Android :: Share A Database Between A Free And Paid Version Of An Application
Oct 2, 2009
I have an application for which I am planning to release both a free and a paid version. I found that this will require the two versions of the application to each have different package names.
When a user upgrades from the free version to the paid version, the paid version needs to be able to access the database built by the free version. I am trying to understand the best way to make sure that upgrade does not disrupt the user's data.
I have read that the AndroidManifest file setting for shared user id should allow both applications to access the same data. I don't need the applications to both be running simultaneously, as I expect the user will uninstall the free version after upgrading to the paid version. However I need to make sure that if possible the user's data is not lost and is still accessible and usable by the paid version of the application.
I have read about a problem with the shared user id where uninstalling one application will cause the other shared application to stop working because its permissions get deleted, (see details at http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=2773 ) Apparently this issue is fixed in doughnut, but since all the currently deployed android phones do not have doughnut yet, this still seems like a significant problem.
In addition to the database information, I would also like to preserve the user's default shared preferences settings after the upgrade. However the default shared preference settings are not as critical as the data in the database.
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Jun 5, 2010
I have a free app in the market and use the data directory of the app to store some files. Now I think about offering a paid (donate) version of the app, so that people who want to pay a few pennys will be able to do so. But AFAIK the new (paid) app needs a new name, so I won't be able to use the stored data of the free version. That means, that existing users would have to re-enter a lot of personal settings - which probably would be a no-no for a lot of users. So my question: Is there a smart way to have a free and a paid version in the market, where the later installed payed version can use the data of the free version? I thought about using the SD-card for data storage, but there might be devices without any SD-card...
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Jun 10, 2010
I want to have a free version and a premium version of the same application. When people buy the application, I want them to be able to "upgrade" without losing their data, i.e. the premium version should install over the free version.I want to use the same code base and just switch a setting to build the premium version.
Andoid Market does not let me convert a free app to a paid app, so the trivial option is not available.I am curious if someone has tried this successfully. How does Android Market identify an application - will it think that the premium version is a different app and just install it in parallel?
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Apr 5, 2010
I used to be a C/C++ programmer before getting in to android. I am not sure how people maintain 2 versions of a program without using #ifdef preprocessor macros. Right now I am changing the package name in eclipse and changing the code manually, but this seems really inefficient. Can anybody suggest a good way of having 2 or more projects that share most of the code?
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May 25, 2010
I'm planning on getting LockBot when I get my EVO and I was wondering, what's the difference between the free version and paid version. I basically want the Moto Droid lock screen on my EVO for the slide to toggle sound on/off feature due to the lack of an external switch on the EVO. Would I be best to get the paid version or will the free version do that?
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Sep 23, 2010
Well I like this Browser a lot. What do you get with the paid version vs the Free one ?
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Aug 6, 2010
Anyone use Juice Defender free or paid version? Does it work on Froyo on the incredible? Is it worth paying for the paid version?
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Jun 17, 2010
Let's say for example that I have some Android app that does X. The free version has ads or basic features. I want to have a paid version that removes the ads and adds extra features. How can I use the paid app as a "license key" to unlock the features in the free app? So the user would install the free app, then install the paid app to get the extra features, but they would still run the free app (which would now be unlocked). What's the best approach to doing this?
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Oct 3, 2010
I just released Word Warz yesterday on the android market. Still looking for some valuable feedback! Tell me what your think about my first application.
Game Description:
Word Warz is a competitive spelling game. In the game players take turns adding letters to a board to spell a word. However, you don't want to be the last person to spell the word, because you will be out of the round. The strategy in the game centers around picking the letters at critical points that will force other players to spell a word. Also, a player can bluff by adding a letters that don't spell a word, and risk being called out by the next player. If a player calls a bluff, and the previous player was bluffing they are removed from the round. If the previous player wasn't bluffing the player that called the bluff is removed from the round. The last man standing during each round receives a point. The first player to 7 points wins the game.
Right now the game supports four offline human players, and 3 different computer players. The demo supports 2 players(either 2 human players or a human player versus chubs(the easy computer player)
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Sep 14, 2010
I already have a free app in the Android Market, but I want to add a paid-for version with better features. I can't upload the same up with some changed constants to unlock those features as the Market tells me I already have an app with that package name in the market.
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Jun 4, 2009
We have a paid app in the market place, we would like to release a demo of the paid app. I was hoping we could just recompile w/ the same package name, but apparently that does not work. I have tried manually changing package name etc, but it is a chore, and it seems that several things that automatically happen in eclipse cause more harm than good when renaming the package name. Which brings me to my next question. If having a new package name is the only way to accomplish this. Is there an easy way to fork the paid app, where keeping the changes synchronized is easier? Some kind of Source Control?
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Aug 22, 2010
Hw to get free android apps with 2.2 version on the backflip?
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Oct 30, 2010
I am releasing two versions of an app--free and paid. The differences between the two are few, and I would like to release both using the same codebase (maybe a different constant defined for the other build?). Has anyone done this? Can someone point me in the right direction?
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Jun 11, 2010
I have read on the market support that "If you have previously published an application for free, you cannot change it to have a price". But I was wondering, if at the contrary I change my app from paid to free and some time after I want to re change it from free to paid! Can I? And if yes, Have I to wait some period (I have read something like this in the contract)?
