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Improved Technical Capabilities
Android app developers will be happy to know that they are no longer restricted to the 25MB file size limit. The new limit is 50MB, which means that larger and more feature-rich applications can be developed for the Android market. Google has also provided support for device targeting based on screen size. This means that apps can be targeted to run on a particular device based on its screen size, and will help solve the issue of trying to support multiple hardware devices with an app that can’t make adjustments for screen size.
However, Google still lags behind Apple when it comes to providing a first rate web-based app store. Google has promised a web-based version where purchases can be made and pushed to your phone just like Apple’s App Store, but it still hasn’t been made available. Regardless of whether you think all technology is moving to smartphones and that’s where the best market opportunities reside, it’s not there yet and won’t be for a number of years. People still want to browse and make purchases of apps from their web browsers and not just from their phones. The iTunes model works well and allows consumers to review applications from either their iPhone or from a laptop.
Google has also promised to make improvements to the buying process. Google is leaving perhaps a lot of money on the table with app purchases that don’t happen because the buying process is still difficult and unreliable. Rovio, an Android developer, has introduced its own in app purchase system and plans to license its technology to other developers in the near future.
Although Google’s updates to the Android Market are a nice start, they are not enough. In their recent announcement Google commented, “However, we’re not done yet. We plan to continue to rapidly enhance Android Market for both users and developers and make it the best content distribution service for the Android ecosystem.” I wonder what “rapidly” means for Google? I would think that a company with the size and depth of technical ability and army of programmers, that they would be able to accelerate the pace of enhancements to the Android Market.
The way I see it, Google still needs to improve the buying process with a web-based app store, improve the developer experience by making app purchases and reporting easier, and change the perception of the Android app market from being a sleepy, somewhat part-time effort to a global, accessible, and convenient app purchase experience.