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Post by slayernz on May 15, 2011 20:57:37 GMT -5
Hey guys, I'm just doing a little market research on app purchasing and app management and thought "Hey, some of the most hoopy frood people who really know where their towels are are are on this forum! So I want to ask a couple of questions and without the normal threat of a Cadar(tm) branded Torp for incentive, would love some answers. So first up, 1) What app store do you spend most of your time browsing through (when you are browsing an app-store that is). 2) When you are looking for a particular type of app, how do you make your mind what is good/bad/worth downloading? Do you use reviews? Do you look at similar games and make some sort of assessment as to what is the better ... and if so, how do you make that assessment? 3) If you are just browsing for something random for your phone/tablet, what would help catch your eye? Would it be a list of the most popular apps (in a given timeframe)? Would it be a list of the highest-rated apps? 4) App management. Okay, so you've downloaded a bunch of crap cool stuff for your device. How do you organize/manage/remove apps? Do you use the inbuilt app management software or some 3rd party software? Do any apps provide you with the ability to show apps you have downloaded but never/rarely used? if so ... what? Okay ... so that's the extent of my research questions  |
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rudeboy
Curator
[ Star Traders 2 & Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Posts: 37
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Post by rudeboy on May 15, 2011 22:05:42 GMT -5
1) I pretty much stick w/ Android Market and Amazon - I like Amazon's free app of the day feature, which lets me try out things... I end up deleting most of them, but it's nice to test drive. I'll also add the only app I've ever paid for was ST Elite.
2) As someone who is currently considering this kind of dev as a "day job," it always seems to come back to usefulness - which I'm learning is not as intuitive a concept as some might think. Something can be cool - but if you don't have a use or need for it, then what's the point? Finding that niche seems to be key. For example, there's lots of games out there w/ good reviews - but I don't always enjoy them, even though others obviously do. So reviews are helpful, but only to a certain point. And I'm sure the Trese Bros. have some opinions on reviews... I'm struggling with this equation myself.
3) I think presentation really helps - you have to somehow distinguish yourself from the pack... A clever, well written description goes a long way; even a slick icon may change someone's mind. It shouldn't matter - but I think it probably does; it is a marketplace.
4) I currently use the stock uninstaller (on an unrooted Vibrant) - though my history with tech leaves me with lingering doubts as to the effectiveness. My experience with Windows registry issues makes me wonder about other options.
Am very interested to hear other takes on this... Love this forum, even though I don't post much.
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Post by slayernz on May 16, 2011 19:50:08 GMT -5
Hey RB ... thanks for your insight. Hopefully others chime in with their approaches to the whole app thingy |
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Post by vwllss on May 20, 2011 11:08:04 GMT -5
I get almost all of my apps exclusively through social networking. A huge majority of my good apps come from browsing reddit's Android section at reddit.com/r/android. On occasion I'll think to myself "I need an app for..." and instead of simply searching the market I will actually Google "android app ____" and see what other people recommend.
I heard about Star Traders on reddit.
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darkmonk
Curator
[ Elite & Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Posts: 72
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Post by darkmonk on May 21, 2011 20:15:20 GMT -5
I tend to use both the stock Android Market and Amazon's Appstore, though I also use sites like AndroidPolice and Phandroid's forums to see what other people think are good apps. They give a pretty good jump-off point to look for decent apps.
The fact that Amazon's Appstore manages a list of apps you've downloaded through it, even after you uninstall them from your phone is pretty nice; though I only use the built-in uninstaller on my HTC Desire. ^I second rudeboy's opinion about Windows registry issues; way too easy to get fragments of crap from years past left in there to rot forever, or so I'd assume
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Post by phantum on May 25, 2011 12:14:33 GMT -5
My process is a bit protracted since I only had a smartphone for a month and just starting to understand how it works with security and privacy. I have a lot of personal accounts, google access, and some work stuff on it I am cautious - the apps are extras.
I use android market but have appbrain to keep lists of apps I have browsed/noticed/had recommended. I then look out for similar apps, both on appbrain and general internet searches, also check gizmo's freeware site and a few others I know. If there is a clear favourite, that has no warnings on external sites, > 100,000 installs & 100+ ratings average 4.0 I install it. I then also find a couple of others being developed, with sensible permissions, a few good comments, and trial them for a few days. Any that have potential but are not my favourite, or immediately useful I put in another list to come back to.
A few other things I look for are an external home page that is kept up to date, potential to expand to a paid app, and a few sensible comments that are relevent to the ratings. One sensible comment with a positive review will overcome many 1 star reviews with useless comments.
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Post by Cory Trese on Jun 2, 2011 20:45:12 GMT -5
One thing I see repeated here a lot if "I am cautious" and "I do not like permissions."
Trust that I'm keeping this in mind for our upcoming release. I am considering adding one very special permission that I think you will approve:
VIBRATE =)
I like that Android applications are sandboxed in a way that makes the concept of the Windows Registry totally alien on the platform. That's grand =)
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