Well then... now that android is a major contender in the mobile OS wars. Had the G1 from day one.
My only complaint from android... is the quality of apps. Also, repeat of the same apps over and over again in the play store. Recently I've been scouring the market place and I noticed that there are a lot of apps that seem kinda... a waste... For example... just how many weather apps and widgets do you need? most of the time they copy HTC, Samsung, or Sony apps (weather, clock, calendar etc) and slap on a generic name onto it.
Now Im all for "oh android is OPEN" but at least put some effort on making an app
this raises the question... should android have a tighter quality control over apps? Im not saying to make android "closed" but anyone that wants to submit an App on the play store needs to follow guidelines so there isn't repeats of apps that makes android fragmented. I mean there's 700,000 apps on the play store right now but prlly only a few 100 are only worth using because of how polished they are.
What do you guys thing? does Google need have tighter control of the play store?
I agree with you. I think holo ui on apps is the best thing ever happened to android. Apps started to look high quality and developers did great job with holo. But there are still tons of non-holo apps that hasn't been updated since 2009/2010 and most of them not even work on new devices they just give force closes. I think Google should give those developers 2 month to update their apps with their guideline and otherwise just delete it. I started get sick of these old apps.
The other thing bothering me is the themes. Go themes, adw themes, launcher pro themes, they are everywhere. I hate to see all those themes when I simply search "launcher" on play store. Most of them are not even compatible with the latest versions of their launcher. I hope Google will do something about it.
Google started letting Android turn into new Windows. Every manufacturer can put bloatware in it. Millions of useless programs in the Internet. Most of them aren't updated since XP. Most of the people choose Linux or Mac(I still like windows more than mac ) over windows just because of the bloatware. Think about the toolbars of ie . Google should manage apps better in play store. Otherwise Android will start killing itself.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium HD app
No, Android is an open platform and things like this may discourage developers. Google will feature apps that are designed well, but banning apps because they are deemed outdated looking or not useful is not what I want to see.
I do agree there is a lot of junk in Google Play but there is also the same junk in the iTunes app store. I would like to see Google allow more advanced searching in Google Play, they are Google afterall. Google Play's search should add sort by date app updated, filter by compatible Android version, and I'm sure there are more. That way you could find newer and better apps in your search.
spunker88 said:
No, Android is an open platform and things like this may discourage developers. Google will feature apps that are designed well, but banning apps because they are deemed outdated looking or not useful is not what I want to see.
I do agree there is a lot of junk in Google Play but there is also the same junk in the iTunes app store. I would like to see Google allow more advanced searching in Google Play, they are Google afterall. Google Play's search should add sort by date app updated, filter by compatible Android version, and I'm sure there are more. That way you could find newer and better apps in your search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so your saying that google should just let those junk apps stay in the play store. sure ios has junk apps but it isnt as bad as android.
yea discourage the developers that makes junk apps. thats the point. if a developer is constantly putting out updates then it shouldn't worry about having its apps being deleted. im just saying that google needs remove crappy apps from the play store. it just makes google play look lazy
leventccc said:
I agree with you. I think holo ui on apps is the best thing ever happened to android. Apps started to look high quality and developers did great job with holo. But there are still tons of non-holo apps that hasn't been updated since 2009/2010 and most of them not even work on new devices they just give force closes. I think Google should give those developers 2 month to update their apps with their guideline and otherwise just delete it. I started get sick of these old apps.
The other thing bothering me is the themes. Go themes, adw themes, launcher pro themes, they are everywhere. I hate to see all those themes when I simply search "launcher" on play store. Most of them are not even compatible with the latest versions of their launcher. I hope Google will do something about it.
Google started letting Android turn into new Windows. Every manufacturer can put bloatware in it. Millions of useless programs in the Internet. Most of them aren't updated since XP. Most of the people choose Linux or Mac(I still like windows more than mac ) over windows just because of the bloatware. Think about the toolbars of ie . Google should manage apps better in play store. Otherwise Android will start killing itself.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your right about some of the themes... some of those themes are copying other manufacturer's skins
look at beautiful widgets... they copied htc sense clocks. im suprised that htc didnt take them down.
spunker88 said:
No, Android is an open platform and things like this may discourage developers. Google will feature apps that are designed well, but banning apps because they are deemed outdated looking or not useful is not what I want to see.
