Feature Request: Monetization of the Jolla Store [duplicate]

The concept of FOSS doesn't say anything about commercial distribution or included ads etc. Also, sadly there are apps in the store right now that aren't FOSS.

You use sailfish because you don't want ads? You think FOSS = No paid apps or ad support?

How can you completely fail to see the big picture here? Monetization of the app store would attract more developers and incentivise them to make native sailfish apps. This along with a NON INTRUSIVE advertisement API that can be implemented in apps would reduce our reliance on alien dalvik. This would make the experience on port devices better as well. And having advertisement APIs isn't copying android you moron, and the only reason Linux has native applications is because it is widely used and it is possible to easily put ads in the application packages. Sailfish isn't nearly as popular, hence our tiny app selection in the Jolla store. I don't agree with the data here, comparing a widely adopted desktop platform and a not very popular mobile platform that relies heavily on a NON FOSS application that literally copies android run time and AOSP applications (which you apparently do not want) isn't correct or logical. I understand that these kinds of Sailfish OS expansions are scary but they are necessary.

And frankly I use Sailfish OS because the UI is intuitive and easier to use on all devices and doesn't blind me at night. It is also much faster, lightweight, and nearly doubles battery life compared to android. While I love the current situation of ad free stuff, what we need is more developers, which leads to more adoption, which leads to more developers, and so on and so on. The big picture here being that increased developer adoption of Sailfish OS leads to increased user adoption with both port and non-port devices.

@ossi1967 Technically, I think, you are right, but if FOSS would include ads somebody will eventually fork it to fix that, so that's no big deal.

I'm not arguing against commercial FOSS (e.g., source code for money, just as Jolla probably does with its partners) - but against a native advertisement API in Sailfish. I think this would kill SFOS, because all these marketing companies would want to have some tracking technology, which comes with all these issues regarding privacy etc..

@MeowDude Yes, the current situation regarding apps (and Sailfish's technical backend towards the hardware) isn't optimal. But I like the situation here more than the one on Android - I mean, yes, Android has many apps, but how many of them are more or less crappy? Do users really benefit from these? Currently, we already have some basics like calendar, email, browser, nextcloud, etc. Sure, they're far from perfect and some are missing, but more apps and developers won't automatically lead to a better quality.

"the only reason Linux has native applications is because [...] it is possible to easily put ads in the application packages"

What?? Can you give me an example for that?

The Linux ecosystem got this far because you can fork stuff the way you like it. And with commercial players using and contributing back to the community's work. Thus, today we have fully usable Linux desktops. Of course, it took a long time and it's not usable for all people. But i think that Sailfish should try to fill this role on mobile phones, instead of wanting to get big as iOS/Android. Because it would probably fail!

You've said you love the current situation but want more devs for Sailfish. Sure, but that doesn't mean that SFOS has to give up the principle of privacy and respecting the user. I appreciate the way SFOS is, and this is more important for me than having ten candy crush clones (or whatever) in Jolla Harbour.

And no need to get offensive, btw.

tldr: I'm not convinced that Harbour's monetisation would lead to more developers, because Sailfish is still quite small. If you really want to make money you go to the big players, i think the people who are currently developing for SFOS do it out of fun and the love for its ideas, not for making a living.

Regarding android app stores being full of garbage apps, I can already say the same of the Jolla store. You will have garbage half-assed apps on any app store, its a natural thing for someone new to coding to excitedly post there first project to harbor or similar and then forget about it when they move onto something else.

And about ads, I can actually see your point here and I both agree and respect it. You've swayed me.