Hello everyone. I've a sort of proposal for the developers here, but before I get into that let me first briefly introduce myself:
I'm a communication designer for print, user interface, and illustration that completely advocates everything Android. I've been lurking the Dream development forums here for quite some time, trying to keep up-to-date with the latest ROMs, apps, etc., etc and I fully appreciate everything that goes on here and the endeavors that you devs put yourself through. Amazing stuff, really.
One thing I've noticed is that there are a slew of third-party / beta apps all over these boards, and other places on the internet as well. More often than not, I find myself scouring the cloud just to find a link for these non-market apps, and I usually get referred to them via some obscure site through another site. Despite getting the .apk file or ROM in the end, the process can get to be a bit tedious; especially for incoming users and those new to the Android platform.
My proposal is this: A website with a simple and clean user interface that has direct and succinct navigation with the purpose of consolidating and listing third-party / beta non-market applications into an easy access database. This website database would link these applications and have them be easily downloaded and installed via the Android browser, without having to mount the device.
I've actually come up with a fully-functional concept site, did the branding and everything for it, and also registered a short domain name for quick access while on your G1 or whatever Android device.
Navigate to: http://anda.pk to see what I had in mind, and how the overall layout/concept of the site would work.
I uploaded several .apk files I had backed up as examples for you to see how the database section would function. I also took into account the resolution of most Android phones and made the .apk application database section fit perfectly in the Android browser when in portrait mode right when you the load the site to ensure the best possible user experience when installing these third party apps. When you scroll to the right, you'll see info on what the site is about, and in the footer there are links to the FAQ, the about section, contact, etc.
I had also noted in the about link in the footer that the applications hosted on the download section are in no way accredited to the site, and that credit goes to their rightful developers. My being a communication designer has had the idea of peer collaboration engrained, and as such I give credit it where credit is due.
That said, I hope you guys here and the developers collaborate with me on on this site, possibly help contribute apks, and agree to them being hosted. If anything, I do hope you just embrace the concept, which originally was just going to be a reference for myself and my friends whom I've turned away from the iPhone, S60, and WinMo in favor of Android. I figured since I know the Android community is only going to get bigger, this website concept of mine could be a decent resource to have bookmarked.
Appreciate you reading this wall of text! Do hope to hear some feedback, so let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
Cheers.
I think this is a fabulous idea...automated version control would go over very well -- i.e. yum update
you should post up bits that you need help with and have folks contact you.
also..I love the logo!
question: do you propose a rating system or a review prior to listing type of approach or something new to keep this resource trustworthy?
Been following this on SA and twitter and it's a great idea.
Having the devs here on board would be a fantastic way to get something solid on the go. It's the kind of thing that can really help android become more hackable and useable for the average user...and it just make things easier for the rest of us.
Sounds good to me.
thelilliandivide said:
the applications hosted on the download section are in no way accredited to the site
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Credit and accreditation are different things. To be accredited is to be given credentials or official approval. I think you meant "credited".
Sounds like a GREAT idea.
My opinion: The color scheme hurts. Love the logo.
i like the logo and the idea. I think the site should be more mobile friendly, or even better, an application for android that can work like the official market. I could help with that part if an application is going to be built.
camalot said:
i like the logo and the idea. I think the site should be more mobile friendly, or even better, an application for android that can work like the official market. I could help with that part if an application is going to be built.
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i second that.. it should also have update checks if possible
I was going to complain that I didn't like your site layout, but in portrait mode you only see the left side which lists the apps. I like it.
One thing you might have to be leary of is dealing with apps that are considered warez unless your going to spend the time to verify every app that is uploaded or there has to a method in place.
As well there should be some kind of version control in place. You know what works on 1.1 and what works on 1.5. Obviously almost everybody within the next few weeks/months should be on 1.5, but will all the older apps run on 1.5 or does it really matter or does anybody care? The downloader will care.
CBowley said:
Sounds like a GREAT idea.
My opinion: The color scheme hurts. Love the logo.
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Seconded. The text is much too light. A darker charcoal shade would be much better.
If the site gets an apk wrapper (a la FBook) version checking would be rather easy. Set up the directory tree something like this /downloads/WiFiTether/1.2.3.apk and just have the apk compare filenames. If the file names don't match, it needs to install the update.
