tv service provider login info before being able to view those channels.
:good:
jsdecker10 said:
I think the only thing holding it back is probably having to do something with licensing issues because if you've ever tried to view WatchESPN or WatchDisney on your computer, you must log-in to their service by typing in your cable tv service provider login info before being able to view those channels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Likely there would be an app like HBO GO, which requires you to do the provider login on your phone/tablet during setup.
As always, be sure to contact the content provider to request support. Unlikely you'll get a response, but hopefully your vote will be counted.
It works very well for me at this www.mistreci.al with movreel and uptobox thats what i needed
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
bhiga said:
Likely there would be an app like HBO GO, which requires you to do the provider login on your phone/tablet during setup.
As always, be sure to contact the content provider to request support. Unlikely you'll get a response, but hopefully your vote will be counted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell you from my own personal knowledge that many of the content providers who rely on Cable Company Sub payments are very hesitant to release content for use on Big Screens (which CCast support basically is) which could hurt their Subscription fees later on due to the Chord Cutters taking the cheaper route to their content.
One of the Major hold ups with Time Warner and CBS in that last contract battle was over rights to Internet streaming.
Time Warner wanted the rights to them but CBS wanted to hold on to it for further sales to companies like NetFlix and Hulu or even for their own sites (which the three major nets do now) To a OTA broadcaster it's easier to keep their content free because the content has already been paid for via the Advertising and the goal is to hook more viewers to the shows on their Network.
But someone like ESPN, HBO and SHOWTIME, they are highly dependent on Cable Subs and therefore can't just put the content out there so will likely require a Cable Subscription/Login to view because if they did it on their own without such a subscription or tried to do subscriptions on their own it would be cutting off their nose to spite their face plus add the cost of a Subscription support department they have to pay to maintain their own sub service. So those companies are likely to remain a Cable Sub only service.
This is the one thing Chord Cutters will have to deal with, Sure you can get the OTA stuff and some stuff from low rated networks trying to lure people to their content but the stuff you REALLY want will almost always require a Cable Sub to get.
I have been in quite a few meetings where this is discussed and while the greed makes them think about offering their own ala carte subscription model they quickly realize that no one is going to pay as much for HBO on HBO's website as they currently get from the Cable companies themselves.
And if the Cable companies decide they are not worth having on their system anymore these companies like HBO stand to lose their shirts!
So they back down quickly.
Just a quick comment on the Amazon Prime thing....
I think this may be a sign that things between Google and Amazon are not as rosy as they probably should be.
You would think Amazon Prime was all over this from day one but apparently not.
Now that the SDK is public I expect to see something from them in the future.
Good points. It's not easy to understand the policies and actions of all the parties involved unless you know something about the business model from their point of view.
BTW, it's "cord cutters", not "chord cutters", as in cable = cord. Chord usually refers to music or geometry, but in any case nothing to do with this topic.
Re: Amazon - I wonder if they are coming up with a media box solution too. Could explain their reluctance.
WhisperCast?
Of course Canadians ignore them because they offer no media content here. Which is strange as they're selling these walled-garden Amazon tablets with beautiful screens in Canadian stores, and nothing but Netflix & YouTube to watch on them.
You knew it was only a matter of time before someone figured out a way to fill their wallets off users by annoying them to death..
http://bgr.com/2014/02/12/chromecast-ads-coming-soon/
I will copy and paste a reply I left about this on Reddit
I can see it now for apps like Plex when Casting goes free (whenever that happens)
"We will Cast your content right after this short advertisement"
So sick of in app ads, so sick of freemium, so sick of subscription services (ie: PlexPass etc), so sick of pay to win games, so sick of every Android developer (not every, but you get the point) nickel and diming the piss out of users either with ads or micro-transactions. Enough.. Just follow the PC software model that has worked for decades. A set price, minor upgrades are free, major revisions you re-pay. The Android software market is the biggest racket.
styckx said:
So sick of in app ads, so sick of freemium, so sick of subscription services (ie: PlexPass etc), so sick of pay to win games, so sick of every Android developer (not every, but you get the point) nickel and diming the piss out of users either with ads or micro-transactions. Enough.. Just follow the PC software model that has worked for decades. A set price, minor upgrades are free, major revisions you re-pay. The Android software market is the biggest racket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I agree, the trouble is that video content doesn't really work like software. Every new episode would be a "major" release. It's not like you can release a movie in 2-minute segments. Well, maybe if you're J.J. Abrams...
I don't mind ads as long as I have the option to pay to get rid of them. Even Netflix could opt for a cheaper ad-supported tier if they wanted to.
To be honest, I like apps that are free with ads and paid without as it gives me a way to try the app for a period longer than the Play Store's 15 minutes.
