This is a blog post from the front page of the amazon developers site:
Just to be clear, that post uses the word "Android" 10 times.
The Fire runs on Android 2.3. Period.
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OUYA - A new $99 console powered by Android [Kickstarter ended, $8.5 million funded]
- Thread starter GK86
- Start date
This is a blog post from the front page of the amazon developers site:
Just to be clear, that post uses the word "Android" 10 times.
The Fire runs on Android 2.3. Period.
Now, keep in my I could be wrong because I don't own a Kindle Fire myself, but from a video on Youtube, it seems to be called Store on the OS and inside the app it's just called Apps.
Is this not actually the case?
element
Member
That is the name of the store, period. Amazon tries to avoid using the name on the device, but that's what it's called, and on the Fire product page they say, for example:
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Dynamite Shikoku
Congratulations, you really deserve it!
I just want to know, what os does kindle fire run on?
toadster101
Banned
This. It's clearly a scam. People are just blindly hopping on the "new kid on the block" bandwagon.
A modified version of 2.3 I believe
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
It may be doomed from the start, but it's not a scam. I guarantee everyone who has pledged gets their system. Now getting it in the timely manner they are hoping for is another story.
Yeah. Read Matt's post just a few posts up.
element
Member
How can you make such a guarantee? There is no guarantee. I personally don't think the money from kickstarter is enough to allow them to build the 35,000 units, support system, store, infrastructure, and marketing.
The scam is how they are marketing it. With lies and contradictions.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
I don't know what to tell you other than if you don't trust them with your money, obviously don't donate. Nothing wrong with that. I have faith that they will deliver at least the systems to the kickstarters. Saying it is a scam implies they are going take peoples money and run, I don't believe this.
DiscoJer
Member
And there is a camp (like that Brad Getz guy) that is the exact opposite, thinking that the device will cost only $40-50 to make (based on existing products) and they are simply pocketing the rest.
Beyond that, that's sort of the whole point of Kickstarter. A way to give projects a chance that might otherwise not exist. A chance, not a guarantee of anything. Yes, it might not happen. If you don't think so, then don't pledge.
All marketing puts the product in the best light possible. Look at TV commercials, most boil down to "If you use this product, attractive members of the sex you like will be interested in you" or more broadly, "If you use this product, you will experience the lifestyle and activities shown in the commercial" - which is usually attractive people, but like for products aimed at older products, it's usually your family and grandchildren visiting.
onken
Member
Almost 5 million, that is insane. It's not the sort of thing I would buy but definitely something I can support, really hope it works out.
Not to be all grammar Nazi on you or anything but seriously, barf.
Not to be all grammar Nazi on you or anything but seriously, barf.
element
Member
I don't think they are taking the money and running. They are taking the money and running to seek larger investments from VC groups. If they are unable to secure additional funds, I highly doubt that they will be able to manufacture the boxes they have already 'sold'.
The scam is the snake oil sales tactics they are using to sell the product. The well crafted video alludes to it having Minecraft, but it doesn't. Madden? Nope.
They talk about how 'You could write a game for your Apple IIe and take it to market'. Well you can do that now. There is nothing stopping someone from making a game and selling it on their own website.
Is it hard to get on a console? Of course. That is brand protection. I really don't want 200,000 games on my console with countless knock offs, poor quality, buggy, and repackaged games.
My issues with this is I think Kickstarter is the inappropriate place for something like this. If they wanted to pre-order it, then do it on your own website. The fact that this is a gimmick to generate buzz to then seek larger VC who will get PAID for their contributions is what I find dirty. The people that are advisors have many of millions of dollars and also have the connections to get in touch with the right people. Kickstarter to me is for people who don't have those connections.
Elfforkusu
Member
They're playing fast and loose with this a bit, there's no doubt -- but the bolded feels pretty silly to me. They're taking known parts and putting them in a custom case. A Chinese factory can crap out 50,000 of those in a couple months, so they probably have the rest of the year to putz around with design stuff.
The question marks are the controller, the interface (e.g. the custom Android distribution this is likely to come with), and the marketplace infrastructure. That might be it, unless there's something obvious I'm forgetting.
Sure they could take the money and run if they don't get the VC backing they want, but just because that's what you would do doesn't mean it's what they will.
re: There is nothing stopping someone from making a game and selling it on their own website. ... they're clearly talking about gaming on the television.
Truespeed
Member
element
Member
Then why use the Apple IIe analogy? They used it to trick you. They wanted an example of what you could do and what you can't do, even if it isn't an apples to apples comparison.
That is what they are doing. They are seeking outside partners. You think they are going to go into this with only their previous investment AND the kickstarter fund?
After KS fees, Amazon fees, federal/state taxes that $4.8m (right now) will be less. You also have to pay the staff involved. Pay fuseproject for their involvement and possibility repay previous investors.
