3 ms·

As much as like F-Droid, it is only for open-source apps, isn't it? However, the majority of apps is still closed source. I would like to see an alternative and

As much as like F-Droid, it is only for open-source apps, isn't it? However, the majority of apps is still closed source. I would like to see an alternative android app store, which can also serve closed-source apps. Another problem is a missing alternative to Google Mobile Services (GMS), which are installed on virtually all android devices. For example, if you need push notifications or in-app purchases you are dependent on them as well. IMO, it is the widespread distribution of GMS (and a lack of alternatives thereof) that make google a quasi monopoly.

sofixa 5y ago
> I would like to see an alternative android app store, which can also serve closed-source apps Don't Amazon, Samsung and Huawei have their Android app stores, for any app?
- quambene 5y ago
  Yes, you are right. The real problem is the ubiquity of Google Mobile Services (GMS) though, rather than the app store itself. For example, GMS are pre-installed on all Samsung devices, but Samsung's equivalent is not installed on all Google devices. This means, that everyone will still use Google Play for in-app purchases out of convenience.
  - commoner 5y ago
    Neither Amazon nor Huawei is selling devices with Google Play Services right now. Both have their own alternatives to Google Play Services. Amazon offers an unnamed collection of APIs (the push notification one is called Amazon Device Messaging) for its Fire devices, and Huawei offers Huawei Mobile Services. Amazon Device Messaging: https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html Huawei Mobile Services: https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/hms https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/hms
    - quambene 5y ago
      For Huawei this has only been true since the US-china trade wars. There are still a ton of Huawei devices with GMS pre-installed. A service like GMS would be important for Samsung, too, as there are quite some Samsung devices out there. However, with GMS pre-installed on all Samsung devices, the Samsung Galaxy Store is completely useless as everybody and his brother will use Google Play for app and in-app purchases.

sofixa 5y ago

> I would like to see an alternative android app store, which can also serve closed-source apps Don't Amazon, Samsung and Huawei have their Android app stores, for any app?

quambene 5y ago
Yes, you are right. The real problem is the ubiquity of Google Mobile Services (GMS) though, rather than the app store itself. For example, GMS are pre-installed on all Samsung devices, but Samsung's equivalent is not installed on all Google devices. This means, that everyone will still use Google Play for in-app purchases out of convenience.
- commoner 5y ago
  Neither Amazon nor Huawei is selling devices with Google Play Services right now. Both have their own alternatives to Google Play Services. Amazon offers an unnamed collection of APIs (the push notification one is called Amazon Device Messaging) for its Fire devices, and Huawei offers Huawei Mobile Services. Amazon Device Messaging: https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html Huawei Mobile Services: https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/hms https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/hms
  - quambene 5y ago
    For Huawei this has only been true since the US-china trade wars. There are still a ton of Huawei devices with GMS pre-installed. A service like GMS would be important for Samsung, too, as there are quite some Samsung devices out there. However, with GMS pre-installed on all Samsung devices, the Samsung Galaxy Store is completely useless as everybody and his brother will use Google Play for app and in-app purchases.