Google Starts Charging a Signup Fee For Chrome Extension Developers 132
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.
Re:Never fails... (Score:3, Informative)
It would be nice if they waived fees for people who have had active gmail accounts for > 4 years, or something like that. Any geek worth their salt has had an account since mid-2005. I'm no developer, but I've tinkered around with extensions before in the past, just to see what they can do. Had there been a $5 fee in place, I'd have never jumped that hurdle to just poke around with the code.
Re:say... (Score:3, Informative)
Last I checked Apple does not charge for the ability to develop Safari extensions and have them appear in the extension gallery.
I believe you must be thinking of something different Apple charges for; you don't need a WWDC subscription to write safari browser extensions and publish.
Re:The $5 ... (Score:1, Informative)
Stolen credit cards aren't cheap.
Actually, they're free.
Re:say... (Score:0, Informative)
Some people like it [cocktorturevideos.com]. Can't say it is something I would try, but if you can't lick it, beat it... isn't that how it goes?