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Nov 17, 2012
1. You need a device running Android 4.2 (no root needed).
2. Create a new user as usual (follow the Android tutorial).
2.5. Verify everything is ok for this user.
3. Once done, go into this new user settings (don't switch back to your main/admin account).
4. Add a new account, this time use the Google account on which you paid for your apps.
5. During the add account tutorial, make sure you unselect ALL syncing stuff. Very important!
6. Go to settings / applications and deactivate all the apps you don't want the new user to access (ex: gmail, calendar, etc...).
7. Launch the Google Play Store and select your main account, make sure you protect application purchase by a PIN.
8. Installed a paid apps under this account.
9. Enjoy!
WARNING 1: I had an issue with Google+ when I deactivated it, it removed the updated version (so when I switched back to my main account, I needed to update the app through Play Store). May happen to other apps.
WARNING 2: I don't know if it's related or not, but in the process, I needed to reboot my Nexus 7, it was slow and unresponsive (a process or app was sucking a lot of CPU cycle). But, it did not happened again.
TIP: Use email app instead of gmail to sync the other user mails.
CAVEAT: Experienced users or clever children may find how to reactivate the apps you locked, so you may want tu use an app locker instead of the "deactivate method".
It's not perfect but it works, it's enough for me. My daughters will enjoy their games and I know they will not mess the system. Tested on my Nexus 7 but I'm pretty sure it will work on all Android 4.2 devices.
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Feb 22, 2010
this question is now obsolete, as Android Market includes much more countries and such services as PayPal Mobile Payments Library are available.I'd like to sell my Android application, but I live in Poland and in my country* Android Market supports only free apps (we cannot sell and we cannot buy too).What is the best way to sell application in such situation? I can accept PayPal money transfers, but I don't know how to distribute APK package without exposing it to getting pirated. Did someone tried it already and succeeded? you may be surprised, paid apps are supported only in 12 countries worldwide.
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Dec 20, 2009
Is there a way to convert a free app to a paid for ? Does not look like this option is available in the "upload an Application" page. What are the options ?
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Mar 4, 2009
From what I learn, a developer cannot convert his FREE app to a PAID app. I was looking out for some alternative ways to make this happen. I have an app with about 10K users. Users have their data stored inside the application. Lets call the existing FREE version com.my app I would like to sell my app for $10. How do I go about it? If I create a new application, it does not accept com.my app since it says I already have an app on the store with the same name. Create a new app: com.paid my app does not help because how do the existing 10K users get their data from FREE version (my app) to PAID version (paid my app)
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Nov 14, 2009
Hey guys this is my first post, so don't get upset, I am new. But anyway my question is this: what is the best way to get all paid apps for free? I hope I can do it straight off my android device, in my case the Motorola Droid.
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Apr 18, 2010
If I download an already paid for app on my phone for free, will I be able to update? I only have one because my friend gave it to me so I was just wondering.
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Nov 10, 2009
Looks like the Android Market currently does not allow apps that have been created as FREE to be changed to PAID app.
Is there any way around ? Is there any future plan to enhance this feature ?
Is anyone who have apps already published - experience handling this issue ?
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Sep 11, 2010
I just purchased Camera360 Pro and I downloaded & installed a scenery template. It shows up in file view on my SD card, but when I try to access it within the application it says 'No templates found...etc.' How do I have it show up within the app?
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Jul 20, 2010
I am developing an app which requires me to write to an SQLiteDatabase in one activity and access it from another activity . I am facing a problem implementing this. Any suggestions/ideas as to how we can share the database across multiple activities?
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May 5, 2010
On the iPhone, if I use my husband's iTunes account, then I can get the apps he's already purchased for free. Does the same work on the Droid? Does he need to use my google checkout account then? Or do you have to pay per phone?
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Oct 28, 2010
Is there a way to change free app into paid app in Market? I.e. you release com.foo.xxx as free but later you'd like to charge for app and drop free version completely.. I do not see anything like this in Market console at the moment. I know I can release com.foo.xxx.pro for example but my intention would be to keep package name as is so current users would see there's upgrade available. Alternatively, if there's no way to do that can I completely remove app from market so com. would be reusable for other app?
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Feb 8, 2010
I currently have a free application on the market and I'd like to offer a paid version of it as well. Once the paid version is installed, I want to import the db and shared preferences from the free version so users can un install it without losing anything. The problem is this: in my free version, I don't have a android:shared UserId set. If I add one, the app's id on the system changes and I can't access the data anymore. Both apps will be signed using the same certificate. How can I import the data without messing up the permissions of the free app?
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Oct 29, 2009
If I have a free version of a paid app in the Android market how can I place a button in the free app that opens the paid version in the market?
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May 31, 2010
Does anyone know of any good meditation apps, free or paid does not matter.
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Aug 12, 2010
I love my "Fancy Widget" Weather and Clock widget. Was wondering what some other good ones are. Doesn't matter if they are pay or not. New to the phone and I'm learning.
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Jan 19, 2010
I have a project which I want to split into a paid and a free version. I do not care to double my management of the res/ folder and would even like the Android Manifest.xml to be the same file except for the package line. Worrying little about hacking (at this stage - my app is not copy protected anyhow so other avenues of vulnerability are already open), it might be sufficient for me to have all the logic in the free app, and to enable/disable functions based on the app's own package info. What strategies have others used in this regard? I have soft-linked the source from a new Android Eclipse project folder tree to the existing one (the new is to become the paid version and the old one will become the free one with some logic paths being conditionally stubbed at runtime), reserving the new source file hierarchy in the new one to the sole purpose of containing an My Main Activity.java file (as it will need to be in a different package- folder than the one for the free app's). But the res folder appears as though it might be more difficult.
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