There are still some questions about whether HTML5 apps are the way of the future or just a problem to avoid, but Amazon is making at least one aspect of it a little easier: monetization.
"Starting today, developers can set a list price for their web apps, giving them another way to monetize web content to Amazon Appstore customers in nearly 200 countries across the globe," wrote Amazon's Jesse Freeman in a blog post. "Prior to this update, web apps published to the Amazon Appstore were automatically set to free. In the latest update developers can now set a list price in specific currencies based on the local markets they're publishing their web apps to. This is great news for developers looking to publish their first web app to the Amazon Appstore, and the feature is now retroactive to all web apps that have already been published."
The news immediately caught the attention of developers on Twitter, who sounded positive about the move.
Exciting stuff. Developers can sell their HTML5 web apps on Amazon Appstore. http://t.co/3OGcQ75Wav
— Sammy (@SubriseSammy) January 30, 2014
wow, can't believe I missed this news. Amazon selling web apps https://t.co/BnytccTjyh
— Matteo Spinelli (@cubiq) January 30, 2014
Great things are happening for HTML 5 apps this week Amazon: http://t.co/l5ijeBszkf Google: http://t.co/Z32IxwnCFc #HTML5 #webapps
— Flemming Hoffmeyer (@FHoffmeyer) January 29, 2014
For a few experienced devs, Amazon's move could be what gets them thinking more seriously about Web apps again.
You can now sell HTML5 Web apps on Amazon's Appstore http://t.co/NveTkeeYGr via @thenextweb >> Dusting my JQM skills....
— Chikere E (@Chykere) January 28, 2014
As always, there was some suggestion that Amazon and others should have offered this kind of support for HTML5 from the get-go.
Finally ! Amazon Appstore Now Allows Developers To Charge For HTML5 Web Apps http://t.co/X18C3y6zqS
— axel hoehnke (@axelhoehnke) January 29, 2014
For the most part, though, devs seemed to see Amazon's move as a cause for industry-wide celebration.
finally paid html5, awesome day for the internet Amazon Appstore Now Allows Developers To Charge For HTML5 Web Apps http://t.co/LeOUl1y1cV
— alipasha (@alipasha) January 29, 2014
No matter what Amazon or anyone else does, however, HTML5 will continue to have its dissenters.
Good news, You can sell HTML5 apps. Bad news, there is no good HTML5 apps! http://t.co/BbTo6yIDLp
— Ouriel Ohayon (@OurielOhayon) January 28, 2014