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Google Starts Charging a Signup Fee For Chrome Extension Developers
trooperer writes "On Thursday, Google introduced two significant changes in the Google Chrome Extensions Gallery: a developer signup fee and a domain verification system. The signup fee is a one-time payment of $5. The announcement says its purpose is to 'create better safeguards against fraudulent extensions in the gallery and limit the activity of malicious developer accounts.' Developers who already registered with the gallery can continue to update their extensions and publish new items without paying the fee."
Google also made available a developer preview for the Chrome Web Store.
Seriously, what kind of developer would even notice a $5 charge? Even modestly successful apps make over $500 per day.
1000s Warcraft Gold while you sleep
You talk about "ipod touch" upgrade prices where fanatics gathered and memorized entire SEC guidelines to answer. E.g. why not charge $1 instead of $10 if you have been required to do so.
Tip: Paypal does same for same purpose and charges $1, to put it back in 24 hours. Does Google do it? Or they can't afford? (!)
It shows what you can expect from their so-called free and open source browser. In fact, everytime they do it, they prove GNU/FSF "nitpicking" about the FOSS and plain "open source".
I don't want to make anyone feel guilty or cheap but I personally know some open source developers who can't even afford a $30 external disk and development stops until they get some kind of donation. Yes, popular too.
It is charged from extensions. Man, really does apple.com or google.com has some very advanced background mind programming graphic so some people becomes rather like cult members?
If there is, they better enhance the contrast, I keep flipping out every day without my "program".
I personally know some open source developers who can't even afford a $30 external disk and development stops until they get some kind of donation.
College students in the United States have to pinch every penny because if they do get a job, half of what they earn goes to state and federal income taxes and the other half goes to the "Expected Family Contribution" on the FAFSA, which takes away from grant and loan eligibility.
It seems that moderator modded me as troll will donate thousands of dollars to open source/free extension developers or pay to Google on behalf of them.
You can actually see what Google trust to.These "volks".
So, black hats who dares to play around with Google giant's browser can't find a CC number to give to them.
Sure... Man they could be using CC number printed papers as toilet paper.
For example, this team/guy who coded this marvellous piece of evil software who controls 5 million computers via unbreakable, declared WONTFIX by security elite, zombie army will have hard time finding a $5 CC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker
If you have time, read all about it. "Get users credit card number" validation scheme is over. Completely over.
Likely 99% of extensions, especially open source ones aren't business, they are favor to greater community.
Really, why do they invest millions of dollars to make zombie armies? To spam? It is so over.
In fact, they can even SWIFT the money, via stolen bank account. SWIFT/Bank is way more secure. (here comes $10 idea for Google)
It's like Google just stopped marketing itself as the good, open giant. Have the hired all the best hackers already?