Android News
OpenHome and Better Keyboard developer banned from Android Market…again
August 12, 2011 | by Andrew Kameka
Android Apps
Better Android has been banned from the Android Market, seemingly for good this time. After first being booted from the Android Market last week without explanation, and then creating a new account a few days ago, the Better Android team was banned once again after Google said it would not restore its developer account.
There’s a good chance that you’ve used an app made by Better Android, especially in Android’s earlier days when the default UI fell short of user expectations. Open Home provided a better home screen with themes and more features, Better Cut made it possible to customize home screen icons, and Better Keyboard offered a nicer keyboard capable of loading themes. Better Android was responsible for all of that.
Skins and themes may also be what did in Better Android. The developer posted themes from users, some of which violated copyright information, but – according to the developer – it stopped posting any theme that could be considered a copyright violation months ago. That was too little too late as Google suspended the Better Android, Android Market citing repeated violations of Market rules.
Due to the violation of themes associated with Open Home, all apps were removed from the Android Market. That’s because Google doesn’t just ban apps; it bans developers and effectively removes any chance that the offending party can fix the problem. The Better Android team found that a bit harsh and I’m inclined to agree with them. Google did a terrible job of policing the Android Market for 2 years, establishing rules and not enforcing them with any consistency. Google allowed Open Home skins that violated copyright to rise to the top of the Market charts, then warned Better Android to stop the practice, only to ban them months later even after it stopped posting themes. That seems silly.
Anyone who purchased and used Better Keyboard, Open Home, and other Better Android apps will no longer be able to access those titles through the Android Market. The company plans to start supporting the Amazon Appstore and SlideMe instead.
via Better Android
I sympathize with these developers as I'm sure they've put a lot of work and resources into their apps. I also own Better Keyboard so I'm dissapointed I won't be able to use it anymore. Having said that, the terms Google laid out for apps in the market have been clear for a long time and the developer agreed to them when they signed up to publish apps in the market. Though, they may have violated the terms without being punished it still stands that they were violating their obligations from the developer agreement. It's with Google's rights to enforce these terms, and it's good they've started to take a closer look at the apps in the market, but it's not Google's obligation to continually monitor all apps for compliance at all times. I'm sure it's dissapointing for Better Android but it's their own failure to abide by the terms of the market which initiated this issue. The bigger problem I see here is to do with communication between Google and Android Market developers. When violations like this occur, Google needs to have a clear consistent process, and focus on bringing developers into compliance rather than barring them from the Market without reasonable recourse. This relationship seems very one-way right now, without a way for developers to collaborate with Google. This is consistent with the way Google provides customer support and contact for other Google products. Communication and responsiveness to customers is the biggest area where I think Google has continually failed and this is just another case of this larger problem.
You can still use it if it's on your phone or have a backup of the apps, you just can't get any updates for those apps anymore from the market.
@ MarkBennett – I totally agree!
I certainly think that Google should take action when their TOS is violated by developers, but a complete ban seems a bit much. Most criminals are given second chances. They were informed of the infraction, they corrected the infraction. Months later, after they're allowed to believe that the correction was satisfactory to allow them to continue operations, which they did, they get banned. Awful communication and service. A tiered approach seems more logical to me. 1st infraction their warned and given 30 days to comply. 2nd infraction, no warning (but an explanation should be provided by email), the app is banned, not the developer. 3rd infraction by the developer they're banned. Google could skip the second infraction and only do #1 and #3 and it would still be better than their current policy. Right now they just look like assholes.
dare i ask about any chance for a refund? and whats another good home replacement?
You probably wont get a refund because apps have been around for so long. Other replacements I'd recommend are Go Launcher, LauncherPro, and ADW Ex
im lovin some go launcher! i just can't for the life of me get goweather working. i d/l it but it never shows up?
I’m sure they will b a place to download it straight from the browser….
Well I happened to like the better keyboard. So this is what you do. you make it available to download from your Web Site just like 91 Panda Home Screen 2 they banned them from Android Market but you can get the App from their Web site. So no excuses Please bring back the Better Keyboard you don't need the Android Market. Lets do this.
I decided to join this forum in order to gain knowledge and information on computers and technology. I am returning to school after a couple of years and I have decided to study Information Technology.
Por favor dígame que usted va a seguir con esto! Es tan excelente y tan importante. No puedo esperar a leer adicional de su parte. Me siento como si supieras lo sustancial y sé cómo hacer que la gente escuche lo que tienes que decir. Este blog es simplemente demasiado frío para ser perdido. Buen material, en serio. Por favor, POR FAVOR ¡Seguid así!
Ma mère avait l’habitude de me donner le même conseil exacte