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Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:17 pm
by RogueProeliator
I want to get some opinions from those that might be interested... Let's say that, hypothetically, one had developed a native Android client for Indigo that had these hypothetical features:

Devices
  • View device listings marked for remote display (similar to Indigo Touch)
  • Act on devices - on/off, dimming, etc. as appropriate for the device
  • View full device state information (similar to the Device Details bottom pane in the OS X client)
  • View the device's state history (e.g. on/off times, brightness level histories)

Actions
  • Execute action groups, similar to Indigo Touch

Variables
  • View and edit Indigo Variables
  • View the variable change history

Control Pages
  • Browse/view control pages in a native client
  • View control pages in a custom web browser
  • Go full-screen on control page on select devices (O/S version dependent)

Indigo Log
  • View the Indigo Log from the server on the device

Appearance/Preferences
  • Support Holo dark and light themes or an all-black theme
  • Allow customization of amount of data pulled in logs/lists in each "batch" (to help with data usage/management)
  • Support a dual address/port configuration for home and away access

"Hypothetical Future Ideas"
  • Geofencing and actions based off those fences
  • Customized, multi-pane layout for tablets
  • Push notifications
  • Pre-built control pages (e.g. A/V remotes)
  • Guest mode (to lock device to a control page)
  • Potentially be able to custom-build advanced, native control pages on a per-user basis (obviously would be a fee of some kind, this could be time intensive)

The question / opinions requested would be the pricing model... any suggestions as to the best/most desirable mode? Some thoughts might be:
  • Basic/Pro -> basic functionality is free (Devices/Action Groups/Variables and web-based control pages); other features require an upgrade to a pro version via... market? in-app purchase? PayPal donation?
  • Free Trial -> the app has full functionality for a limited amount of time, after which a purchase is required
  • Donation with Nag -> donation based but every week or so a notification pops up to remind you to donate
  • Pure Donation Model -> donation-only, relying on the good nature of people (HA!)

Any thoughts on the subject? I realize some people would just say "free all the way", but keep in mind that money is what drives abilities to continue development through hardware & software licenses, coffee on the desk, food in the stomach, etc. :-)

Thanks!
Adam

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 4:32 pm
by roussell
I got a decent way into the same thing with the intention of open-sourcing it. I still intend to finish it, but have ran into personal problems that have been consuming my time/resources. I will soon be changing phones and am looking at a non-apple phone for the first time since iPhones have been available. I'll probably get the Nexus 5 so I'll definitely want to finish the code then. So, I don't want to undercut any monetizing opportunity you may be working on, but there will be an open source version at some point...

Some of the initial conversation:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5810&start=30

BTW, as to your question - If I did something like you were thinking, I'd probably still give away, or open source a basic version that allows basic functionality - minus custom control pages - since that's really a trivial part of the overall client (I think I knocked out basic functionality in a weekend or so). Then a separate paid (reasonable) version that is targeted toward JUST control pages and includes custom features that allow for an immersive kiosk-like experience. Some of the thread above covers a little of that.

Good luck!

Terry

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 4:52 pm
by RogueProeliator
Yeah, I've watch the previous thread over time and there have actually been several starts-and-stops on a client by various users over the last year or so, it seems... but nothing has come to fruition.

I want to have at least some level of the application that is free - who knows, depending on how much or the pricing model that is decided upon, you may not have to finish your client! ;-)

BTW, did you get all the way to working on native control pages in your client? Do you realize how incredibly difficult they have made it to create a scrollable/zoomable layout that extends beyond the screen boundaries? The AbsoluteLayout was depreciated and now everything is designed to adapt to screen sizes.

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:39 am
by RogueProeliator
FYI, for anyone interested I have about decided just to do it on a donation-based model. Should have a beta available very shortly - will post some screenshots and such when one is ready; if anyone is interested in helping me do some beta testing in the meantime, let me know.

I'll see about having a forum added to my plugins forum once a name is decided upon.

Adam

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:50 pm
by mark_anderson_us
RogueProeliator wrote:
FYI, for anyone interested I have about decided just to do it on a donation-based model. Should have a beta available very shortly - will post some screenshots and such when one is ready; if anyone is interested in helping me do some beta testing in the meantime, let me know.

I'll see about having a forum added to my plugins forum once a name is decided upon.

Adam


Any update on beta Adam?

Regards

Mark

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:51 pm
by RogueProeliator
Any update on beta Adam?

Beta is available... see this forum for an introduction and installation information.

Adam

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 1:43 pm
by mark_anderson_us
Looks great Adam

I have 3 wall mounted Kindle Fire's so it'll be great if it runs on those?

Does it display floorplans (Control pages?)

Regards

Mark

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 2:13 pm
by RogueProeliator
It should run on any device with 4.0 and above... I can't remember if the Fire's let you side-load applications, but I believe you still can in some way (this is a requirement during the beta period as it won't be released to application stores yet).

Yes, it displays control pages -- right now the support is very basic; those will be enhanced with more capabilities in the fairly near future. The "WebView" version, which is displaying the pages in a customized web browser inside the app works fine, it is what I use on my consoles and devices. A native display and more options such as locking the device to a control page, launching directly to a control page, launching a control page based on an Indigo action, etc. is coming...

Adam

Re: Android Native Client Pricing Opinions

PostPosted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 4:19 pm
by mark_anderson_us
Thanks. You can sideload apps. Had to do it when I first got HomeSeer's HSTouch