I had assumed Amazon was paying for the Amazon "app" in Ubuntu (based on gut feel) but it looks like it might have been part of a Canonical's web-y vision for the Linux desktop future [1]. Does anyone know why the Amazon app existed in the first place?
Well hey, I just happened to work on that stuff back when Canonical still had its own desktop product.
The idea was to make a user's experience as great as possible. The desktop design department all lived through their iPhones, and felt that most non-techie computer users wanted the same experience. The whole desktop-phone convergence thing was the prime directive, and having search be the prime experience on desktop for a fully-integrated web experience was the way there. There were many "scopes" plugged in that searched all kinds of things, and among them was one that searched Amazon.
It didn't hurt that Canonical made a bit of income from affiliate referrals. At least until Amazon found out. Then, it just became another web search scope.
> The idea was to make a user's experience as great as possible.
Whaa? How does including an Amazon (or any retailer)app make the user's experience "great"? I admit that I'm not the usual user, and therefore may simply not understand, but the inclusion of stuff like that doesn't enhance the experience, it degrades it.
Ubuntu has always tried to be (with mixed success) "Linux for everyone else". At some points that just meant it was relatively easy to install and had a pleasing UI. At other points they've really tried to push their way outside of the primary userbase of Linux. Successful or not, I'm glad someone out there is at least giving it a try. Imagine a world where desktop Linux isn't just for nerds. Where more than one consumer-facing laptop comes with Linux pre-installed, vetted, and actively supported.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/05/what-happened-ubuntu-uni...