Ubuntu Software Store: What it does, and how you can help

[Matthew Paul Thomas]

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Matthew East wrote on 27/08/09 20:20:
> 
> On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 7:49 PM, Przemek
> Kulczycki<przemekkulczycki at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 8:31 PM, Matthew East<mdke at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>...
>>>> Now, AppCenter has a brand name: the Ubuntu Software Store.
>...
>>> Doesn't "store" imply that the user will be paying for the software?
>>> I really liked "center".

"Center" was unfortunately off-limits because it lacks cross-Atlantic
compatibility, i.e. it differs in US English vs. British English
spelling, and foreign spelling irritates people. ("Catalog" had the same
problem.)

>> Only for the Americans I guess :)
>> Those who learned British English will understand store as a
>> warehouse/stock.
> 
> Well, I don't know any free warehouses either... But I'm British, and
> my primary understanding of a "store" is an online or physical place
> where I can purchase things. Anyhow, Ubuntu's primary locale is US
> English, so I think a discussion of the name should proceed on the
> basis that the name should work in US English.
> 
> I can see from the spec (and LP answer 81103) that it will be possible
> to purchase software from this app in the future, but it will also be
> possible to get software for free there, and for that reason I think a
> neutral name that fits both is preferable.

The nifty thing about "store" is that it has those two meanings -- shop,
and repository -- and both of them are appropriate. But you're right
that the shop meaning is more prominent. So as long as the Store doesn't
yet contain paid software, we're counteracting that by using the section
heading "Get Free Software" in the navigation, and "Price: Free" in the
screens for individual applications.

Unfortunately the naming was one thing that had to be done within
Canonical, for boring legal reasons.

Cheers
- --
Matthew Paul Thomas
http://mpt.net.nz/
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