Open competition for your apps? What is that! The free market in action? Can’t be Apple, of course. Must be Android!
It’s the Amazon App Store, which they’re writing as “appstore.”
Yeah, already Apple has sued. Go figure.
The keen thing about the Amazon App Store (can I call it that?) is that every day they offer a paid app free. So if you check in daily, you can get some apps that would otherwise set you back a whole 99 cents! Or more!
The unkeen thing about the Amazon App Store is that it’s a bit possessive, similar to the way Apple’s App Store is possessive.
Maybe it’s Apple’s possessive attitude that spawned the lawsuit? I mean, can’t anyone else be possessive?
Anyway:
Don’t look for the app on the Android Market: Instead, visit Amazon and click the links to get to the App Store.
On the Amazon Appstore for Android home page, you’ll find a Get Started area. Type your mobile gizmo’s number or your email address into the text box. You’ll receive a text message or email link that allows you to download the Amazon Appstore App.
Warning: To download the app, you’ll need to allow your mobile device to accept downloads from “unknown sources.” That’s okay for the Amazon App Store App. Follow these steps:
1. At the Home screen press the Menu button.
2. Choose Settings.
3. Choose Applications.
4. Place a check mark by the item Unknown Sources.
Normally you shouldn’t allow Unknown Sources to install software, but you’ll need to allow them to get the Amazon App Store app installed. You’ll need to keep that option on to install additional apps from the Amazon App Store, as I’m guessing that they’re all “unauthorized.”
Eventually, the Amazon App Store is installed, and you can go shopping. Purchases made on the Amazon App Store are done through your Amazon account, and you’ll get email messages confirming the purchases, whether it’s a free app or not.
The operation of the Amazon App Store works a lot like the Android Market. The major difference, of course, is that your Amazon App Store downloads don’t appear in the My Apps list on the Android Market. Well, that, and you need to open your mobile device up to “unauthorized apps,” as described above.
Things I like: That you can get software free on the Amazon App Store.
Things I don’t like: Having to disable app security to get Amazon apps, and the fact that apps you get are disabled should you uninstall the Amazon App Store app. That’s a major bummer.
It’s those two things I don’t like that will keep me from recommending the Amazon App store in my books. Still, it’s good to have options, so I’m thankful that Amazon is making such options available.
Why does Apple always have a stick up their butt about everything? They’re such bad sports about everything.
Somebody innovates and makes lots of money, then there’s incentive for other companies to try it. It’s called Capitalism, maybe Steve’s heard of it.
Comment by gamerguy473 — March 23, 2011 @ 3:48 pm
The computer industry has always seen litigious jerks who feel they’re owed something because they came up with the term first. My favorite example was the “Trash” icon on the Mac. They sued Microsoft because Windows used a trash icon, but called it a “Recycle Bin” (which makes more sense). Of course, Xerox came up with the idea first, didn’t sue anyone.
And so it goes.
Did you know that IBM has a patent on the behavior of the cursor on a terminal screen? It’s ridiculous!
Comment by admin — March 23, 2011 @ 4:33 pm