Oh yeah sure, it open distribution sounds messy now. But then that's why we have the internet to provide reviews for applications. :) Still better than AppStore.

ripfire

@iamnotdrtran:

Indeed. Too bad it's not just Jesus Diaz. Android has every chance of having a very successful launch, but if enough fanboys stand by and shout that it sucks, the average uninitiated consumer might actually think that Android is horrible.

terebakashi

I hope they build a website at least with all the apps in one place, given you can install the apps directly via SDcard or USB (probably similar to java apps). A desktop marketplace probably is also a good idea, given that they are using gmail for all the syncing, I'm guessing it will be online mostly.

I'm hoping for video hands-on soon so I can see more how the phone looks and how it runs. The media photos actually seem to make the phone look more crappy and it's very hard to tell the difference from brown and black in the photos. It seems like it always looks better "in the wild."

stopcrazypp

@Odd_Thomas:
Ever browsed Mozilla for Firefox extensions? Notice how user ratings and comments really help people figure out which extensions are great and which ones suck? And how bad extensions eventually just die out and disappear?

Well there's your quality control.

terebakashi

I like having an "App" store. There are tons of programs for WinMo but finding them is a pain especially when some sites sell programs that can be found free on other sites. However, I like that more than the Apple App Store, which has everything is one spot, but they get to decide what you should want or use on your own phone.

Hopefully Google's App Store will have the vastness of WinMo programs located all in one spot but without all the big-brother-we-know-better-than-you-ness of Apple.

baltwade

@iamnotdrtran: Typical dick, if it's not what I like, I critisize. Dick!

mvivas

I might make an I-Am-Broke app for Android. It costs the same as I Am Rich, but instead of a jewel, it has one coin, maybe a penny, that you can move around on the screen.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

This should look better as updates come available they will see what works and what doesn't and change this interface.....hopefully.

danatoth

@Seinosuke: I dont think there is any "quality control" becuase the point is that anyone can put up any kind of app so if it sucks its up to you to not get it or use it.

Odd_Thomas

@Seinosuke:
thats just it. There's no quality control. If I code an app that causes damage to the phone and you install it, well, sucks to be you. Google isn't going to look at the apps available.

s017jrs

"would that be really useful if everyone and their dogs can submit their flashlight apps?"
Yes, if the alternative is what Apple is doing.
Apple lets in loads of redundant Flashlight, ToDo, and RSS reader apps, and blocks loads of useful apps like [intelliborn.com] MailWrangler, and podcaster.fm.

With Google search and the rating system, the good Flashlight apps will be easy to find.

SonOfWatt

@Seinosuke: Well, if some @$$ creates an app that tells you how high your phone travels when you throw it up in the air, what makes you think another @$$ will do something different.

I say 80% of apps will be crap.

mvivas

@iamnotdrtran:

Exactly!!!

xaflatoonx

Looks like shit warmed over.

While there could stand to be a little more organization and clarity for developers, Apple gives users one-click interface on a platform they know - iTunes.

Android's app store looks like a steaming pile of bantha pudu.

OMG! Ponies!

No approval system is the entire reason I'll be buying a G1 and the entire point of the Android platform. You own the device, do with it as you please.

Slack3r78

Holy crap!! That's one big clusterfuck.

BloggyMcBlogBlog

Flashlight collectors: Finally a phone for us!

nightsky

Typical Jesus Diaz: if its not Apple, it sucks

iamnotdrtran

It will be very interesting to see how the experience stacks up between the companion-style iPhone and the standalone G1 running Android. Presumably, however, nothing stops third-parties from building desktop apps to manage Android.

sumocat

Some people prefer Target; others prefer the flea market.

92BuickLeSabre

does this comment system work? I'm not getting through!

mvivas

I can see it now.... 1st post, click "yes" if you agree!

Ugh, I hate that about the iphone app store.

mvivas

Why@Log1c:
Would you expect Dell to care if you installed some cruddy application on your computer? I'm sure they will tell you to deal with the vendor. Yippee!

Bluesk1d

When the alternative is a central nanny figure arbitrarily rejecting applications for no other reason than that they feel threatened by them, I'll take the "freeform chaos" route.

IMHO, this is a PLUS for Android, not a minus.

@Log1c: Since every app in the market right now is free (and possibly Free), I'm sure Google will be glad to refund the nothing you paid.

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak

it'll be jumbled in the beginning, but if the rating system works at all then the good stuff will rise to the top and be visible... i don't see a problem with the way its set up, at least it won't get censored like some of the stuff for the iphone

ilves

FYI, these are now available on t-mobile.com for upgraders. No additional discount. In fact, there's an $18 upgrade fee (is that normal?). Only black and brown are currently offered, but I can't tell the difference between the two. Any Gizmodo staff wanna take a second off from hands-on time to let us know if the colors are more distinguishable in person?

schtum

Some apps will probably become "featured" and as long as you can search by developer, or see other apps by a certain developer, I'm sure you'll be able to find the cream of the crap.

Yes, that's a typo, but I'm leaving it. A freudian slip if there ever was one.

Luke

Hope Google's quality control is better than Apple's! And please no "oh well i'm sure someone will find this neat/fun/useful". NO. If it sucks, DON'T put it in there.

Seinosuke

Isn't this how it should be with an open source operating system? Kind of hypocritical don't you think?

But yeah it sure does make it more intimidating for the consumer, hopefully there is some way to get a refund for faulty software.

