As you all know, every second Wednesday evening we record the Ausdroid Podcast. It’s sometimes a challenge to keep the podcast fresh, interesting and relevant to the rapidly changing world of Android! In an effort to keep this fresh feel going, a week from today (Dec 14th) we will be having a discussion with a couple of Australian Based Developers as part of the fortnightly podcast.

Russell Ivanovic from Shifty Jelly and Christian Mengler from myUsage have both now agreed to join us for a bit of a chat about the good, the bad and the downright ugly in the world of Android development. There is 1 more developer who is quite well known that we’re also trying to secure time with for this podcast but are unable to name them at this time due to potential time restraints that my prevent their appearance. While the Ausdroid team have plenty of questions for these guys, we’d like to be able to ask them your questions!

If you would like to ask these developers a question send me an email – [email protected]
We look forward to having these guys on the podcast and look forward to giving them your questions.

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    Guest

    I find it funny that so many of you have comments on my question I posted, but yet no one has bothered to post any questions related to the post for the devs….. Ahh pomdroid, you have done it again!

    Benjamin Dobell

    Perhaps that’s because other people here can read and don’t jump to conclusions about all sorts of things? i.e. developers stealing other developers work. If you took the time to read the article you’d realise that it specifically asks you to e-mail. No-where does it state you should post inflammatory statements and accusations, thinly veiled as questions, for public consumption as article comments.

    Guest

    Deadbeat read my first post… It was emailed as well… Nothing saying you can’t do both!

    So what your saying in your world its OK to steal from others cause it happens? So do you often shop lift? Drive away after filling up your car without paying? Cause these things happen too….. So it’s okay by your standards!

    Pomdroid users have no morals it seems ……

    Benjamin Dobell

    “yet no one has bothered to post any questions related to the post for the devs” – You’re clearly stating that you’ve seen no-one post their questions. You clearly therefore expect them to be posting them as comments, meaning you didn’t read the article, either that or skimmed over it and jumped to conclusions. You’re the one repeatedly writing “porndroid” and accusing others of theft, yet you’re claiming “everyone else” has no morals. I suggest you take one good look at your attitude and maybe then you’ll understand why you’re in this predicament. Better yet, you could post an apology… Read more »

    Guest

    Put your glasses on…. It’s POMdroid not porndroid!

    Or maybe your low morals jumped straight to the gutter?

    Move on… Let it be, find someone else to get on your soapbox about.

    Guest

    While I’m going here… Just to keep it level and all, a question for Russell now. If he could talk a bit more about the piracy issues on android and differences in levels of software being pirated between iOS and android. He has touched on it briefly in a blog post before.

    Level380

    (sent in email, but post here as well)

    Hi Phil,

    Yes I have a question for Christian the maker of myUsage application.Does he care to explain why his application is a complete copy of anexisting application in the market, that one being Quota(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.southfreo) which was around first on iOS and well before myUsage on android?

    Comparing screenshots from the android market, the Home screen layouts are the same!

    https://lh5.ggpht.com/QtznIhK99c7P1XNwSql7giuHtDddsrMb2JYDWHUXZkvIVoEu0NeJz_D0mLF-3SZzZ6ip

    vs

    https://lh5.ggpht.com/-PTGizHFgMO2q9vjXSNN9YzihYUBMPzfyV5oOjJF3ujykCvT3VaJ2kbsLbIeFdc99zLA

    Account detail screens are pretty much the ‘same’ as well

    https://lh5.ggpht.com/xNGMr7Cd7zHj0Qq8kBOT3r791kR7T-p-QPn0sRFHKtHpBrn_9JpY1Glfo0IePMpct-8

    vs

    https://lh3.ggpht.com/aogMWW3vlRDLudw3IPIVUenXtfjHklWDmO7nhNTjahzA7W9EOISsoUCdCT6oZYyQA42k

    Thanks

    Benjamin Dobell

    Are you kidding. They’re both extremely simple user interfaces. Nonetheless I’m sure both developers would have put a lot of effort into developing their apps. It’s not exactly like usage apps are a new concept. Before you make public accusations (about stupid things) I seriously suggest you think about the ramifications of what you’re saying.

    Guest

    You are correct, the  developers put a lot of work in but with one adjustment. One developer put a lot of time and effort in designing the layout and UI look for their product, another developer came along and did a blatant UI copy of another application and is now passing it off as their own design.If this is truly a simple user interface as you put it, show me other applications from anywhere in the world that have this look?Your logic is a little flawed, So its not ok for me to point out that these two applications home screens… Read more »

    coder

    “blatant UI copy” is exaggeration on your part. Unless, of course, you can prove that the developer literally copied the layout.xml files and tweaked them a little. Refer to my reply to your reply to me above.

    Your other point is along the lines of ‘developers, why don’t you fricken do something different, use your imaginashunz!’- I totally agree, but the first app hasn’t done anything different to begin with. It’s pretty average, repetitive shit, again and again…and yes it looks very similar coz its the same content essentially, but a different smell each time.

    coder

    Lol! So what you’re saying is that Android developers need to have a more cluttered user interface and never ever use rectangles?

