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On Android you can easily sideload apps. So there is a choice. I understand that 90% of people get their apps exclusively from the Play Store but that is not b

On Android you can easily sideload apps. So there is a choice. I understand that 90% of people get their apps exclusively from the Play Store but that is not because Google is evil. Its because people prefer one store were they can find everything: the supermarket model.

phillc73 8y ago
And not just the consumers, but it would seem the producers too. By choice, I do not have a Play Store account and wherever possible install apps only from F-Droid. However, there are (rare) times where I want to install a free (as in beer) closed source app. However, the publisher only chooses to make the app available via the Play Store. I would really, really like a direct apk download. I appreciate this approach is not for every end user and some people are scared of the "warning" messages Android displays when installing apps directly. Nonetheless, it would be really nice to have the choice and I don't see it as so much extra effort on the publisher's side.
- Tsubasachan 8y ago
  Absolutely. If developers don't want one app store to dominate the marketplace they have to publish in multiple places. Otherwise what can they expect is going to happen? Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
achow 8y ago
Managing app update becomes a problem outside Play store.
coredog64 8y ago
My previous employer made it a condition of their BYOD mobile policy that I wouldn’t side load apps onto my device. So even though it’s technically possible, it’s not always a going to happen. There’s also side loading as a malware vector. If you do side load, you need to remember to turn off non-AppStore access immediately after.
maxxxxx 8y ago
"On Android you can easily sideload apps. So there is a choice." If you develop apps to make money as a business this is not realistic. If the user can only side load your apps you probably have shrunken your potential customer base by 95%.

phillc73 8y ago

And not just the consumers, but it would seem the producers too. By choice, I do not have a Play Store account and wherever possible install apps only from F-Droid. However, there are (rare) times where I want to install a free (as in beer) closed source app. However, the publisher only chooses to make the app available via the Play Store. I would really, really like a direct apk download. I appreciate this approach is not for every end user and some people are scared of the "warning" messages Android displays when installing apps directly. Nonetheless, it would be really nice to have the choice and I don't see it as so much extra effort on the publisher's side.

Tsubasachan 8y ago
Absolutely. If developers don't want one app store to dominate the marketplace they have to publish in multiple places. Otherwise what can they expect is going to happen? Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

achow 8y ago

Managing app update becomes a problem outside Play store.

coredog64 8y ago

My previous employer made it a condition of their BYOD mobile policy that I wouldn’t side load apps onto my device. So even though it’s technically possible, it’s not always a going to happen. There’s also side loading as a malware vector. If you do side load, you need to remember to turn off non-AppStore access immediately after.

maxxxxx 8y ago

"On Android you can easily sideload apps. So there is a choice." If you develop apps to make money as a business this is not realistic. If the user can only side load your apps you probably have shrunken your potential customer base by 95%.