Link to market in the app

Monkey Forums/Monkey Programming/Link to market in the app

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#1]

Hi, I post this in the general section because I'd be interested in a solution for Android, iOS and Windows 7.

So if I create a "lite" app version for free how could I include a link to the market for the full version? I don't ask about the button but the call which opens the market app?

AdamRedwoods

(Posted 2011) [#2]

A side note:
isn't this the functionality that Lodsys is suing people for?

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#3]

Hmm... I had the impression that Lodsys goes for InApp purchases not link to market apps.

MikeHart

(Posted 2011) [#4]

Nope, they also go for Ads that are displayed and buttons like "Get full version here" or "More games".

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#5]

Ah ok. I don't mind.

therevills

(Posted 2011) [#6]

Nope, they also go for Ads that are displayed and buttons like "Get full version here" or "More games".

You're joking right!? That's been basically the shareware model for decades!

Volker

(Posted 2011) [#7]

No joke.
http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/11/07/13/says.elicited.perception.important.factor/

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#8]

And that's the reason they will fail. I don't think they won't attack me here in Germany where software patents are a no go, especially in that area (it is possible if you combine them with real devices).

All this patent stuff is completely out of whack.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/13/google.asks.uspto.to.invalidate.lodsys.patents/

FlameDuck

(Posted 2011) [#9]

So if I create a "lite" app version for free how could I include a link to the market for the full version?

The short version is that you can't. At least not strictly using the commands monkey provides. Doing it in Android is fairly straightforward:
1) Create an ACTION_VIEW Intent.
2) Set the Intents data payload to the URI you want to link to.
3) Start a new Activity with the created event.
4) Your site will load in whichever browser is the default for that Android system.

In HTML5 it should be even simpler. Just make an actual link. Not tested but should work. Otherwise use window.open().

In iOS, you'll have to ask someone who knows.

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#10]

Thanks FlameDuck. I know that I have to do it the native way.

Could you go a bit more in detail please regarding the Android path?
Looking forward to iOS solutions as well! :)

Tibit

(Posted 2011) [#11]

I think the good side is that Lodsys probably would not go for small companies, especially indies, since I think they are doing this for the money :)

Xaron, if you implement this, would you be open to share how you did it? I soon need to do the very same thing myself, so it would be very useful, probably save some time :)

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#12]

Sure I'd share it of course! :)

MikeHart

(Posted 2011) [#13]

Are you 100% sure that germany has no software patents?

And actually it would be enough if they just attack you in the US. They file there and you basically have no chance to defend yourself. If you dont show up in court, they automatically win. Even if you don't sell and publish in the US, I am not sure if you can just run away.

I think the good side is that Lodsys probably would not go for small companies, especially indies, since I think they are doing this for the money :)

And they have written to small devs already. My guess is that they try to threaten as many as possible and force them into licensing their stuff till a court will decide that they have no stand on their patents. Even if that happens, then all licensees still have to pay.

Xaron

(Posted 2011) [#14]

Mike, they don't go for the common indie. They do that to make money. ;)

I am sure there are no 100% software patents in Germany. I have filed 2 by myself for the company I work for and even though we are a software company you have to combine it always with some technical device to make it "non software" related. ;)

Actually Google and Apple step in and I think Lodsys will go hopefully to dev>null.

AdamRedwoods

(Posted 2011) [#15]

So if I create a "lite" app version for free how could I include a link to the market for the full version?

I just noticed that Diddy framework has a LaunchBrowser command. Perhaps the browser could point to the item, then the item to the market?

https://market.android.com/

http://code.google.com/p/diddy/wiki/LaunchBrowser

FlameDuck

(Posted 2011) [#16]

I think the good side is that Lodsys probably would not go for small companies, especially indies, since I think they are doing this for the money :)

They'd pretty much have to. In either case, until you have an actual program, actually on Android Market, worrying about pretend patent violations seems a bit preemptive.

Could you go a bit more in detail please regarding the Android path?

Sure. Here is a working Android example in Java.

package org.binarytherapy;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class BrowserExample extends Activity
{
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
	    Intent myIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
	    myIntent.setData(Uri.parse("http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz"));
	    startActivity(myIntent);
    }
}

or if you want a fancy one-liner:

	    startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).setData(Uri.parse("http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz")));