Okay... So I've been hearing about self hosting your app and been noticing buzztouch talking about this, but how does it work? I know this is how push notifications has to be done, but how does it work...does it go through buzztouch or does it go through my website Another questions: how do they download it on to their phone? I always thought it had to go through Itunes or Android Marketplace.... I want to update a lot faster then going through the long process itunes connect makes you do! Android is perfect, but itunes connect is driving me up a wall with their waiting! Let me know! p.s. I don't really know what answer I am looking for...I am shooting in the dark...sorry for the humble jumble

Howdy, What they're talking about is self-hosting your own BT Server: http://www.buzztouch.com/BT-server/ There are ways around iTunes and Google Play for distributing your app, but those are still the best, most recommended ways to go. Mark

The advantage of Android Market, Amazon Market and Apple's App Store is name recognition. People trust and recognize them and will use them. Could I interest you in turning over your credit card info Bob's App Store? Not as likely. So use PayPal when you wish to have your own app store. Many ways to close the deal. Fred

I've not considered this option before but are you saying that if I self-host I can allow people to download and install my apps from my site and completely by-pass Apple and Google and implement my own paymnet method eg PayPal and thus avoid Apple's 30% cut? I agree that the exposure I get through the Appstore etc counts for a lot but there's no harm in having as many outlets as possible. Are my assumptions correct? David

Bypass Google yes. Bypass Apple, more difficult. Most people don't nh jailbreak. Read installing on idevice: www.myskylla.wordpress.com Fred

Google's so flexible in this respect. Anywhere on the net where you can upload a file, you can upload an Android app file (apk). Of course, that leads to unscrupulous people decompiling apk's, adding their nasty bits, recompiling and suckering unsuspecting users.

Personally, I would recommend against bypassing Apple. Not only do you require your users to have jailbroken phones, which in itself raises tons of issues, but you risk getting on the bad side of Apple. Let's be honest about this...it's their game, so we should play by their rules. Whatever issues you may have with Apple (and I have several, being a PC guy), if you want to play in the iOS app game, you should do it by their rules. Just my two cents! Mark

Totally agree with Mark on this one. Once you go outside apple when developing iOS apps you are cutting yourself off from being an app developer than can go on the istore. I would say they have bigger fish to fry than a rogue app developer, but all that effort in making the app to risk being out of the loop is in my opinion crazy. Not everything apples does is great but like the Microsoft critics - try to find a better spreadsheet than Excel, I remember colleagues going on viscalc and Lotus spreadsheet courses. As useful as politicians going on sincerity courses!

Mark, stockcar racing is about extending the capabilities of cars. Some of the manufactures fought againt such innovations. Now they all embrace such innovations. If no one innovates with their products most vehicle manufacturers would pay for someone to do so. So, no it's not Apple's app game, it's our game, and Apple while free to tell you not to, has the same authority as the neighbor kid saying it's my ball you'll play by my rules. They sold the device, you can do with it as you please. It's not unethical or illegal to jailbreak. It maynot be productive, but that's another issue. Fred

Mark! I wish I could have 3 apps up in the itunes store!!! I am still waiting on review (3 rd day...no reply on how long or what is going on!) You would think they would have good customer support at least!

Thanks for all your input. I am in agreement with you that we should play by the rules and I am more than happy with the apps I have in the appstore and the exposure I get from that. Personally I wouldn't mind if Google tightened their act up a bit so that the promotion of Android apps was more consistent. My original question was just to clear things up in my mind and not trying to bend the rules. David

Fred, Fred, Fred Fred my furry friend Fred. I like you stockcar analogy although it leads to the wrong conclusion, F1 are the most expensive, fastest racing, innovative cars in the world where it has lead to some of the dullest racing. Nascar - generally suped up production car with only few innovations, great racing except track is a bit dull. For the cavalier few that innovate, jailbreak and customize, if you have the skill and are prepared to work outside of the arena then its ace, and some of the innovations they create are going to help. But in iOS overall most people have to use xcode - an apple product. I have had to update (forced I might add to lion just to use latest xcode, which I have to use due to upgrading phone to 5.01. If you use apple software anyone less skilled than the rogue coders might find themselves locked out. I know that open source is the way to go, but for most of us the barriers of a controlled market are the most suited. I appreciate that some want to hack into skynet and control orbital satellites to get MBA updates, I just want to upload an app and play in my user friendly playground. To me istore is controlled, a little pretenscious but overall structured and good for most users The Android market is more open, a lot of dubious apps, some gems, but little concern for checking if app drains battery, check unwarranted data, whether app has photoshoped Sarah Palin in playboy regalia. I like the structured approach for me but appreciate that other like are more open and untested arena PS Fred did you watch the film Wargames as kid

@Marko, protest too much. I did say, for Apple more difficult. If your app is only installable or functions in jailbroken phones, that's your market. I'm sure some of those apps have more installs than 99% App Store apps. Only a few App Store app are very successful. Most are not. I'm not saying there are not many useful apps, I'm just saying that there's only a few very successful apps. The operative word is 'very'. So if your app will do better on jailbroken phones, why would you limit yourself by following 'rules' that are not rules. I understand most apps are not apps that need jailbreaking. But then again most app users don't know or need to Xcode. Knowing options just makes us better developers. Now I need to get back to finishing the killer app that the one million T-Moblile USA customer can use. (plus 10 million Chinese), but since that's too small a market for you, you shouldn't bother learning about jailbreaking. I understand you only produce apps that have 11 million plus installs. Mine are in much (very much) less demand. Fred

Dearest Fred You made me smile on the last comment. You win on the line knowing options makes us better developers, I definitely concede that point. Where you need my guidance is in the governance of stages. When I taught biology I had the most rascally children come to my lessons and learn, and do experiments through there lunch. The caution was if you go to Mr O'Leary lesson prepare for the craziness of experiments, the bad language and the off tangent teaching. I had more children in my extra lessons at lunch than most have in there lessons. However there was a caveat with the knowledge I applied. Somethings are good to use but there are consequences. I would cautiously teach those students that are beginning to question science to build a foundation of knowledge. Your guidance on the more extended versions of app development need people to get used to the basics first and the rules of that, then extend. I am off now to read myskylla guide on how to get 11 million chin-ease downloads. (who said hypocrisy was dead)