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.
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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.
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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
Related
Hi,
First of fall I've searched the forums and found no recommendations so far, except for this thread, which only lists the alternatives.
So, my issue is that many apps on Google Play are rendered incompatible with my Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Stock 4.0.4) after I've changed my DPI.
What I'd like is a good alternative to Google Play which:
i) Contains most of the apps on Google Play.
ii) Doesn't render them incompatible unless there's a compatibility issue with the Android version, or something more critical than changed DPI.
I don't mind using the list in the thread mentioned above, but I'd like to save time on testing by asking you for recommendations. Especially developers would probably know which ones they usually use in addition to Google Play.
- rlmaers
There is no other market...
There are unofficial markets. I only found out about there being unofficial ones because of a news report saying how a lot of apps/games have been loaded with some sort of nastyware. For example, Angry Birds Space
worldwideweb.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2167511/cybercriminals-malware-infected-angry-birds-game-target-smartphone-users
With that in mind I wouldn't really try to venture too far down unofficial markets.
Here is an example, AndroLib, of an unofficial market: worldwideweb.androlib.com
Replace worldwideweb with appropriate meaning
There is absolutely no market comparable to Google Play, that has even remotely as much content as it.
Closest you're going to get is the Amazon App Store.
that market is really the worst thing on android. it has so many restrictions its outwitting itself at times. even under stock i couldn't download a ton of apps with my nexus. but when i sideloaded them it always worked.
what you can do is try hacks, there are several here on xda. i made one for my tablet mode topic, you might wanna try: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1543892 it works for me and a bunch of others.
you might want to try amazon market too
Thanks for the input, from all of you.
Apps loaded with malware isn't even an option, so I guess I'll have to stick with Google Play (and perhaps Amazon App Store).
@molesarecoming: Who's done the hack on the Play app you've linked? (I guess I'm paranoid about malware every time I download something, even on XDA).
i did it, but you can trust me ... i guess.
seriously, i had the same problem that you have right now and i did something about it, no evil intentions.
play store mod
about 2 or 3 days ago there was a post on portal about a moded play store
i think it was on i9000 forum
the moded store allows to install incompatible apps or apps that are for other countries.
i tried it and it was fine but i removed it because i didnt use it.
i think it might be helpfull for you
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A
Thanks for the help. I'll try it out!
it's old, i know.
I use aptoide store and f-droid
f-droid is really small, but I support it in it's approach (open Software)
aptoide features alot of apps and actually I'm not missing much
NO google-software on my phone!
toggler said:
it's old, i know.
I use aptoide store and f-droid
f-droid is really small, but I support it in it's approach (open Software)
aptoide features alot of apps and actually I'm not missing much
NO google-software on my phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aptoide is "quite" good, yes it has a lot of apps because they let people upload any app in their own store.
The problem is that they do not check that published app are owned by the people who publish it, so it contains a lot of hacked apps !
Other serious app stores: amazon, opera
Why Google doesn't force developers to update their apps with Holo theme.?
For eg. Every app on Windows Phone has that metro theme.
So many apps look like iPhone style.
Many apps look like mobile webpages.
I love Holo UI, but so many apps (for eg Whatsapp..) have Gingerbread UI, and then I feel like am I using Jellybean or Gingerbread? ??
Android is an open platform and for the most part Google keeps their hands out of 3rd party apps. This is a good thing as it would drive away some developers. I suspect the reason apps are still using a GB UI is either because they haven't been updated recently or because the majority of Android devices still run GB.
Yeah, imagine trying to draw that line between what is allowed and what isn't. And the previous poster makes a very good point regarding holo in particular. You can't make a holo app and maintain gingerbread compatibility without doing a lot of special-casing based on which android api level the app is installed/running on. It's a lot of work. So many devs just design to the lowest common denominator.
spunker88 said:
This is a good thing as it would drive away some developers....because the majority of Android devices still run GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mindstormsguy said:
You can't make a holo app and maintain gingerbread compatibility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, ICS & JB share is increasing, so I guess, We'll just have to wait, till developers realise this and make Holo apps.
One good thing is, apps which are 4.0 up, they all use HOLO apps.
Why doesn't Google make a polite request (...if not force...) to all top developers, like Twitter, Facebook, Limkedin....etc to update their apps to HOLO theme..?
Atleast this much Google can't do...?
Linkedin app is like iOS port. Painful to use. And there aren't many Linkedin Clients except DroidIn...but that is limited features.
Facebook I use Stream for Facebook. Its OK, so so.
For Twitter, I use Twidere, its Great. But I'd love a Official Twitter app.
All new apps to Android look like iOS copies. Google must do something....
Apourv said:
Why doesn't Google make a polite request (...if not force...) to all top developers, like Twitter, Facebook, Limkedin....etc to update their apps to HOLO theme..?
Atleast this much Google can't do...?
Linkedin app is like iOS port. Painful to use. And there aren't many Linkedin Clients except DroidIn...but that is limited features.
Facebook I use Stream for Facebook. Its OK, so so.
For Twitter, I use Twidere, its Great. But I'd love a Official Twitter app.
All new apps to Android look like iOS copies. Google must do something....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you need an iphone. or a goophone.
calisro said:
Sounds like you need an iphone. or a goophone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I'm not at all an iPhone fan, I'm just saying that apps look like ugly iPhone apps.
