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Android Market raises maximum app size to 4GB, APK files still limited to 50MB

A small but fundamental shift happened this evening in the Android Market, as Google has raised its rather arbitrary maximum application size from 50MB to a hefty 4GB. While APK files retain the traditional 50MB restriction, developers will be able to bundle two additional 2GB expansion files with their apps, which (in most cases) will be downloaded automatically. The move is fundamentally a goodwill gesture toward game developers -- who were previously forced to host any content in excess of 50MB themselves -- but it also bodes well for consumers, who can now view an application's actual file size. As a further benefit, the refund period won't initiate until the entire download completes. Those interested to know the gory details can find the complete story in the source below.