Google talks Android Market app store

Android's gaining a head of steam as it heads towards release -- Google just posted up some details on the upstart OS's app distribution system, Android Market. Just like Apple's iPhone App Store, Android Market will run on Android phones like the HTC Dream and allow users to browse and install apps, as well as comment on and rate apps they've already purchased. (Somewhat terrifyingly, Google describes the rating and comment-system as "similar to YouTube," but we're hoping the reference is to user-generated ratings in general and not the grammar and language catastrophe that is YouTube comments.) Unlike Apple's store, however, Android Market will be open to all -- Google wants devs to "have an open and unobstructed environment" for their apps, and it'll only take three steps (register, upload, describe) to put content on the service. The first Android handsets will come with a beta version of Market that supports free downloads only, but a version that has app sales, versioning, and other features will arrive soon after launch -- given the number of mediocre apps that have somehow passed Apple's vetting process, it'll be interesting to see what shows up in Google's store with no filters at all. More screenshots after the break.

[Via Mobile Burn]

[SignalEye @ Aug 28th 2008 3:42PM]

This is SOOOOOOOO CHEAP........
They have to Name it also APP STORE?? HAve to come with something JUST like the Iphone APP STORE?

I `mean... BE YOUR SELF......THis is just a Copy Paste thing...
Firstly Every one wanted to copy Apple`s & Google`s Idea and Graphics styles etc....everything...
Now its google time to Coypy of Iphone Appstore? and other Interface?

This sucks...Also..the interface is so ugly..

[broli @ Aug 28th 2008 3:46PM]

Take an iPill and relax iBoy.

[Tinu @ Aug 28th 2008 3:46PM]

It's called "Marketplace".

[HUNG @ Aug 28th 2008 3:51PM]

excuse me for proving you wrong, but the App store that Apple took to be its own, was originally spotted on the original iphone, with the blessings of the Jail breaking Gods of tech,

so it is Apple that is also one of the culprits of this "copying" misdeeds.

[kjb434 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:48PM]

Google's Android interface is very much like WinMo in that a programmer can completely overhaul it and produce it as an app.

I haven't used WinMo's standard interface in over two years. XDA has a load of developers offering quite awesome GUI's for WinMo. The talent of the users on that site will take Android places also.

How much can customize the iPhone's interface?

[tekn04 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:48PM]

Firstly: Grammar?

Next: The app store works great. Why not copy it? It seems to be a well accepted means of app deployment. Everyone copies from everyone. If it makes a better product, why are you complaining?

[Patriks7 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:49PM]

funny you mention "iPhone" and "copy/paste" in the same sentence, as those two just dont go together :p

[gabe @ Aug 28th 2008 3:55PM]

u make me want to burn my iphone.

you are a disgrace to the iphone community.

[ronald.raygun @ Aug 28th 2008 3:57PM]

ironic that you use the term copy and paste pertaining to the iphone, dont you think?

[Matt @ Aug 28th 2008 4:04PM]

OMG, Apple totally copied Alexander Graham Bell's idea for the modern telephone!

AGB fanbois unite!!!!

[JMMGoalster @ Aug 28th 2008 4:06PM]

ever think that "APP Store" is actually short for APPlication Store...unless apple coined the term "application", Google isn't copying anyone

[huh @ Aug 28th 2008 4:20PM]

there is nothing wrong with companies copying each other's best ideas. After all, free Linux distros have had centralizd app finding and updates for over a decade. The popularized name following the idea is just a fact of life. Consider it a credit to the innovator of that idea with the most recognition.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 28th 2008 4:10PM]

Maybe they called it an app store because, oh I don't know, its a fracking APPLICATION STORE?!?

Damn fanbois need to have a hot poker shoved up their ass so they scream themselves senseless so they shut the hell up.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 28th 2008 4:12PM]

Alexander Graham Bell didn't invent the telephone or had the idea. He stole it from an italian guy who invented it and went to have it patented but couldn't afford it. AGB stole it and patented it himself, he was a junior patent officer working at the patent office the italian guy went to. the italian guy went to find some money to pay for the patent. Thats the scottish or ya.

So there all you 12 year olds learn't something.

[Charlie @ Aug 28th 2008 4:14PM]

Copy & Paste? Unlikely, given the app store is for the iPhone.

