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Android Gets Carrier-Operated European App Store
Andrew Smith writes "Android fragmentation begins: EuroDroid reports that Vodafone will launch an Android app store in June, to fill in the European gaps where Google hasn't yet launched the official Android app store. Worrying quote: 'All apps will be pre-selected and tested by [Vodafone's after-sales processor] Arvato Mobile for compatibility with our devices.' Just a few days ago Slashdot covered the suggestion by Barry O'Neil, ex-president of Namco Bandai Network Europe, that it could be wise for Google to 'hand over the entire management of the Android Market to carriers, OEMs, and trusted publishers.'"
this will kill android.
It seems to me that Vodafone will simply be another repository for android apps - except that they decide what apps to show. What would prevent anybody else from just duplicating everything but the apps over which Vodafone has copyright control?
To me, this seems more like Vodafone creating a windows app store: yes, they control what is shown, but I can still go to download.com, private sites and individual developers to get Windows apps. Same thing for Android. Well, except for those who have Vodafone phones... I'm sure there'll be some trickery on there to prevent users from getting apps from anywhere but the Vodafone store.
Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
What about the contries that have neither Vodaphone or Android paied apps :(
www.aleo.no
OMFG talk about FUD. How does having options on where to purchase software qualify as fragmentation? I can understand the logic of developing for different hardware platforms being possibly difficult but having alternative sources of software can be nothing but a plus.
What? I live in the Netherlands and my Android phone has this "Market" thing. If that's not the Android app store then what is it?
... this will be Apple's fault.
So Vodaphone customers can buy apps that have been tested on their device and without paying by credit card (I presume it's harder to steal money from them this way). Of course, if you can't use other app. stores, then this might be a problem. But I wonder if Google would allow companies to use the Android name if it cannot connect to their marketplace.
If anyone has more info on whether it will be the only app. store configured/configurable, please let us know.
When you say that a software ecosystem is fragmented, it means that applications written for one target device/distro/whatever, won't work on another without changes. The degree of fragmentation is how much effort is required to support each target.
Having separate app stores does not create fragmentation, as any user can still get the applications elsewhere. This is like saying the sky is falling because Walmart and Target both exist and sell different products, rather than there being one official retailer at which all comrades must shop. There is convenience in having everything in one place, but it also has problems with consolidation of power. This can be abused to force people out of the market, as Apple has demonstrated wonderfully. Even if the one true app store has an open and fair policy at first, time changes everything, so the ability to get apps in other manners is essential.
For the convenience of their customers, Google should open the main app store to worldwide ASAP, but it does take time to wade through the legalities of that. Till then, these other repositories can fill the gap, and the fact that they can exist at all is great.
...You'll be free.
Android Theme
This shows yet again that no matter how open the consumer device is, as long as the carrier operator does not endorse some sort of net neutrality, openness will be only superficial.
The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
This i almost like comparing the Linux community with just Ubuntu's software centre. Things on Ubuntu are going to work on Ubuntu, other apps might not. This is just going to help compatibility.
Yikes! These are the same guys that want to charge you $$$ for a 10 second ringtone when you already have the entire song on your phone?
No thanks.
Can you imagine ISPs telling you when you can upgrade your PC OS and what applications you can install?
"Android fragmentation begins"? I don't think so. It's in full-swing.
Seems like every week some marketing dweeb comes up with the brilliant idea to create yet another app store. Motorola and Lenovo have their own, as does China Mobile. That's not even counting the dime-a-dozen independent entries with names like Handango, Cellmania, AndAppStore, MobiHand, GetJar, Nexva, SlideMe, etc. etc.
I am an Android developer, and get an email every week from yet another app store. Each has its own custom requirements and contract overhead, and they expect us to do the work for free for the "privilege" of joining their flock and whatever scheme-of-the-day they are concocting as their business plan.
No thanks. I dump those emails and stick with the Android Market. For all its flaws, developers need to show solidarity and work towards improving it. The alternative is to give away your work and place it in the hands of the likes of wireless carriers, who will continue their land grab game at the expense of the developers, innovators, and consumers.
Android based phones have been available in my country for over a year now. Google still hasn't gotten around to enabling paid apps for this region.
Yes, I know it's because of Checkout, but I honestly don't care at this point. They've had enough time to get Checkout going, if they can't be arsed to do that they should use one of the gazillion payment services that already _do_ support this region. Just let us bloody buy apps!
I wonder when all these gazillion different app stores realises that they're just repositories and as such, they should just fix one (branded?) client that uses repositories similar to how synaptic/apt works? It's bound to happen sometime.
systemd is not an init system. It's a GNU replacement.
I'm sure the carriers would attempt to muscle in anyway, but there would be less room for them to make this move if Google did a better job with the market.
Here are just a handful of ways the market is crap
1) No way to browse on the web and download to your phone. I can't even post an http link to my app that will work on the desktop and on the device*.
-Apple does it through iTunes
-Palm does it by sending you an sms link to your phone
2) Actually, you can't even browse the appstore on your desktop without going to some third party scraped site. I challenge you to find VLC Remote on the android.com/market
3) Developers have to price apps in the currency they live. Seriously - I live in the UK, so you have to buy my app for £x. It's insane. And particularly after apple have demonstrated a simple tier-based model that is simple for consumers
4) Loads of countries just can't buy stuff. If this is hard for you google - just talk to Mobihand or one of the many mobile app-store companies who have figured out how to take international payments
5) Even if your country does support sales, the international billing means that credit cards keep getting declined (us credit cards don't want to authorise $1 for an international sale via google checkout).
This would be excusable for a few months as the store rolled out.
It is long past a joke now.
*I built a site that at least lets you create an http link for your android app which will work on the device and on the web.
http://and-download.hobbyistsoftware.com/
VLC Remote for iPhone and Android
So I've been trawling the android forum, and apparently the lack of market app in certain countries is due to the carriers removing the market from the firmware. Reflashing the firmware apparently includes the market irrespective of location:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=77c72b9d5214d01b&hl=en.
also worth noting (for those of us with the market) - check out ePetition Open Android, a petition to google to ensure everyone gets the market
Wait! Whats a sig?
I don't think fragmentation is just beginning on Android. Half the phones run v1 and updates are rare. It's fragmented!
One reason businesses are cool to Android is the malware. Until there is an app store with an approval process, businesses are going to stay away from Android. So these guys are going in the right direction with apps.
But the phones can still only hold a small number of apps and there's still no C apps.
As it's clear this iCretin knows nothing about Android....
You can use ANY or multiple marketplaces, you can even install your APK files from SDCard, unlike some other fruit based handsets that are locked down..