I do agree there is a lot of junk in Google Play but there is also the same junk in the iTunes app store. I would like to see Google allow more advanced searching in Google Play, they are Google afterall. Google Play's search should add sort by date app updated, filter by compatible Android version, and I'm sure there are more. That way you could find newer and better apps in your search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't thousands of outdated launcher themes and not working apps in the app store. The ones at app store still work on newer iphones and don't look outdated. But the ones at play store look stretched and outdated.
i agree with you
I believe one thing that would help is better search functionality in the play store. Seams to me that a major search engine would have better search options in their store.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
Hi,
I found out that my Play Store (phone, tablet and web) is not working correctly. Whether I am missing certain apps that should appear or I found them on Google search, but when I click the proposed link to the play store I get a play store error message as shown in the screenshot that Google play store (web) thinks that the app is incompatible with all of my devices (HTC One m7 & Nexus 7).
This problem is existing with several apps like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parkmobile or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mobilecity.mopas_android or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.bahn.multicity
Screenshots attached. Can anyone help? I am located in Berlin, Germany - I am sure the apps *are* available here. Spoofing my location to Germany (OK in this case I would rather call it overriding) did not help.
Kind regards
Christian
I have a Sony Xperia Z2 lollipop latest version and I'm having issues with google billing. I did hack in app purchases with lucky patcher and I have the molded play store if that helps. Every game says that service is unavailable or that Google billing is not available. Please help.
Alternatives for Sony Apps that aren't preinstalled anymore & replaced by Google Apps
I bought my Xperia 10 II from ebay, that was imported from Hong Kong, as I checked the firmware customization and it is from there. A month almost with it, and I really love it.
For me was not easy to used to it, as i was using a smaller XA2 before, but with the one handed mode and side sense, is easy to use with one hand.
I really miss Sony apps that are not installed anymore as Album, Photo Editor, Xperia keyboard, Sony Email, Sony Phone App, Sony Message App, Sony Contacts App, Sony Calendar App, Sony Calculator App, Sony Clock App, and Sony Weather app, Track ID, Audio Recorder. All are replaced by Google Apps with tons of weird permissions and tracking.
But I found alternatives to it and I disabled almost all Google Apps:
- Album and Photo Editor there is Simple Gallery Pro https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.gallery
- Xperia keyboard, well.. there is no replacement, so I installed latest version available from XDA, and still working good https://forum.xda-developers.com/cr...p-4-4-xperia-keyboard-material-01-07-t2801048
- Sony Email, I installed from APKMirror, still works good, but not so good with dark mode https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ony-email-2/sony-email-2-16-0-a-0-12-release/
- Sony Phone app I couln't replace Google Phone, that was so fustrating, so well... still there... But, there is an alternative anyway that is ok https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.dialer
- Sony Message App there is Simple Message App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.smsmessenger
- Sony Contacts App, there is Simple Contacts Pro https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.contacts
- Sony Calendar there is Simple Calendar App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.calendar
- Sony Calculator App, there is Simple Calculator App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.calculator
- Sony Clock App, there is Simple Clock App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.clock
- Sony Weather App, good news! There is still installable from Play Store, so I installed and still using it . https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sonymobile.xperiaweather
- For Track ID, well... there is no option than Shazam https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shazam.android
- Audio Recorder, I didn't looked for alternatives.
About Simple Mobile Apps, that are open source here is the source code: https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools
Please consider donate to him for his amazing apps or buying Pro version from the Play Store. https://www.simplemobiletools.com/donate/
Hope this information helps.
Great list, thanks.
The 2018 Xperia keyboard is still amazing, esp for jp
gspbeetle said:
Great list, thanks.
The 2018 Xperia keyboard is still amazing, esp for jp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read somewhere that the reason why Xperia Keyboard has discontinued, was because of the acquisition of Switchkey by Microsoft. Before the acquisition, switchkey launched a SDK for OEM for customize as they want, and then Microsoft retired the licensing for using the SDK and then SDK was removed. Blame Microsoft for the dead of Xperia Keyboard
if anyone is looking for the Sony Album app, there is a port in this thread.
