Android Market is officially available now. The application store for Google’s Android platform contains only free software at the moment. And since it’s an open content distribution system, there’s no waiting time or approval process for new applciations to arrive. The structure is similar to the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch, but with a slightly different rating system, similar to the one on YouTube.
In today’s presentation a couple of developers said how excited they are about the Android Market and open source software. There’s a barcode scanner, a GPS test application and a Slide Puzzle. Even an on-device ringtone editor and a talking compass. Will the Android Market offer the same amount of useless flashlights and bill splitters that’s already available in de iTunes App Store? We don’t know. The rating system may com handy, but we know that on YouTube that isn’t always a warranty for good quality.
Developers can publish anything they want, but how will Google handle porn, racist applications and other unwanted stuff? We’ve yet to see how that works out. Another concern is the lack of an iTunes-like desktop application. Google expects you to install all software over the air, but that is a recipe for disaster as T-Mobile will lower the 3G download speed to 50 kbps once you’ve passed the 1GB mark. Unlimited internet? Hell yeah! But don’t use it too often or T-Mobile will make it unusable.
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