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Fri, Nov 21, 2008 - 08:24 AM EST — AAPL: 80.49 (-5.80, -6.72%) | NASDAQ: 1316.12 (-70.30, -5.07%)

Google reveals Apple App Store-like ‘Android Market’ for Android-based phones

Thursday, August 28, 2008 - 07:02 PM EST

Google today shared early details of "Android Market," an open content distribution system that will help end users find, purchase, download and install various types of content on their Android-powered devices.

Eric Chu blogs for Google, "Developers will be able to make their content available on an open service hosted by Google that features a feedback and rating system similar to YouTube. We chose the term 'market' rather than 'store' because we feel that developers should have an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available. Similar to YouTube, content can debut in the marketplace after only three simple steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe your content and publish it."

MacDailyNews Take: Rumor has it that Apple Board member Al Gore thinks this is a "risky scheme." It seems downright dangerous to us. How soon until the first malicious app gets uploaded, unchecked, to the Android Market? Day one.

Chu continues, "Developers can expect the first handsets to be enabled with a beta version of Android Market. Some decisions are still being made, but at a minimum you can expect support for free (unpaid) applications. Soon after launch an update will be provided that supports download of paid content and more features such as versioning, multiple device profile support, analytics, etc."

Full blog post, which contains some screenshots, here.

[Attribution: AppleInsider. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Doric" for the heads up.]

MacDailyNews Take: Cool idea. Wonder where they got it from?

So, with this new Apple-derivative push — making an OS and now an App Store for the poor man's iPhone — is Google vying to become the next Microsoft?

In an interview early this year, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was said to be "skeptical about Google’s decision to develop smartphone software... 'Having created a phone its a lot harder than it looks,' he said. 'We’ll see how good their software is and we’ll see how consumers like it and how quickly it is adopted.' In seeking not to get locked out of the mobile phone world, 'I actually think Google has achieved their goal without Android, and I now think Android hurts them more than it helps them. It’s just going to divide them and people who want to be their partners.'" - The New York Times, January 15, 2008

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Aug 28, 08 - 06:15 pm Comment from: ApplePi

It's like the App Store but open. To be honest, i hope it is more successful than the Apple App store to force Apple to open up their store a little.

Aug 28, 08 - 06:22 pm Comment from: Cascadians

Competition is always good.

Aug 28, 08 - 06:24 pm Comment from: dallas

I am hoping Google does very well. They push open standards on the internet because their business philosophies require it. They also contribute greatly to open source applications. I really hope they hit a home run with Android, but am skeptical they can pull it off. They have a major up hill battle that Microsoft couldn't figure out either.

Apple it only good because they are closed. Apple is like China. They are revving up to become a world power, but with that power comes few freedoms. Microsoft is like America, pretends to be open, but is really just a mess. Linux is like Africa, no one know what the hell is going on there.

MDN word: Closed.

Aug 28, 08 - 06:26 pm Comment from: Scarbro

Boooo!

Google pulls a Microsoft!

Aug 28, 08 - 06:35 pm Comment from: coolfactor

I'm on the fence. One one hand, I see Google following, rather than innovating, but on the other hand, this is good overall, as it places more pressure on Apple. But it also doesn't simplify things for users. Different versions of an app for different phones? Come on...

Aug 28, 08 - 06:43 pm Comment from: Nick Fury

The robot from Lost In Space heard about this and sprung a long overdue hydraulic erection.

Aug 28, 08 - 06:44 pm Comment from: freebeer

The image of Jawas hulling half-working stolen 'droids and junk parts to sell immediately comes to mind. It's not a market. It's a bazaar.

Aug 28, 08 - 07:07 pm Comment from: Darkness

It doesn't place any pressure on Apple at all. They're two different and incompatible philosophies. The Apple model will be vindicated with the first malware distribution from the Android Marketplace. The only risk for Apple will be if developers write programs for Android and not the iPhone. But given the size of the market I don't see that happening.

Aug 28, 08 - 07:26 pm Comment from: @ coolfactor

Google doesn't have to innovate in the Appdroid store, (oops, I mean Android Market) they just provide the server space. The innovation comes from the developers who write the apps.

If Google doesn't NDA/Cone of silence them to death, they can share dev techniques and have some real quality stuff without each developer forced to reinvent each wheel everytime.

This has potential that could quickly become MAJOR MONENTUM! ®

Aug 28, 08 - 08:09 pm Comment from: mike

's like the App Store but open. To be honest, i hope it is more successful than the Apple App store to force Apple to open up their store a little.
`````````

Open in what way? Be (way) more specific. Considering how many Apps were crashing the iPhone all the time, why is less 'quality control check/proofing' better?

Aug 28, 08 - 08:30 pm Comment from: treestman

I am amazed at how many people start drooling over the "open" buzzword.

So you think Google will allow porn apps? Bandwidth hogs? Privacy-intrusion apps? Apps that violate trademarks or copyrights? And etc.?

Those of you believing in some Valhalla of "open" need to mop up the drool from your chins and start thinking rationally. If Google has any control over this store then none of the above will be allowed (and rightly so). It'll be no more "open" that the App Store despite the fact that they'll use that word in their press releases and blog postings as much as possible for the Pavlovian reaction it gets.

Aug 28, 08 - 08:38 pm Comment from: qka

Went to the linked Google blog page. Some script on that page was running slow and caused Safari to choke and ask if I wanted to continue waiting on the script.

They have to have better luck with their "market".

So, if Google is so great, then how in the world did they get Apple's WebKit to run Android's browser? Oh, you mean, Apple donated Safari's WebKit to the open-source community? How is that possible, they're supposed to be the bad, closed, proprietary shop!

<much sarcasm>

Aug 29, 08 - 02:11 am Comment from: audvis

as much as I hate to say it, the android market really has a shot at the big time. Just to remind people, how many malicious apps were in installer.app? And wasn't that totally open?

Aug 29, 08 - 07:27 am Comment from: The Muffin Man

treestman,

too true!

Aug 30, 08 - 10:01 am Comment from: It is time now. No exeptions.

It is time to say thank you to Google's CEO Eric Schmidt from Apple' Board of Directors. He's done a wonderful job in his position.... Yeah, passing on all the good ideas or "secrets" to Google.

What!?? Google CEO in Apple's Board of Directors?? Come on, you've got to be kiding!

It is time now. The sooner the better.

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Fri, Nov 21, 2008 - 08:24 AM EST — AAPL: 80.49 (-5.80, -6.72%) | NASDAQ: 1316.12 (-70.30, -5.07%)

Google reveals Apple App Store-like ‘Android Market’ for Android-based phones

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