Log1c

This app market should work like digg. You should be able to bury lame, useless, harmful, or otherwise sucky apps.

lpranal

I thought the whole thick lines and huge icons was something we left behind once we moved from Win 95???
What happened with the clean sharp lines, high def graphics?... looks like a 240x320 resolution :(
Looks a bit boring... but I'll have to try one first before I come to any conclusion.
Can't judge yet!

ashamaniq

@terebakashi:
Except that "the typical consumer" will never hear the opinion of the fanboys. Let alone have any clue what a "fanboy" is. The world of people who read gizmodo is much smaller than the potential market for Android.

I love my iPhone, but have been waiting anxiously for an Android phone to drop, just out of curiousity.

m.adam.iub

I kind of like how the extensions for Firefox work. It's a little tricky to navigate especially if you don't have any favorites, but once you have an idea what you're looking for it's not too bad, despite the plethora of niche and redundant extensions available.

It'll be interesting to see how many devs work on Android and what they are able to put out.

andrewkfromaz

I hope thats just a status bar at the top and not a "start" menu. I remember when windows CE (now knows as windows mobile) moved the start menu from the bottom to the top rendering touch screens useless because now your hand covers the nemu.

enine

what would be wrong with anyone being able to submit apps? because it might take a little longer to wade through the crap until you find what you need? er that's the internet in a nutshell.

konshuss

@SonOfWatt:
You guys act like MailWrangler and Podcaster won't be rejected here.

This isn't a completely free and open system. Its still up to the carrier to decide what goes on their store that they run. For example, T-Mobile said no Tethering. That means they won't put tethering apps on their store.

How is that different from Apple's system again?

VulnoX

Maybe this has already been answered, but where do you store the apps? All I read about storage was microSD. Is that where the apps are stored? I can see some advantages to that but also hassles. Anybody know for sure?

sumocat

I really do hope that if nothing else at all, Google heuristically screens every app's code to partially ensure that the apps entering the store will not bring your phone to its knees, be it due to malicious code or just plain ineptitude in writing code.

DisposableInterloper

open source apps on my phone sounds scary. I don't need a freaking memory leak killing my phone every few days!

marc_wtih_a_c

@konshuss:
No, because some asshole might put up some destructive code, and you, the end user, downloads it assuming the app is there in good faith.

It's one thing to go sifting through the Internet to find apps for any given OS. At that point, you're on your own. These apps, however, are provided via a service maintained by Google. Google is as responsible for the content on its app store as any Linux distro is for the content in its official repositories.

I expect that Google's tune will change to be somewhat more in line with Apple's the moment some shitwad with excellent bullshit skills puts up an awesome-looking app that bricks the phone of anyone willing to install it.

DisposableInterloper

It looks to be about the same as the sidebar gadgets section for Vista Sidebar... only less organized at the moment.. Gotta love At will and at your own risk software.

Truth Bringer :D

Forget about poorly written code that causes your phone to crap out, what about all the potential malware?

daveNYC

@ Slack3r78 I think you meant to say,

"No approval system is the entire reason I'll be buying a G1 and the entire point of the Android platform. You own the device, let others do with it as they please."

But in all seriousness. The smart person is not going to put things on their phone that they don't trust but think of all the people who don't know better. I see the no approval process as a major problem. In a year of two there will be a new "blue screen" term just for the G1. I just can't imagine that the phones are not going to be filled with spyware and the like. I have an idea for the first app. An anti-spyware app!

Husar

I'm not so worried about someone making some sort of phone bricking virus, that will be sorted quickly when they have to go through a marketplace. I'd be concerned about all the badly made apps crashing on all sorts of untested hardware when new phones come out.

The smart criminals will make the kind of "spyware" where you give away all your personal information and whereabouts (the always running GPS will come in handy for that) willingly. Facebook and twitter come to mind.

crycry

lol ok kudos for the open source push, but seriously does anyone see this ending up being a disaster for consumers? "Your phone is now being hijacked along with your information, and being wiped"

Alex2643

there are lots of locks on the hardware, but I love the open source spirit in the no DRM support. there's more at this article.

sarahoneill

The structure is similar to the iPhone App Store

Have you ever used and installed apps in Linux? Well, this is what it seems like, and it works!

What's better? If they did things the way usually this things work in Linux (right that is), whenever you install something that doesn't work like you thought it would, you simply uninstall it, leaving nothing behind...

Since (I'm presuming) you do know your way around design... Why not work on some mockups on how it would look better? Your design might get someone interested and then they could code it... Once done, it could show up on the install list for you to grab. That's the beauty of Open Source!

Just don't make it look like it comes from Apple. (You could, but you really shouldn't).

whiskey

unlike the iPhone 3rd party apps, the Android apps will actually do something. The programs currently available can integrate into google maps, allow you to use any mp3 or sound as a ringtone, help organize your contacts, there's a video player.. in time you'll get to pick your favorite player, video recorder etc. that's what open source is all about. Not to mention the ability to run these in the background.

kevininstereo

Not when iBetaTest.com goes live! (well Google's will be, but not iPhone's) :)

As you already know, there are so many crappy iPhone apps, and so many buggy ones as well.
The problem is that developers have no way of communicating with quality beta testers (those that actually test and report bugs), and even worse, those developers whose apps did not pass through Apple's approval find themselves stranded.

iBetaTest.com wants to bridge the gap between developers and beta testers, help those stranded developers and apps denied in the app store by giving them ability to sell their apps to up to a 100 users (since that's the limit set by Apple on how many phones can be provisioned for such tasks), help developers create better apps by giving them access to quality testers (who are rated by developers so we all know who's worth what), and give the beta testers what they need: the early/vip access to the apps before they are launched, and even ability to make some money in the process: developers can choose to sponsor beta testers by paying them for their participation.

peconi