Android App Store begins renovation

By Jeon Jong-in

Android Market has received much criticism since the debut of Android, a smart phone operating system developed by Google Inc.

The app store has frustrated many Android users attempting to navigate themselves around 200,000 plus programs to find the application they want.

The Android Market was often contrasted with Apple’s iTunes-based App Store that was praised for its organization and accessibility. IOS, Apple’s smart phone operating system, managed to differentiate itself from others with its massive app market and highly organized user interface (UI) that allowed for “one-stop shopping for all things.”

Major differences between iTunes and other app stores include its promotion of popular applications and featured applications. Apple’s store also allows the purchases of TV series, movies, and songs ­ quite unlike the Android Market that remains “application programs only.”

In order to address the ever-growing criticisms of Android Market, Google rolled out a new streamlined “app-promoting” version. Google also announced its intentions to allow purchases of movies and books through newer versions of the Android Market.

Android developer Eric Chu wrote in his blog that this version “is designed to better showcase top apps and games, engage users with an improved UI, and provide a quicker path to downloading or purchasing your products”

A market watcher said since over 60 percent of smart phone users in Korea currently use Android OS, the news of an updated and renovated app store has to be good news.

The new version of Android Market is expected to be updated to users using Android version 2.2 (Froyo) or higher over the course of the following few weeks. Look out iTunes!

The writer is a Korea Times intern. Leonjun1994@gmail.com