[Bob @ Aug 28th 2008 4:27PM]

SignalEye (iFan), its called Android Marketplace not Android app store. The term app store was added by Engadget when describing this application store. Take your blinders off and welcome to the world outside of the Steve Jobs hype.

Not to completely burst your bubble but not only did Apple not come up with the term app store but Apple also wasn't the thinnest laptop to date with the MBA (as Jobs claimed) & wasn't the first to have a touch screen (as Jobs wold like every iPhone user with blinders on to think).

There are a whole world of products outside your view. Apple knows it, that's where they get their inspiration (and some stolen ideas that bring Apple into patent disputes on a regular basis).

[Bob @ Aug 28th 2008 5:22PM]

This will blow SignalEye's mind. Apple is just as bad as other companies when it comes to copying. Apple wasn't even the first mouse based GUI. I know all Mac faithful like to bag on Microsoft for stealing the idea from windows from Apple. But really they both sole it from Xerox who got it from another guy. That's right, Apple has been built off the ideas of others, not a lot of originality.

As for the app store look and rating system... ever looked at any rating system or list on the Internet. An argument could be made the Apple App Store list and rating system looks a lot like YouTube with the ratings.

I appreciate Apple for the things they do first and well. But blindly giving credit to Apple & bashing others after Apple is foolish.

[Nightmare @ Aug 28th 2008 5:25PM]

TImmy,t-t-t-immy, Ti-m-m-m-y timmmy,

dear God if your spelling and articulation are that bad, i can only imagine why you've recieved so much iFlac. so here's to you, iphone, i-i-i-phone, iphone-iphone.
the only thing wrong with this phone is that it's potential, is being grossly raped by the ancient technology of T-mobile. they have no 3G, they are introducing 3G, but if you read the fine print, its 3G voice, not data. (sorry to piss in you T-mo fans' cheerios) but fact is fact. if the data were on 3G, or possibly EVDO-REV-A which is much better, but alas, T-mo is balls-to-the-wall bullshit. sorry google that you have been ponied into rape. good and cheap voice plans for T-mo service, but you get assraped on data.

[Sriram @ Aug 30th 2008 1:27AM]

Ahem - AppStore was a trademark of Salesforce.com. Apple didn't come up with it originally.

And oh, by the way, they weren't the ones that came up with the name iPhone either. I am sure you have heard of that.

And, finally, the store for google is called Android Market, NOT AppStore.

[Maciek @ Aug 29th 2008 2:16AM]

To Nightmare...perhaps you should do some more research... T-Mobile's 3G network is already up and running in a handful of cities. They're flipping the switch in new cities almost on a daily basis now to have the network up and running for the official October launch. Now as far as the Voice only on 3G.. You don't think T-Mobile spent $4.5 BN just to give their subscribers a clearer voice??? It's not even UMTS... They're going straight to HSDPA. All it takes is a bit of research on the net and it would save you some embarrassing comments.

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Aug 29th 2008 8:37AM]

"I `mean... BE YOUR SELF......THis is just a Copy Paste thing...
Firstly Every one wanted to copy Apple`s & Google`s Idea and Graphics styles etc....everything...
Now its google time to Coypy of Iphone Appstore? and other Interface?"

Silly fanboy, the iPhone can't copy & paste :)

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 19th 2008 2:45PM]

And Apple aren't copy and paste? Most of Apple's Services are just companies that have been bought off as a result of bad marketing skills. Apple are good at advertising. That's it.They just take current technologies, tweak it a bit, patent it, and boost the price up. I may have an iPhone, but that's only because I used to have an N95 and a iPod Touch, and I made 100+ profit on that.

[Tinu @ Aug 28th 2008 3:43PM]

This is great. I love the idea of an 'open environment'. We will have a wide range of Android devices which can run these programs while Apple's apps would run only on the iPhones. Developers would have reach to wider audience plus no 'review system' to approve/disapprove an application. Sounds great.

[Tinu @ Aug 28th 2008 3:47PM]

Meant to say "While Apple's application only run on 1 device: iPhone".

[Sam Stone @ Aug 28th 2008 4:10PM]

*cough* iPod touch *cough*

Damn verbal diaohrea...

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 28th 2008 4:45PM]

"Verbal diarrhea"?
Stay away from me.

I agree, the more open, the more awesome. I stuck with Palm for a few years longer than I would have otherwise because they had some really good free apps.