    Guest

    No thats not what I said at all, what I said that maybe one Android developer shouldn’t do a blatant copy of another application in the market that is doing the same function for the same user base. I have no problem with them copying function, its when they copy the UI of the application that becomes a problem. Looking at the two home screens side by side you could swear they are twins! Its clear that some UI sharing has been happening here, everything down to the screen layout, UI spacing and placement of buttons is the same, including… Read more »

    Luke Monahan

    I’m only really familiar with myUsage, other than looking at the Quota market page.

    myUsage does use the menu button. Press it… it does stuff.

    Have a look at my app screenshots (not available to buy in Australia, but the screenshots are informative enough):

    https://market.android.com/details?id=com.spottydog.tt

    Similar also? Even though functionality is entirely different. It’s because I (as well as many others) have used standardised UI practices and elements.

    You can read about (e.g.) the ActionBar here: http://www.androidpatterns.com/uap_pattern/action-bar

    Some of the other patterns on website are followed by both apps, and hundreds if not thousands of others.

    Guest

    Your example app does look like a ‘twin’ at all to the two I have in question………

    coder

    Out of interest, do you wear glasses?

    There’s definitely very similar UI elements between all 3 apps there. Just because his example App chucks in a TabWidget and some progressbar-ish things, remove them and hey presto – sameseys!

    Guest

    I do find it funny that people get so worked up over this…. Why is it?
    I point out two apps look the same, and I’m worst person in the world. How dare I say things like that in public, no it doesn’t they look like all other apps blah blah blah. but I can’t really find an app it looks like it, but its a simple app so it can be copied…..

    This place should be called pomdroid…..

    Guest

    Looking similar is totally different to a UI copy…..

    My viewpoint is my viewpoint… These UI look like they are copied of each other, deal with it, I’ve said it, I don’t really care what you think, move on. Its my viewpoint.

    Luke Monahan

    It may be your self important and accusatory tone that has people worked up, if at all.

    They are similar UIs. So are many applications. I don’t know why that’s such an issue for you that you would be so acerbic.

    Here’s yet another one with icons on the left, title in the middle and detail on the right in a list view. You might recognize it? Maybe compare it to the first screenshot you linked from Quota if you have trouble understanding what I mean.

     http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-e06f1q-QQE/SLbXI1U1D5I/AAAAAAAAAGU/PXiiPQS42q0/s320/4.png

    Guest

    It’s not the same ui look. We’re is the menu bar at the top? Yawn…. Try harder

    Guest

    BTW I’m aware of the ActionBar …… Are you trying to say that the twitter ActionBar as per your example looks the same!? HAHAHAHA

    coder

    Lol again, dude you’re really vexing about this hey…yet u got it so wrong.

    My comment was a checky reference to how Apple (douches) have insisted Samsung change their Galaxy Tab design to be less of a ‘blatant copy’ of the iPad. I literally, blatantly copied Apple’s line there. Oh the Lulz.

    Are you sure that Quota didn’t copy from umpteen pre-existing quota like UIs? Also, perhaps you shoul provide really, really fine detail as to what’s been “blatantly copied” from Quota’s UI – prove to me it’s not just rectangles and uncluttered UI. Go on, do it.

    Guest

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. My viewpoint is my viewpoint… These UI look like they are copied of each other, deal with it, I’ve said it, I don’t really care what you think, move on. Its my viewpoint.

    God this place should be called pomdroid!

    coder

    Pretty sure if you were up to the challenge of specifying exactly what parts of the UI are “blatantly copied” it’d boil down to:
    – use of rectangles as content containers,
    – uncluttered interface,
    – use of round corners.

    But thats just my personal oppinion of how childish your arguement has been thus far.

    Guest

    Yawn…. Loser just let it go.. Go find someone else on Pomdroid to moan too..

    Matt

    I’ll only add that Quota seems to be abandoned anyway.. 

    Guest

    While it seems from the comments that the product is abandoned, I’m an active PAID user and have no current issues with it, its working well for me and I have a rather large listing of accounts its checking.

    Regardless, just cause a product SEEMS abandoned, it doesn’t mean you can steal another companies UI and pass it off as your own.

    coder

    Really? you can’t say make a game called Retardtris that blatantly copies Tetris’ design and functionality? I agree with you, no imaginashunz is whack and should be frowned upon (points at all the same shit smelling weather Apps around), but I strongly disagree with you saying myUsage is a “blatant copy” of Quota’s UI.

    Guest

    If you ‘strongly disagree’ the UI look the same, then you need to get some glasses. Once again, I have no issue with the dev coping the functioning idea of the application, its borrowing the UI I have the issue with…. read all my many many replies on this, they all say the same thing. Speaking of which, this thread has gone on way too long, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. My viewpoint is my viewpoint… These UI look like they are copied of each other, deal with it, I’ve said it, I don’t really care… Read more »