[Implemented in 1.0.3.8] Differentiate native SailfishOS and Android apps in Jolla store [released]

asked 2013-12-25 08:26:32 +0300

foss4ever
13056 ●97 ●134 ●141

updated 2014-02-05 16:27:07 +0300

eric

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https://twitter.com/erkki...

The Jolla store (harbour) should make it possible to show users whether available applications are native SailfishOS or Android apps. This could be implemented with different views, categories or tags so that it would be possible to search or browse apps for both platforms independently.

Update as to why this would be benefcial:

easier to see how the native SailfishOS "ecosystem" is growing
increases user-awareness that the device actually can run apps for two different operating systems
makes the application related user comments. reports and suggestions more understandable and easier to analyze and diagnose, cause the issues and wishes usually are very OS-spesific
makes it possible to compare the design, utlity and performance of apps running in different environments
hopefully promotes the use and demand for native apps and makes it more likely for users to choose a SailfishOS version when both are available

By having this additional piece of information (nattive SailfishOS / Android app) explicitly available in the Jolla store for users can make it easier for all of us to develop, find, choose and use the best application in Jolla, for the need we have.

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The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by eric
close date 2014-03-19 16:24:55.572005

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1

Is it possible to submit Android apps to harbour ?

Winfried ( 2013-12-25 15:36:18 +0300 )edit

12

Yes, the harbour does indeed accept Android apps. I agree that they should be marked as such, or on top of that even be hidden in an own categories subset.

pycage ( 2013-12-25 18:11:41 +0300 )edit

6

Highly agree. I don't think there's any reason to offer android apps in Jolla store, except maybe the "most important" such as Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook, Youtube and maybe browsers like Firefox, etc. I also think they should have an android icon in the corner of the main icon for clarification.

parasemic ( 2013-12-25 20:14:21 +0300 )edit

2

Jolla should preferably get rid of the android apps or at least clearly mark the apps at their store pages in such a way users can't miss them being android apps.

avhakola ( 2013-12-25 22:52:27 +0300 )edit

4

Re-tagging: harbour is the developer intake, while Store is the store. This question is pertinent only to the store since in harbour we already distinguish quite clearly.

stezz ( 2013-12-26 15:32:36 +0300 )edit

89

answered 2013-12-26 15:31:02 +0300

stezz

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moderator

http://stezz.blogspot.com...

Totally agree, this is something that our Store guys have on their TODO list.

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Thanks for the answer! Seems that we all want this ;) so could you hint to as to what way the apps can be differentiated in the.Store, and when could we expect to have a new Jolla Store with new features like this?

foss4ever ( 2013-12-26 21:01:47 +0300 )edit

@jjaone if I understood correctly Android apps will have a distinctive logo. When... I don't know yet. But judging by the amount of votes I would say this item will have a decent priority ;)

stezz ( 2013-12-26 23:07:05 +0300 )edit

11

I would mark them differently in app grid and task manager too. That is unless the Android experience becomes close to native indeed (e.g. on BB10 I am not annoyed much by no clear differentiation). I think one of the Jolla videos used to show a small green robot in the corner of app cover.

Artem ( 2013-12-27 14:14:04 +0300 )edit

1

I would also like there to be somekind of quality control for the Android apps.

YLE Areena app came to store half baked. Only about half of the functionality actually even worked. It seems have been patched to work properly since. Still, I would really prefer that there would be somekind of check whetever submitted Android apps even work as intended.

Rauha ( 2014-01-02 10:18:03 +0300 )edit

@Rauha you might want to make that suggestion to a genuine new question cause it deserves one and it is quite unrelated to separate Android and SailfishOS apps in Store.

foss4ever ( 2014-01-02 10:25:55 +0300 )edit

21

answered 2014-01-05 21:38:30 +0300

bennypr0fane

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IMO there should be no Android apps in Jolla Store. For users, it's easy enough to get them from other third-party stores. However, Android apps in Jolla store would bring more traffic in there, and maybe (I don't really understand these things) a way of getting revenue or at least cranking some crucial numbers up. In that case, I'd be able to tolerate it if Android apps and Jolla apps where cleanly divided into two sections, and not e.g. showing up in the same list of search results.

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3

I agree on this one. If I want Android apps I open Yandex or Amazon or even Google Play Store. Don't like the fact there are Android apps in the Jolla store, it doesn't make sense...

RX Shorty ( 2014-01-05 23:23:39 +0300 )edit

There is already over twenty android apps in the store (about 1/4). Only few of them essential 'not yet available for Sailfish' apps. Others could be loaded from android store if needed. There is no need to advertise Jolla as an android phone in our store. Select all apps and 13 first are android!?

hnhanu ( 2014-01-06 10:36:36 +0300 )edit

9

Maybe the store app could have a setting for "Show compatible Android apps"? That way people wanting only native apps would not see the Android apps in the Jolla store. (Personally I'm fine with the Android apps there too.)

