APOD App for Android

[blork]

Hi guys! I'm an Android developer. One of the first apps I started with over a year ago was my Astronomy Picture of the Day app. In the last few days I've updated it to add new features, such as a new UI for honeycomb tablets.

I'd love it if anyone with an Android device could try it out and let me know what they think. There are still a few teething problems with this latest version, so if you encounter any problems please get in touch!

App homepage: http://app.net/apod
Direct market link: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.blork.anpod

[Chris Peterson]

Personally, I find it rather offensive to see a free resource like APOD repackaged as a commercial app. If it isn't already a copyright violation or TOS violation, I'd like to see the APOD editors make it explicit that the material can't be commercially redistributed, which includes apps with overlaid advertising. If an image of mine accepted as an APOD shows up in an app like yours, you can expect a formal removal notice!

[blork]

I'm sorry that you feel that way. I have only added adverts into this latest version as I spent a considerable amount of time developing it, and felt that it would be a good way to recoup my losses, if you will. If there is a consensus that the use of ads is offensive, then I will be happy to remove them.

[Chris Peterson]

I'm sorry that you feel that way. I have only added adverts into this latest version as I spent a considerable amount of time developing it, and felt that it would be a good way to recoup my losses, if you will. If there is a consensus that the use of ads is offensive, then I will be happy to remove them.

I appreciate the effort involved in producing the app, and I have no inherent objection to applications being commercial or being supported by ads. I have apps on my phone with ads, and others that I've paid for to get ad-free versions. To be clear, my objection in this case has to do with the nature of APOD, which is highly non-commercial- the product of a great deal of volunteered effort on the part of the editors and site managers, as well as the free contribution of thousands of amateur and professional astronomers. I feel it is disrespectful of this effort to commercially repackage the content, and that the ad-supported version in particular is simply inappropriate.

[owlice]

I have an Android device; I will not be downloading this app, for the reasons Chris lists in his posts. (IOW, yes, it is offensive.)

[blork]

I don't know if this will make any difference to your opinions, but the app is open source and available from GitHub: https://github.com/blork/anpod.

[bystander]

New Media APOD-Related Content

We are aware of several "new media" venues that carry APOD-related content. Most of these are done on a volunteer basis and are not supported directly by APOD or NASA. In sum, APOD considers these to be mirror sites that make classic APOD content readable not in a different language -- but with different technology. Some of these venues might partially support themselves by carrying advertising next to uncopyrighted images. This seems OK to us and we have therefore given them permission to use APOD text as it seems to give a broader reach to APOD's educational mission. Please note that neither APOD nor NASA receives any part of any advertising revenue.

About image permissions:

All the images on the APOD page are credited to the owner or institution where they originated. Some of the images are copyrighted and to use these pictures publicly or commercially one must write to the owners for permission. For the copyrighted images, the copyright owner is identified in the APOD credit line (please see the caption under the image), along with a hyperlink to the owner's location. NASA images are in the public domain, official guidelines for their use can be found here. For images credited to other owners/institutions, please contact them directly for copyright and permissions questions.

Neither NASA nor APOD can grant permission to use copyrighted images. For use of these images, please write to the copyright owners.

The use of advertising with copyrighted images is a potential violation of copyright laws.
Many of the images used on APOD are copyrighted and used by permission.

[blork]

Hi guys, just updating you to let you know that I have removed all adverts from the app. I was unaware of the legal issues around using the APOD pictures, which was pretty naive of me. Sorry for any offence caused.

[geckzilla]

Meanwhile, I'm just offended by your lack of kerning!

I'm glad you removed the ads. I don't own an android phone but I can understand how much time you can dump into developing something like this, especially since APOD isn't exactly friendly to work with. Maybe one day that will change...