Atleast. Whatsapp is coming up with HOLO design
So i did a quick Google search, however, i didn't find anything answering my question.
So when we think about android we (at least the ones who knows their thing) we know it is related to google. However, so far i know that Android is open source, correct me if i'm wrong, but that means that anyone CAN "cook" their own rom of android. (As soon in the numerous threads in android development). So far so good.
A while back i recall reading Google forbidding Cyanogenmod of including their multi-window feature (the one that allows you to surf the web and watch a youtube video simultaneously as seen in Samsung devices(Note 1/2 probably S4 and S3(?)). Anyways, my guess is they came to terms where they can agree or did Samsung ignore what google had to say? So to make a long story short, what are google's rights when it comes to android?
Can google, for instance, if it doesn't like what a manufacturer is adding to their phone be it a feature or a skin say that they only want manufacturers to stick to the AOSP look and if they do add their own skin they will be taken to court? Can they do this?
Just curious to understand how things are running here. I wanna know the rights google has and if it could have went to court with samsung because of using the multi window feature.
I think that you are asking a good question, to which I have no answer, but would be interested in following this.
Personally, I would like to see an Android ROM devoid of Google.
____________________
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shadehh said:
So i did a quick Google search, however, i didn't find anything answering my question.
So when we think about android we (at least the ones who knows their thing) we know it is related to google. However, so far i know that Android is open source, correct me if i'm wrong, but that means that anyone CAN "cook" their own rom of android. (As soon in the numerous threads in android development). So far so good.
A while back i recall reading Google forbidding Cyanogenmod of including their multi-window feature (the one that allows you to surf the web and watch a youtube video simultaneously as seen in Samsung devices(Note 1/2 probably S4 and S3(?)). Anyways, my guess is they came to terms where they can agree or did Samsung ignore what google had to say? So to make a long story short, what are google's rights when it comes to android?
Can google, for instance, if it doesn't like what a manufacturer is adding to their phone be it a feature or a skin say that they only want manufacturers to stick to the AOSP look and if they do add their own skin they will be taken to court? Can they do this?
Just curious to understand how things are running here. I wanna know the rights google has and if it could have went to court with samsung because of using the multi window feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is while 'Android' or rather the AOSP is completely open source and free to use as you like, there are parts that Google have restrictive licensing over, or example the 'Gapp' (gmail, google+, play store etc). Manufacturers then also hold rights over the parts they add into Android (skins, other apps etc.).
Google has no control over manufacturers sticking Android on a device and that manufacture changing Android in anyway (hence the many many random Chinese devices), however Google can prevent a manufacturer from having a license to include the play store etc if they are unhappy with whats being done.
Google didn't forbid the CM team from including it, they said they would restrict access to the Play Store for devices running CM. The Play services is the only thing Google has power over, since that's their proprietary service. They cannot prevent someone from making a device that runs Android, since that's open source.
And I so believe Samsung's method is different, because apps require some changes before you can run then in multi windows, so you can't just run any app (officially, that is).
Lesicnik1 said:
Google didn't forbid the CM team from including it, they said they would restrict access to the Play Store for devices running CM. The Play services is the only thing Google has power over, since that's their proprietary service. They cannot prevent someone from making a device that runs Android, since that's open source.
And I so believe Samsung's method is different, because apps require some changes before you can run then in multi windows, so you can't just run any app (officially, that is).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. Doesn't that in theory mean that Samsung could just take their sgs 3, remove all google services and smack their own play store onto it or am i missing something here?
shadehh said:
I see. Doesn't that in theory mean that Samsung could just take their sgs 3, remove all google services and smack their own play store onto it or am i missing something here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh they could. But then it would be blocked from other Google projects as well.
Wayne Tech S-III
Is it at all possible to just, like, get non-country specific search results? Each time I look for something, or just dare to browse around Google Play, I am swarmed by ****ty app ports with 1-2k downloads by the Croatian devs. I know there's the Market Enabler, but I don't really need that level of spoofing, I just want to customize my search results to weed out local crap
I tried to look at the settings and couldn't find anything. Honestly, it's beyond me how the owners of such a ridiculously advanced search engine managed to create a high-profile app store with such ****ty app sorting!
With all the talk of Android Apps coming to Chrome OS this fall it is easy to forget that Chrome OS, as it stands right now, is a very capable and reliable OS.
While we here at Chrome Unboxed have been eager to share and talk about all the advantages this change will bring, I feel it is necessary to also keep everyone aware that both Gabriel and I work completely from Chrome OS on a daily basis. As excited as I am about the Play Store coming to Chrome OS, I love Chrome OS just as it is, too.
The truth is, I’ll likely keep using my Chromebooks and Chromeboxes as I always have during work hours once these apps come around. Sure, I’ll begin adopting certain apps for work (and playing games like crazy after work, along with other entertainment fun that Android brings), but I know there are many services I’ll keep on using the web versions for.
And that’s why knowing how to make an app or webpage launch in a window is important. For some reason, things like Google Play Music or Spotify feel strange with the Omnibar and tabs up top. They feel much more native if all that is removed.
And you can do this for most websites and apps. Here’s how.
http://chromeunboxed.com/quick-tips-open-any-site-as-a-windowed-app/
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