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Topic: Telcos

Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

Summary: After 10 minutes of using it I have no desire to go back to the Google App Market

Joel Evans

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

By now you've either read about or personally experienced the Amazon Appstore for Android. Well, today was my first try and I have to say that after just 10 minutes of using it, I'm definitely impressed.

First off, you go to the main page and you are immediately greeted with the "free app of the day". Not only that but it's super easy to download it. If you have an Amazon.com account already, you can easily add your purchase (or free app) to your account and then launch the Amazon Appstore on your Android device and start downloading. Gone is the need to scan a QR code with your phone. Instead, just click from the comfort of your computer or your phone and start enjoying Android apps. In my test I clicked "Get now with 1-Click" and was told that I now "owned it" and it was available on my Android device via the Appstore for Android. I then launched the Appstore on my HTC EVO and sure enough, it was waiting for me to click "install".

Another nice feature is the ability to "Test Drive Now". Clicking on this button from your web browser launches an Android simulator that lets you interact with the game in realtime, as if it were on your device. So far there are only 20 apps available that you can "Test Drive Now", but you can bet that Amazon will be adding to that catalog, especially for higher-priced apps.

I'm a huge user of Amazon.com already, so you can bet that this beautiful integration into its ecosystem is sure to force me and many others to start downloading more Android apps.

Have you tried out the Amazon Appstore experience? If so, share your thoughts below.

Topics: Telcos, Amazon, Android, Google

About

With more than 15 years of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands and technologies into the mobile and wireless space. Joel is currently the VP of Strategy Integration for Mobiquity, an enterprise-class mobile solutions provider.

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48 comments
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  • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

    I live outside of the United States.
    tatiGmail
    Reply Vote

    • Same here...

      @tatiGmail

      ...Non-US Android users have been left in the cold for now.
      DevJonny
      Reply Vote

  • used it and really like it

    Have dowloaded all the free ones so far and a few others. I like it. Works great and I trust Amazon.
    tgschmidt
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

    Yep, just wish there was more sorting options.
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

  • Forces you to enable 1-click

    No way in hell am I going to enable 1-click on a mobile device. Since Amazon appstore won't work without 1-click, I uninstalled it just as fast as I installed it.
    os2baba
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @os2baba You don't have to use it and it's just as easy.
      mrxxxman
      Reply Vote

  • Amazon stole the appstore trademark

    they are filthy thieves, go and steal other people's trademark, aren't they.
    astra4
    Reply Vote

    • I'd say Amazon is making a stand actually...

      @astra4 being "app store" or "appstore" is so generic with all the apps coming out and different companies having basically "app stores..." I think it's ridiculous Apple wants it to be all theirs. (e.g) You can't trademark "grocery store" or "department store." Just pointing that out. I say in the short term they will hold their grip on it; long term, they [Apple] will likely lose this battle.
      raymondjackson
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

        @raymondjackson Actually Apple did trademark it. I am assuming you would say the same thing about Xerox copy or Polaroid Picture, right?
        G8rsFan
        Reply Vote

      • "So generic" - really?

        @raymondjackson What about "Windows", or "Word"??
        rich1383
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

        @rich1383 The windows trademark only applies when referring to an OS. You can still call something a "Windowing environment" or an "application window" or "Application windows". You're comparing apples and oranges here.

        Plus, when trade marks become generic, which this one is demonstrably generic (I refer to the Google Market as an app store, as do most people I know who use Android) they are no longer valid. This one was really generic in the first place, hence the challenges. If other platforms can have "apps" and the term "app" was already generic, in my mind it follows that "app store" would be a generic for a store that sells "apps", similarly a "shoe store" sells "shoes".
        snoop0x7b
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

        @G8rsFan Apple trademarked Apple Appstore, not just appstore which is equivalent to department store.
        mrxxxman
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

        @raymondjackson
        Great point made, but allow me to point out that app is not generic. What is generic is it's meaning "application" noone used app for application before apple, and I am not a fanboy I dislike apple on so many different levels but they do have a right to make a fuss about a patent they paid for.
        jtpfla3
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @astra4 get a grip! app store is a general concept.
      jhughesy
      Reply Vote

    • Speaking an an iPhone user

      @astra4 That particular lawsuit is pure crap... an online app store is a concept and should not be trademarked... they could trademark "Apple App Store" but not the generic "App Store" or "Appstore". Get over it dude.
      athynz
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @astra4 <br><br>Said correctly, it's Amazon's appstore store. That fixed it. Law suit averted.
      Return_of_the_jedi
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @astra4 Obviously the computer industry owes me billions for each binary digit used. After all, the concept of binary was mine. And using lowercase 'i' before any word was my concept. The bite (byte) taken out of the apple: mine.

      Copying, replaying, or dissemination of this reply is strictly prohibited.

      Honestly, this stuff is getting ridiculous. Next thing you know Microsoft will be suing Ms. Magazine.
      rlarsen@...
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @astra4 You are a such a huge imbecile apple fanboy
      fer.paredesb@...
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @astra4 Sounds like someone is a little Jealous.

      I think I hear the Beatles calling again. They're taking their apple back. :)
      mrxxxman
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Great first run by Amazon with its Appstore for Android

      @astra4

      I'm an Apple fan but that law suit is just stupid. Apple may have trademarked "App Store", two words, but Amazon created a word in Appstore so maybe they should trademark that.
      dsw0@...
      Reply Vote
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