Pirkka ( 2014-01-06 20:08:55 +0300 )edit

3

I like the suggestion above, it would be nice if I could just change a setting so that I'll never need to see any of the android applications there. If that is not possible there has to be some way of differentiating the applications, I almost accidentally installed an android app by mistake, only caught myself at the last moment doing it.

juiceme ( 2014-01-07 11:08:54 +0300 )edit

2

Um, some of the apps can be really frustrating to find if you don't have an Android device with which to download them from Google Play. Most of the "third party" download sites merely link to Play Store. And those that are actually separate app stores (such as Yandex Store) don't have all I need.

elakim ( 2014-01-09 09:56:40 +0300 )edit

9

answered 2014-01-11 17:48:09 +0300

Wellu
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Not only differentiate but ban Android apps completely out of Jolla store.

Why would anyone publish their Android app in Jolla store anyway? Put it to Yandex instead and you get both Jolla and Android clients.

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2

App business is major for other companies and hopefully will be for Jolla too. So why give that money for someone else? Reality is that Android apps will be important for many users for a long time. So I don't mind Android apps in the Jolla Store. Some differentiation is needed, though.

hetas ( 2014-01-11 18:18:22 +0300 )edit

1

The benefit of having also Android apps in the store is that should such apps (which require very little effort to check that they work) become popular among Jolla users (despite being Android apps), it would give a very clear sign that a native port (or competitor) for the same app would probably become popular as well - likely even more popular, as people prefer native apps. So it becomes less expensive to experiment among the Jolla user base, quite less expensive than just writing out the app and then noticing nobody wanted the app in the first place.

flux ( 2014-01-14 10:47:40 +0300 )edit

Putting any app into Yandex store wouldn't have that benefit. Quality-wise, Yandex really wasn't a good choice IMO. Maybe it had some sort of strategic advantage to partner with an important Russian player, but Yandex really isn't the most awesome store on the planet

bennypr0fane ( 2014-01-16 00:39:32 +0300 )edit

1

Actually, it's no easier to QA an Android app than it is to QA a native app. Aliendalvik has a fair number of oddities and bugs that throw off many apps, and you don't want to let in the apps that don't work very well.

mornfall ( 2014-01-17 20:42:31 +0300 )edit

Jolla app store client should have an automatic switch to not show Jolla store Android apps from client, which does not have Dalvik installed. If a user does not have installed Android Dalvik, then he/she probably won't need to see the "incompatible" apps.

Jolla095 ( 2014-09-30 23:18:34 +0300 )edit

5

answered 2014-01-27 14:41:19 +0300

bijjal
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moderator

In the upcoming update, Jolla Store will mark Android apps with the Android icon to clearly distinguish them from native apps.

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2

yay! upcoming update! we love these words!

bennypr0fane ( 2014-01-27 15:24:09 +0300 )edit

1

answered 2014-01-27 10:09:33 +0300

Macilaci457
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updated 2014-01-27 10:13:21 +0300

A reasonable solution would be to not only mark android apps, but give an option to hide them. Why?

Not everyone installed android framework to the Jolla. The shop should detect if it is installed at least. Then, who want to run android apps, can have a seamless experience in the shop.
It is already sad to treat devs with unwelcome comments in the store! If android apps are hidden from those who do not want them, people wont mess up comments.

So Jolla should care about users AND developers. This is serious. I already heard devs to move away from Jola store because this issue is not handled.

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Yes I agree that the separation should be made ASAP, and I've suggested something sinular in that if user conpletely wants to hide Android apps then this could be directly linked to a Setting that makes sure that compatibility layer is not installed and started at all..

foss4ever ( 2014-01-27 12:00:22 +0300 )edit

0

answered 2014-01-16 00:35:51 +0300

bennypr0fane

5920 ●54 ●75 ●74

On the other hand, in the future Jolla store could be established as the store that you publish your Android app in if you want to reach Sailfish audience, but don't want to develop a native app. This could be a first approach for attracting developers to the platform. If you're a developer see yr Android app doing well in the Jolla store, you can see you have an audience there and might consider doing some native Sf apps too. Afaik, Android apps can now be made in Qt, so I'd venture a guess that that would make it easier to target both platforms in developing (actually almost what flux said in his comment to answer 3).

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There is no need (from the point of view of most Jolla users) to attract android developers, or is there? A developer is a developer. If someone only write for android, then should stick to android. Most of the devs publish to many platform already, making a native app should not be a problem.

Macilaci457 ( 2014-01-27 10:01:38 +0300 )edit

[Implemented in 1.0.3.8] Differentiate native SailfishOS and Android apps in Jolla store [released]

The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by eric
close date 2014-03-19 16:24:55.572005

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[Implemented in 1.0.3.8] Differentiate native SailfishOS and Android apps in Jolla store [released]

The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by eric close date 2014-03-19 16:24:55.572005

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The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by eric
close date 2014-03-19 16:24:55.572005