[HOWTO] Chromecast/Netflix outside USA without VPN
Ad Blocking - DD-WRT Wiki
bhiga said:
To be honest, I like apps that are free with ads and paid without as it gives me a way to try the app for a period longer than the Play Store's 15 minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or that too.
Brightcove is pretty big VOD provider, but yeah, that would work as long as the stuff you want to watch isn't hosted there.
YouTube could be uber sneaky and host the ads on YouTube itself so then it would be all-or-nothing.
On the plus side, YouTube could become the resurrection of AdCritic. I miss that site...
Talk about a blast from the past. Have you seen -
http://creativity-online.com/
I think everybody is struggling to find ways to make money from this technology. Google doesn't make any money on the hardware, and consumers just don't want to pay much for software (which is why the old PC software business model is gradually failing, and you see even companies like Microsoft going to Office 365-type subscriptions). So the result is they have to find a way to make money from subscriptions, fees, and/or advertising.
Google aren't the only ones considering advertising. Mozilla just announced that they're going to start putting ads in Firefox, inserted in the page of recent sites that appears when you open a new tab.
DJames1 said:
you see even companies like Microsoft going to Office 365-type subscriptions). So the result is they have to find a way to make money from subscriptions, fees, and/or advertising.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The worst thing I've encountered so far with the subscription model is how it virally forces others to buy in.
Case-in-point, I got an Adobe InDesign file that I needed to look at. Fine, I have InDesign CS6. I load it up, and it tells me I can't open it because it was made in InDesign CS7.5
At least Microsoft has Office viewers. I was stuck with the InDesign thing - either go back and ask for a flattened version or subscribe, luckily I had the opportunity to just ignore it.
Like freedom, free software truly isn't free - at least not as long as people need to eat and pay bills. Renewable energy and homesteading may be the zero-cash way, but then we won't have enough time to code!
Maybe we need to come up with some "business productive" games. People-powered OCR Hangman?
Well I'll repeat something else I said
I'm guilty of being an old timer. I came into Android with 1.5 (CupCake).. The Market and Android community used to be a thriving community of freeware, innovation and great discussion.. I just hate what it turned into. It's like a gold rush and the end user is the gold and everyone is trying to sell you their bridge. I just hate how it got like this. I don't mind paying for stuff but it seem anymore it's a constant and quality has taken a back seat. It's like people stopped doing this for fun and a hobby and started trying to make a business.. Anything that is anything that is in demand someone will find a way to charge you for now a days.
P.S. I don't mind subscription services like Netflix etc. Dumb stuff like Plex Pass is a joke though. You're subbing monthly to unlock in-app features. Doesn't make any sense..
DJames1 said:
I think everybody is struggling to find ways to make money from this technology. Google doesn't make any money on the hardware...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do we really know that?
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...tions-despite-strong-nexus-5-chromecast-sales
Biggest seller or a best seller in Q4 2013, depending how you take that article.
The packaging probably costs nearly as much as the product.
True, when it's easy for lots of people to make apps, the market gets crowded and confused.
Doesn't help that the rating system doesn't take into account that people use ratings maliciously to complain or penalize the developer for things often that are user error or out of the dev's control.
PlexPass gives other things like their cloud thing, but yeah, it is kind of "pay to be in the beta club" but hey, if it works for them, funds their continued development, and people are willing to pay, I don't have to like it, but I can't really criticize them either.
And with the $75 PlexPass lifetime, it's the same cost as a mid-range piece of software.
On Google profits, I'm sure Chromecast sold well, we can see from the lack of rootable units on shelves...
Of course they won't tell us how much they're making (or losing) on each sale. I bet most of the profit was Google Play.
I just doubt that they lost any money at $35 a pop - until the accountants got involved, because their job is to cover that up. Not whining or ranting, just stating a known part of the corporate income game.
EarlyMon said:
I just doubt that they lost any money at $35 a pop - until the accountants got involved, because their job is to cover that up. Not whining or ranting, just stating a known part of the corporate income game.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. Especially given the volume they produced at, I'm sure they negotiated some killer discounts with the manufacturers. :good:
bhiga said:
True. Especially given the volume they produced at, I'm sure they negotiated some killer discounts with the manufacturers. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/7070288
Job's open.
My issue is not with the ads being there, this is a Google device so ads were to be expected be it from Google or someone else. My issue is with it being video ads, my DSL line is shaped during the day and I don't need this hogging the bandwidth preloading videos while I am trying to browse the web. I wish my country would get "first" world in terms of broadband just so this [email protected] stops bugging me...
/fingers crossed Eureka guys ad-block this .