[Jash Sayani @ Aug 29th 2008 6:20AM]

Cool. An AppStore for a device that no one has !!

[heshmati4 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:43PM]

This looks EXACTLY like the App Store! They even got it down to the 5 star rating system!

[Richard Lai @ Aug 28th 2008 3:48PM]

Well at least these guys are using a dark background, light text, whereas Apple's is the other way round. ;-)

[Nickerson @ Aug 28th 2008 3:49PM]

You can't patent a list that is ridiculous. Apple can make no claim on a list with a rating system and its dumb to waste time comparing the two. Its a logical way to organize a set of objects while also summarizing user opinions.

[Christopher Grant @ Aug 28th 2008 3:50PM]

I know, what a crazy ratings system!

[Richard Lai @ Aug 28th 2008 3:55PM]

@Nickerson: It's called sarcasm. Just smile and play along.

[jorvay @ Aug 28th 2008 4:24PM]

Yeah!
You know what else looks like the app store? Firefox plugins, freeware distribution sites, the GUI for my linux repository manager, Valve's online store, cnet.com's product listings, most online shopping sites...All of them clearly copied Apple and therefore suck.
I could go on, but honestly, no matter what is being sold/given using a web page format, there are tonnes of similarities in layout. Not because they copied apple, but because the format is logical.

[Eric @ Aug 28th 2008 4:28PM]

Some people just have broken sarcasm-dars. Don't judge them for it.

[Mark @ Aug 29th 2008 12:05AM]

@jorvay: you forgot the xbox live marketplace :)

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 28th 2008 3:46PM]

Would there not be a problem with different phones having different specifications or are all phones built more or less the same. I realise that they're not computers but I suppose the apps won't require much.

[Jason @ Aug 28th 2008 3:50PM]

This is my concern as well. As I understand it Android can be put on many different devices. The one spec that would see the most difficult to develop around is screen size. If there are a bunch of different resolutions must you developer a bunch of custom UIs?

[Todd @ Aug 28th 2008 3:55PM]

Android apps are Dalvik byte code compiled on the fly ( Yes you can port the Java ME apps you have already written to Android ) so they run on all Android phones - no more writing, testing, installing one of a kind apps for one handset. Hoo Ray!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalvik_virtual_machine

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 28th 2008 3:55PM]

Thats exactly my point, thanks

[barry99705 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:57PM]

@Jason,

From what I've read, the window manager will scale the apps to the screen size, it is linux after all...

[Zephyr @ Aug 28th 2008 3:49PM]

I've been waiting for the Android to come out. Seems like it's living up to its hype!

SignalEye. Your complaint is totally irrelevant.
If you think that way, then all the hotels in the world should change their name because ALL of them have "Hotel" in their names. Well, most hotels.

No doubt the interface is interchangeable with other themes. It's Google for crying out loud. They're smart enough to implement themes. Unlike some other company...

[Johan S @ Aug 28th 2008 3:51PM]

The UI looks stupid .. how about a decent soft background texture?

[dennis @ Aug 28th 2008 4:02PM]

Because the OS is called "Android."
I'm not saying I like it or not.
But it does look very Android.

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 28th 2008 7:44PM]

I've come to associate your avatar with dumb posts, just so you know :P

[tartis99 @ Aug 28th 2008 3:54PM]

Hmmm...This sound like a ripe place for abuse by hackers and hacks. Does Google require some kind of Developer certification?

[Darth Abe @ Aug 28th 2008 3:56PM]

You're aware you can also install any application you want on your computer, right?

[Bogus83 @ Aug 28th 2008 4:17PM]

@Darth Abe:

You're aware that most people have all kinds of lovely crapware floating around in their computers, right? I don't want to have to run Spybot and AVG Antivirus on my phone at all times.

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 4:18PM]

I have heard of a certification program called "Developers Developers Developers Developers"

[jorvay @ Aug 28th 2008 4:24PM]

Exactly. Freedom means having the freedom to do whatever you want...whether it's stupid or not. I like the idea of not being treated like a child by my technology...That's why i dropped MS and Apple for linux. I like to choose what is 'user friendly' for me.

[dennis @ Aug 28th 2008 4:53PM]

"I don't want to have to run Spybot and AVG Antivirus on my phone at all times."

Actually, that sounds like an app programming opportunity for you.