Let me log in and see what this SDK has. Oh it has In-App Purchasing API. But I don't even have an app yet to do in-app purchasing, where do I start? Oh the Android SDK. Can't make anything on Kindle Fire without it.
It is SDKs and APIs. No need for the apostrophe.
Elfforkusu
Member
I think they won't take the money and run, but it's largely moot since it's pretty much a certainty (given the names) that they will find an "outside partner", e.g. an angel investor or ten.
The $4.8 million includes pre-orders, which is another way of saying that it covers the manufacturing costs (probably without much margin). It makes no sense to consider it the primary source of funding, because if it was they wouldn't be talking about running their own app store and facilitating ports.
Dreamwriter
Member
You keep saying that over and ove about how the only point of this campaign is to get VC's. OK. Where is your evidence? And while you're at it, where is an article saying these people have nothing to do with the company except investments, so their vast experience in getting hardware manufactured isn't going to help the Ouya get launched?
element
Member
Ed Fries is an advisor/investor.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/edfries
Ed is a serial angel investor. He provides insight and advice. He doesn't work for these companies. Do you think that he is in the board room each day helping out with the details on this?
Do you think he is 'working' for all of the following:
Dhruva Interactive
Airtight Games
Emotiv Systems
Timeplay
WildTangent
FigurePrints
BreakAway Games
Meteor Solutions (not the Hawken people)
Smoking Gun Interactive
Exponential Entertainment
Real Life +
Mixamo
Ogmento
[a]list games
Z2Live
Omek Interactive
Imimtek
Curse Inc
OUYA
The only 'employees' we know about currently are Julie Uhrman, formerly of VP of IGN and GameFly, Muffi Ghadiali formerly of Lab126 (Amazon), Robert Mills who is their community manager. Everyone else they have mentioned are advisors or paid consultants.
You can see the advisory board here.
https://angel.co/ouya#overview
If Ed Fries, Peter Pham, and Amol Sarva are involved as some think they are, why aren't they in the video?
Canis lupus
Member
Is there a video showing its interface?
element
Member
Canis lupus
Member
Thanks, looks alot like the Metro interface.
Dude, do you work at Ouya or something?
Sheesh. People are donating $120 on average to this project. They don't need to be working for them to be defending it.
Though I wonder how most will react if the production date gets pushed back. While I've said earlier the parts are easy to get and put together I forgot there are still issues that come from just configuring a production plant to make items. It took 1-2 years for manufacturing problems for startup computer keyboard projects I've been following to get fixed.
The preorders for those items don't compare in volume to this but it was a very stressful time. For a bigger venture like this any problems are going to flare up in the media and be magnified.
Thanks for the link element. It's good to know what type of support the Ouya project currently has ad this helps give people some idea. I found it interesting they have been getting surges in followers to their project on a periodic basis. They seem to have a basic scheduled plan on how to drum up support.
Though I wonder how most will react if the production date gets pushed back. While I've said earlier the parts are easy to get and put together I forgot there are still issues that come from just configuring a production plant to make items. It took 1-2 years for manufacturing problems for startup computer keyboard projects I've been following to get fixed.
The preorders for those items don't compare in volume to this but it was a very stressful time. For a bigger venture like this any problems are going to flare up in the media and be magnified.
Thanks for the link element. It's good to know what type of support the Ouya project currently has ad this helps give people some idea. I found it interesting they have been getting surges in followers to their project on a periodic basis. They seem to have a basic scheduled plan on how to drum up support.
Dreamwriter
Member
No, an article said that we know nothing about anybody related to the project, and many people/articles have said there's no way a company with no real experience could get a piece of hardware released with only $4 million. I was pointing out that there is a lot of expertise in manufacturing and releasing new hardware to the market directly associated with the company. So when someone says I'm wrong, I of course ask for evidence on that matter. I mean, think about it: why would an advisor with a financial stake in the company, not advise the company in matters they know about that could help the company?
Also, if someone keeps reporting over and over the same thing as fact, I like to know of he is just speculating or if he has evidence of this fact.
The $4 million plus will be used for manufacturing the kickstarter units. Marketing and setting up infrastructure don't come into it. And let's face it, the idea behind this kickstarter markets itself while common information and communication technologies negate a lot of the expenses that would formerly have been associated with setting up infrastructure.
The developers behind Hawken committing to it seems to have generated just such a surge. Deserved too, as that game looks simply amazing.
I fully agree with you. The expertise involved means things are unlikely to go awry at this stage. Many of the people commenting on this also seem to be over-estimating the complexity and cost of the technology involved here.
The developers behind Hawken committing to it seems to have generated just such a surge. Deserved too, as that game looks simply amazing.
I fully agree with you. The expertise involved means things are unlikely to go awry at this stage. Many of the people commenting on this also seem to be over-estimating the complexity and cost of the technology involved here.