EarlyMon said:
I just doubt that they lost any money at $35 a pop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think Google is losing money on the Chromecast hardware, at least not deliberately. But I do think they priced it not to make any money on the hardware.
Think about it:
- Google is not a hardware company. They deliberately try to stay out of the hardware business because they realize that the margins are really low. They make their money on fees and services. They only introduce hardware products as an enabler to get new things started.
- They are undercutting everybody else on price to have the cheapest brand-name media streamer. It's in the same price range as the cheapest Chinese no-name Android TV sticks.
- They introduced the Chromecast with an offer for 3 months free Netflix, which is 2 months more than Netflix normally offers. That's a $16 value for which Google undoubtedly compensated Netflix, although probably at a discounted rate. When Chromecast sales took off the first day, Google canceled that offer immediately, indicating both that they had allocated a limited budget for it, and that the price of the Chromecast would not bear it without losing money.
I'm very confused. So someone created a SDK for developers to include ads on Chromecast apps and people here are upset by this? Please tell me why.
We should keep in mind here, it's not Google inserting ads here, it's Brightcove who is enabling developers to insert video ads compatible with Chromecast. As the title of the linked article says, "Third Party Provides Way For Developers To Add Ads To Chromecast"
I doubt Google will see any of this revenue as Brightcove built this technology using the Cast SDK for their engine.
The key part here, and I could be totally off-base, is that it sounds like a library that a developer would add to their app - essentially using Brightcove's "Cast" function and player. That makes sense since Brightcove has an HTML5 player already in use by sites on the web.
For example, instead of developing my own HTML5 page that Chromecast would go to in order to play a video, I would just trigger the Brightcove "Cast" function, passing it the location and my key/ID. Chromecast would then run the Brightcove player app which plays the video content I chose with inserted ads. The fact that it's being advertised as "seamless" tells me the ads are being stitched into the video content and delivered as a single stream, rather than a playlist drawing from separate sources.
Aside from ad revenue, the huge plus for developers here is that Chromecast-enabled apps wouldn't even need to use the Cast SDK directly, because they're using the Brightcove casting engine. That means the specific Chromecast-enabled app wouldn't need to be on the whitelist or register with Google because it's really the Brightcove app that Chromecast is running. Brightcove is responsible for making sure the engine keeps up with Chromecast updates and changes so that's another burden off the developer.
A "no ads" version of an app that uses the Brightcove player may use the same request to Brightcove, just with a flag saying not to insert the ads. The "gotcha" here is that because Brightcove is the player for the video content the app uses, blocking Brightcove or the Brightcove app would block all casted video from the app.
Of course Brightcove probably shares in the ad revenue, so maybe they won't allow developers to use their engine without ads, in which case the theorized advantages to the developer go away for a "no ads" version as they'd still need to register and use the Cast SDK directly.
But likely Brightcove may take the gamble that enough people are cheap and use ad-supported versions that it covers the paid apps that aren't showing ads. Or maybe part of their developer agreement makes the developer pay for non-ad versions somehow. Just theorizing from the business perspective...
styckx said:
So sick of in app ads, so sick of freemium, so sick of subscription services (ie: PlexPass etc), so sick of pay to win games, so sick of every Android developer (not every, but you get the point) nickel and diming the piss out of users either with ads or micro-transactions. Enough.. Just follow the PC software model that has worked for decades. A set price, minor upgrades are free, major revisions you re-pay. The Android software market is the biggest racket.
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Thank you Sir, these are true words. I agree you to 100%
styckx said:
Just follow the PC software model that has worked for decades.
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The PC software model had very few ongoing costs. You boxed up a CD and after that, the costs you incurred were mostly just support costs. Streaming video is not cheap. If you plan on charging once in a lifetime, then you will be out of business very quickly.
@DJames1 - those are good points, I'd like to counter with what the market will bear.
After the Google TV and Nexus Q flops, I don't think that Chromecast could have done better at a higher price point, even if it started out with more apps and features. I think that they had to plan for this price point and knew that going in.
As for the initial Netflix deal, I don't know if anyone besides the accountants know how that worked. Not a personal criticism, just saying - Netflix has a vested interest in DIAL succeeding. It makes secure delivery easy for them. Their revenue models for this sort of thing aren't trivial, see Roku's license deal for example.
Netflix will give newcomers a free month for watching Philip DeFranco on YouTube.
So between their giveaway budget for promotions, surely compensated in part by the content providers and anything paid back by Google in the form of free advertising, I think that entire initial allocation for Netflix with Google was all virtual money, if such a thing exists. Iow, lots of return on investment on both sides but actual investment costs in real dollars - closer to zero.
@bhiga - agree. This reminds me of the AirPush SDK, and quite a few others who seek out devs with revenue schemes.