Linked by Amjith Ramanujam on Thu 24th Jul 2008 04:32 UTC, submitted by snydeq
Mark Shuttleworth today urged development of Linux models to rival what Apple has done on the desktop and mobile devices. Certainly on the desktop experience, we need to shoot beyond the Mac, but I think it's equally relevant [in] the mobile space, Shuttleworth said, outlining the challenge as figuring out how to deliver a 'crisp and clean' experience, without sacrificing the community process. Key to this will be services-based mechanisms for creating revenue for free software that go beyond advertising, Shuttleworth said, adding that cadence in free software releases spurs innovation, and that a regular release schedule, as well as meaningful ties to Windows, will be essential to fulfilling the vision.
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Member since:
2005-12-02
"I believe such a free software "service" as the one I'm proposing here would be very profitable for small developers and developer teams who wish to free their software for whatever reason (the reason could be political or simply a wish to avoid the legal problems tied to defending copyrights and patents on a proprietary app in court) but still profit from it."
Personally, I think it would put the small software developers out of business. Shareware worked/works as it lets people try something, but then to get full functionality/game levels/etc you have to pay for it. Under the model you are proposing, the developers would be under. It would cost more to make the DVD's or whatever and out on store shelves then they would take in. Unfortunately the majority want free as in beer, and can care less about scruples or free as in freedom when it comes to software. Why spend $5-$10 when, if the source is released and the program is GPL, I can legally download it elsewhere at no cost at all? The anti-piracy schemes we see today are the result of people doing just that, not the fault of the software developers that want to make money. It is all about the money my friend, nothing else matters to most folks. The way I understand your post, there would be hundreds of thousands spent for packaging and such, yet little to no income from the product. I would like to believe otherwise, however I do not from looking at normal human nature.