Risible
Member
I decided to cancel my backing.
Once I thought it over I started to get worried. To build a fully featured box like that plus a controller that includes a toch screen in it and deliver it to consumers for only $99 seems almost impossible
If it actually gets to consumers it'll totally be worth the $99 even if no games ever materialize as it'll be an amazing XBMC machine. My main fear is that they find out that that can't deliver all those units on only the ~5 million they are going to raise.
Edit - the video they released also raised some red flags. Why so short? If you're going to release a video show some meat, not a quick flash in the pan type of thing.
Once I thought it over I started to get worried. To build a fully featured box like that plus a controller that includes a toch screen in it and deliver it to consumers for only $99 seems almost impossible
If it actually gets to consumers it'll totally be worth the $99 even if no games ever materialize as it'll be an amazing XBMC machine. My main fear is that they find out that that can't deliver all those units on only the ~5 million they are going to raise.
Edit - the video they released also raised some red flags. Why so short? If you're going to release a video show some meat, not a quick flash in the pan type of thing.
EternalGamer
Banned
You aren't alone. They were at over 50,000 consoles now they are back in the 40,000 range.
I changed too but for different reasons. I think it's a cool project and a cool toy. And if I had a lot of extra money, I'd still get one. But frankly, it is a bit redundant for me as I already have an Ipad and a TV hooked up to a PC.
weekend_warrior
Banned
That shows how many preorders are remaining. If they were losing backers then the amount of money funded would be going down, not up like it is.
Seriously you are thinking of this in the completely wrong way.
The bottom line is that the Ouya Kickstarter is a promise but not a guarantee to deliver units to the 30-50 thousand people who made a pledge. Considering the parts they are using it is extremely unlikely these people won't get their boxes.
But what about everyone else who decided not to pledge but instead wants to wait and see if those boxes are made?
When those units are released and the store/SDK is proven to not be garbage there will be a surge in demand for this item and it is unknown if the Ouya team can gain the capitol and manpower needed to supply people who didn't chip in.
That is the problem the Ouya faces. Anyone making the pledge now has a high chance of getting the box eventually. What they risk is ending up with a hackable emulation machine and nothing else because:
Anyone who didn't pledge wants an Ouya but can't get one because the team:
Failed to secure enough funding for full scale production
Or
Acquired the backing of investors but had to spread their money too thin on four key areas and went bust or ended up giving people a lackluster product.
The manufacturing of new units, buying up and supporting game developers to make first party titles, supporting devs to create and maintain their store infrastructure, and marketing budget.
Or
They just make a series of mistakes that delays the product's release and someone else (Steam or MS) release a comparable product and steals their thunder.
The risk of not getting a box is high for people who don't pledge. It is low for those who do pre-order.
The risk both share equally is on the follow through after the product's release. We don't know whether or not it can live up to the hype of becoming within a year:
An all in one emulator machine
An inexpensive quality media player.
An inexpensive gaming console.
A means to continue playing with your Android gaming library without it becoming broken by a new phone you get.
[edit]Came across a decent post on somethingawful with relevant links to back his source on information that isn't advertised as heavily but would make you more optimistic than negative.
Dreamwriter
Member
The controller does NOT have a touch screen. It has a track pad, which are cheap. There is no screen. And note, at least for the initial batch (the Kickstarter rewards), they are getting more than $99 for each one. Because not all pledges are for the device alone, some are even just to support it with no device offered. And some with devices are quite a bit more expensive than $99. Running the numbers as they stand, they are getting almost $140 for each device in the pledge (of which I'd bet the actual BOM is a fairly small percentage).
It's 3 minutes long, about the length of most Kickstarer videos, dunno what you expect there, considering right now it's a prototype board with no games and some renders of what the final product might look like.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Why are people cancelling? What news has shown in the past few days that have made this unreliable?
Interfectum
Member
Realization is setting in that this thing has a snowball's chance in hell of succeeding.
They got caught up in the hype.
Forsaken82
Member
The guy who made the fart app on Iphone was a developer to.
Canis lupus
Member
Because it doesn't make sense to support them at the moment. As a non-backer, you're in a win-win situation. If the console comes out, congrats, you can buy one. If it doesn't, you're not out $100 from backing the KS.
This is a very risky project with a number of unknowns. There's a high chance that the team won't deliver on their promises and this project could be a flop. Chancing $100 on the project when there's so much other cool stuff to spend it on doesn't make much sense.
This is android machine. You don't need developer kit to make an android app.
Therefore I don't see the point why people buy so called 'developer' kit for this thing.
Perhaps to test the controller/hardware/OS with your game that you developed on the android platform.
So instead of selling it to android market with potential of millions of customers, selling the app specially designed for perhaps less than 50k customers?
I really don't see the point.
You can't be serious.
weekend_warrior
Banned
Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm open to suggestions.