July 9, 2011

I have been delighted with my Samsung Galaxy Tab. The form factor is just right for me, and I really had been anxious to get my hands on an Android device, and really couldn’t justify getting another phone. I was just as anxious to try out some Android apps. I wanted to make some comparisons between Android and iPhone apps, and also see what I could get that was unique on Android.

The Android Marketplace was a huge disappointed from the first moment I entered. If there’s any organizational pattern there at all, it defies my recognition. Even with a complete and specific app name, you are more likely to pull up 50-150 suggestions…none of which have anything to do with the app you’re looking for beyond a few random words - in the description. Ugh.

I did discover you are better off searching using the developer name, but it’s still not a great solution. This is equally true of the Amazon App store. Of course, Amazon sweetens the pot by offering you a free app every day.

Sometimes Amazon offers some nice apps, and they’re not always $0.99 games. Unfortunately, what Amazon doesn’t tell you, is there are strings attached. Amazon’s “strings” are its connection to your Android device.

If you decide, for whatever reason, that you want to get rid of the Amazon App store app, you won’t be able to use your free apps from Amazon. Worse yet, even if you’re signed into the Amazon App store, if you don’t have a data connection, you can’t use your free downloaded apps. This might come as quite the shock if you’ve loaded up your Android phone or tablet with free games to play on that 7 hour flight, only to find that you aren’t allowed to play them with no internet connection at 37,000 feet.

Since my Tab is WiFi only, this means that there is a lot of time when my apps will be unavailable. In light of this little shortcoming, I’m going to view Amazon’s free app of the day as an extended trial. If I like the app, I’ll head over to the Marketplace and buy it. I will give Amazon just what it’s given me – nothing.

Thanks, Amazon.

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