I was able to install the universal version on X10ii stock rom with included photo editor and it seems to be working just fine.
Here, for some apps that are missing (& updated),
Sketch (now discontinued): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ch-draw-paint-9-0-a-0-6-android-apk-download/
Album: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...e/sony-album-9-9-a-0-20-android-apk-download/
Photo editor: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...-photo-editor-8-6-a-0-3-android-apk-download/
Video (formerly Movies): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...elease/movies-9-5-a-2-2-android-apk-download/
FM Radio (it will not work, but I tried): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...elease/fm-radio-8-1-0-4-android-apk-download/
Messaging (it will not work because it's not compatible): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ony-mobile-communications-31-0-a-0-8-release/
Calculator (be sure to uninstall the Google one): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...y-calculator-1-0-b-0-18-android-apk-download/
Contacts (be sure to disable the Google one): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...se/sony-contacts-1-7-33-android-apk-download/
Clock (be sure to disable the Google one): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-.../sony-clock-20-2-a-2-49-android-apk-download/
Email (latest version): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-.../sony-email-17-0-a-0-12-android-apk-download/
Phone (the Google one cannot be disabled, set as default) : https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...lease/sony-phone-23-0-3-android-apk-download/
Notes (is not supported for Android 11, 12 and 13): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...-release/notes-1-0-5-11-android-apk-download/
Calendar (The Google one can be disabled, optional): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ia-calendar-20-4-c-0-31-android-apk-download/
Weather (is now discontinued, but still works): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...eria-weather-1-3-a-4-27-android-apk-download/
Music extensions:
Google lyrics extension 6.3.A.0.1 (Android 6.0+) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror
Google lyrics extension 6.3.A.0.1 (Android 6.0+) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
Wikipedia extension 6.3.A.0.1 (Android 6.0+) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror
Wikipedia extension 6.3.A.0.1 (Android 6.0+) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
YouTube extension 6.3.A.0.1 (Android 6.0+) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror
YouTube extension 6.3.A.0.1 (Android 6.0+) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
YouTube karaoke extension 5.0.A.0.8 (10485768) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror
YouTube karaoke extension 5.0.A.0.8 (10485768) APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
Xperia Keyboard: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ia-keyboard-8-0-a-0-110-android-apk-download/
Audio Recorder: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...-audio-recorder-2-01-42-android-apk-download/
Simple Home: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...simple-home-1-3-3-a-0-3-android-apk-download/
Thanks!
Please note: On the Phone app, the *#06# command to show the IMEI does not work yet. Try the Google Phone app to do so.
And, here are some other apps for the rest of them.
What's New (discontinued): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ase/whats-new-3-6-b-0-2-android-apk-download/
Sony Select (also discontiuned): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...e/sony-select-3-6-s-0-4-android-apk-download/
Notes (from OnePlus, first version because latest version is not compatible): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/onepl...-0-170510183311-c1d45a4-android-apk-download/
TrackID (is now discontinued, please use Shazam): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...-recognition-4-6-c-0-20-android-apk-download/
Xperia Link (discontinued as well): https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-...ase/xperia-link-3-3-0-0-android-apk-download/
Surprise, suprise! A new update for the Contacts app is here!
Sony Contacts 1.7.34 APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror
Sony Contacts 1.7.34 APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
(Android 13 only)
.
dasdsad1 said:
Surprise, suprise! A new update for the Contacts app is here!
Sony Contacts 1.7.34 APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror
Sony Contacts 1.7.34 APK Download by Sony Mobile Communications - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
(Android 13 only)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The target for the 1.7.33 version of the Sony Contacts app is Android 11, but keeps crashing as soon as I open it. Why is ti happening? What can I do?
I am searching for OdySee APK by LBRY.
LBRY and OdySee are alternative social media sites.
LBRY released OdySee but the APK is no longer available on Google Play Store. I have LBRY installed and want to re-install Odysee.
I appreciate your time, so shall end this request here.