Do you remember once we heard that Amazon was creating its own app store for the Android platform? Further details were shared concerning the store, with a view to compete with Google’s own app store within the US this year.
A new online hub for developers has launched for submitting apps, gifting away some key details, butTechCrunch also spoke to two sources from within Amazon concerning the app store, who clarified that the principle difference between that and Android’s own app store could be the way apps are vetted.
Specifically, Google doesn’t vet apps until users report problems with them, whereas Amazon is going to take a leaf from Apple’s book and spend about per week analyzing each app before giving it the thumb’s up.
This can help weed out buggy, junky apps, but for anyone interested in Amazon taking over Apple’s puritanical morals-don’t worry. Supposedly they’re only inquisitive about porny and illegal apps, but everything else needs to be a-ok.
Prices may be better, too. Amazon has complete control over setting the fee of each app, with developers getting the ordinary 70 per cent slice from each purchase. Users might be ready to pay with their Amazon accounts, so it’s literally one click until the app is theirs.
Google’s been talking about a web website for browsing apps before downloading, but Amazon wants to get in there first with a desktop storefront, so users can send themselves links to apps for downloading to their phone or tablet later.
Interestingly, Amazon.com’s recommendation algorithms will likely be adapted for use with the app, for recommending similar apps when browsing throughout the store, but in addition recommending apps based on what a user’s staring at on Amazon.com. That last part could work well, if done right, but half the things I buy on Amazon.com are presents for folks-if I suddenly start receiving app recommendations for railway-obsessives, I’ll vow never to buy books for my Dad again. [ TechCrunch ]
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