The flexibility of Android Market may destroy Androids reputation

[phel21]

The market is in urgent need of an improved back-end and more strict criteria for applications to be published.

All applications should be benchmarked as part of the publishing process so that they can be properly rated on key performance factors like:

• * CPU load, which also affect power consumption
• * Network traffic
• * Hardware usage (GPS/Compass/Camera etc)

Maybe it would be possible give a general "power consumption rating" based on such criteria.


Then there should be restriction such as:

• * An application that is not configured for use should never start automatically, except maybe a post-install introduction
• * Networked applications must never try to process any kind of updates when there's no network available.

My point isn't to make it harder for developers, but to make sure the market isn't flooded with misbehaving applications. It's not good for Androids reputation when people install a "power manager" and find that it drains the battery in 3-4 hours with the phone laying idle with screen, wifi and gps off. It may also send a message to vendors that they should be more vary of the behaviour of their own custom programs. HTC's twitter client comes to mind, which always runs in the background even when there's no twitter account configured. I don't know exactly what it does, but it's not just idle as it makes a considerable difference to power-consumption if the process is killed.

[Andrude]

How about we first concern ourselves with GETTING applications on the Market, before we try to pose obstacles. I mean, probably 5% of what shows up on the Market is a real application, and the rest are worthless home screen replacements, fart/celebrity soundboards, and links to online content. The real problem with the Market is the ability to filter out worthless crap, so you can at least see the remaining couple of real programs.

[swampiedonkey]

All that really needs to be put into place for this to be fixed, is a more robust rating system, and a way to sort in multiple ways. I know there are a lot of bad apps out there, but that is a byproduct of an open system.

I do not want to start putting restrictions of any kind on the apps. Let the market decide what stays and what goes, not any one company.

If there were a more robust rating and review system, then the crappy little apps out there would be pushed to the bottom of the list where no one would ever go, and the useful apps would be pushed to their rightful place at the top. Simple as that.