The functionality of mobile devices running the Android operating system, the most used mobile operating system globally, can be extended using 'apps' – specialized software designed to offer users the means to use their devices for certain additional purposes. Such apps are compiled in the Android-native APK file format which allows easy redistribution of apps to end-users.

Most apps are distributed through Google's Play Store but many alternative software repositories, or app stores, exist. Alternative app stores use the 'Unknown Sources' option of Android devices to install APK files directly via the Android Package Manager.

Google Play Store[edit]

Google Play Store. When you publish on Google Play, you put your apps and games in front of people using the billions of active Android devices, in more than 190 countries and territories around the world. Was founded in Palo Alto, California, in October 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White. Rubin described the Android project as 'tremendous potential in developing smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's location and preferences'. The early intentions of the company were to develop an advanced operating system for digital cameras, and this.

The Google Play Store (originally the Android Market), operated and developed by Google, serves as the official app store for the Android, allowing users to download apps developed with the Android software development kit (SDK) and published through Google. The store offers both free and paid apps. Apps exploiting hardware capabilities of a device can be targeted to users of devices with specific hardware components, such as a motion sensor (for motion-dependent games) or a front-facing camera (for online video calling). The Google Play store had over 50 billion app downloads in 2013 and has reached over 2.96 million apps published in 2020.

Although bundled with most Android devices, the Play Store is only available on devices that are certified within the 'Android Compatibility Program'. As a result, manufacturers of so-called 'custom ROMs', i .e. modified versions of Android, are not allowed to bundle Google apps, including the Play Store, with their software. Compatibility can be restored by installing the Google apps from another source, such as OpenGApps, or using alternative app stores.

Manufacturer app stores[edit]

In addition to some manufacturers not creating certified compatible versions of Android, some manufacturers have decided to bundle their own app stores, either in addition to the Play Store or as a replacement.

Such app stores include:

• Samsung Galaxy Store, which is installed on Samsung mobile devices alongside the Play Store. In India, the Samsung Galaxy store is being powered by Indus App Bazaar and is offering a localized experience in 12 Indian languages to all its users.^[1]
• Amazon Appstore, which is installed instead of the Play Store on Amazon'sFire Phone and Kindle Fire. The Amazon Appstore can also be installed on other Android devices by downloading it from the Amazon website.
• Xiaomi Mi GetApps
• OPPO App Market
• VIVO App Store

Third-party app stores[edit]

App stores that do not rely on pre-installation by the manufacturer are an alternate option for finding Android applications. Apps offered through third-party app stores or websites, created by parties not affiliated with the device or operating system (OS), are also third-party apps.

Such stores include:

• HappyMod^[2]
• Uptodown.^[3][4][5]

This form of app store is often used by web developers to distribute apps that are not allowed in the Google Play Store; this may be due to an app allowing users wider access to the app-system, or offering apps for 'niche users' who choose to use only free and open-source software (F-Droid) or prefer to play indie games (Itch.io). Moreover, there are alternative stores that serve to distribute 'hacked' versions of paid apps, for no cost.^[3]

Reasons to use alternative app stores[edit]

Some users prefer using alternative app stores to avoid using Google services as part of their philosophy.^[6] Alternative app stores may also be easier to navigate for users, allowing them to find specific apps quicker, due to different search algorithms or the user interface design implemented for displaying available apps.^[7] However, users preferring to utilize either, third-party app stores or the Google Play store, cannot be certain that the apps they are installing have been checked for malware or computer viruses.^[3]

In addition, alternative app stores may be used for downloading android applications due to limited availability of full–Google Play functionality. For example, users in China are not able to purchase apps from the Google Play Store, in turn, limiting their options for app purchasing to alternative app stores, such as, AppChina and Wandoujia.^[8]

References[edit]

1. ^Khan, Danish (2019-03-15). 'Samsung steps up software localisation game; inks app store deal with IndusOS'. Economic Times.Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
2. ^Agarwal, Nitin (2020-03-14). 'How to download HappyMod App on your Android device'. PC-Tablet. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
3. ^ ^abcHill, Simon (September 24, 2016). 'Tired of Google Play? Check out these alternative Android app stores'. Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
4. ^Gordon, Scott Adam (2017-03-31). 'Alternative app store Uptodown launches its Android client'. Android Authority. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
5. ^Favre, Loie (June 26, 2015). 'Best Google Play Store alternative app stores - AndroidPIT'. AndroidPIT. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
6. ^Schiwy, Nick (2016-04-13). 'How to survive Android without Google'. AndroidGuys. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
7. ^Chiles, David (2013). Apps: Everything You Need To Know.
8. ^Miller, Paul D.; Matviyenko, Svitlana (2014). The Imaginary App. MIT Press. p. 184. ISBN9780262027489.

See also[edit]

Android Stores Near Me

Android Stores Alternative