EDIT: Now following your progress on twitter.
Some solid input. I'll play around with the color scheme and make some changes later this evening once I get back from class. And I actually do plan on making a mobile wrapper eventually, but as it stands as far as the concept layout goes, the site is best used when in portrait mode for easiest functionality. The rest of the site is to be considered supplemental. I do however, have a lot of things I eventually want to integrate; application tags, search, possibility of user uploaded apk files, etc. But for right now, I'm trying to keep the general site as simple as possible to make the workload on my end less stressful (graduating in 2 weeks).
bahnburner said:
If the site gets an apk wrapper (a la FBook) version checking would be rather easy. Set up the directory tree something like this /downloads/WiFiTether/1.2.3.apk and just have the apk compare filenames. If the file names don't match, it needs to install the update.
EDIT: Now following your progress on twitter.
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Did not know how that version checker worked. Thanks. I'll re-work the apk directory scheme akin to that later tonight for when I do eventually get the wrapper up.
thelilliandivide said:
Did not know how that version checker worked. Thanks. I'll re-work the apk directory scheme akin to that later tonight for when I do eventually get the wrapper up.
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That's not necessarily how most version checks work, but that's the simplest method I could think of, and probably one of the easiest to implement.
alapapa said:
I think this is a fabulous idea...automated version control would go over very well -- i.e. yum update
you should post up bits that you need help with and have folks contact you.
also..I love the logo!
question: do you propose a rating system or a review prior to listing type of approach or something new to keep this resource trustworthy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! And I feel I might need some help in the future as far as implementing the features that I want to get working. But I'm not quite sure I understand your question. Are you referring to how I choose which applications get posted onto the site?
i'm a graphic designer and web designer, i'll throw in a helping hand if you want, pm me or whatever.
(think about an android based layout to bring it to the phone like Cough*cydia*cough
very cool and much needed
Xda-dev is great, but there is alot of stuff thats not on the market and they have shown to bow down to the tmobs pressure(ie: tether app) so another place to get apps would be great, and your weppage is beautiful and looks like it would be very finger friendly on the g1, but there is a basic model in linux of repositories(which is about what ur doing) and a simple app to d/l them maybe somebody could just make a market.apk with a modded addy, depending on how much is known about the market and its inner workings... it would be nice to do it as it has been always done....but as I stated above your webdesign is very nice and would work well in the native browser(im heading there now on my g1)
bhang
not a bad idea. I think this is great for all verified apps that are pulled from market...
I really like this idea. Go for it.
Just one (stupid) remark about the logo... it's like it has a big nose and a :-| expression... sorry
apetit said:
I really like this idea. Go for it.
Just one (stupid) remark about the logo... it's like it has a big nose and a :-| expression... sorry
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Haha, I just noticed that actually. Now it's all I see. But yeah, I'm hoping to have a few more apps to upload by the end of next week. Revisions to the site are imminent once I get out of this last class.
I love the idea. One bookmark to check up on all the good non-market apps will be much easier than having several bookmarked threads.
Some applications may benefit from having tags such as [beta], [stable], [experimental], [contains-ads], etc.
As others have mentioned once/if user uploads are implemented an app approval system will be crucial to keep the spam at bay. I can see this really taking off.
im a supporter
zgmf-x322a said:
im a supporter
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+1 this sounds like a great idea, there was something like this for apps for the dash,mda & sda.
Hi,
I put this question up at android.net but that doesn’t seem to be a developer forum, one of the guys said I should try here.
I’ve built an icon and I want people to be able to download onto their mobile phone that then sits in the applications, right next to angry birds metaphorically, that is then a simple a link to my mobile website. Is there a tutorial for that anywhere?
I will want to be able to do that for at least iPhone and Andrioid.
Cheers,
Mike.
Anyone have any ideas, I don’t want to have to try another forum!
Thanks for your help XDA Developer…lol.
Thanks for your help XDA Developer…lol.
I got to the bottom of the icon thing, that’s the easy part, in fact when it comes to programming the app part is the easiest part.
I now have a working model with a PC based administration section linked to a database communicating via a web service to iPhone, Windows Phone and Android. I can CRUD from both the phones and PC. It’s a beautiful package if I may say so myself. Now its built world is my oyster.
You may as well delete me from this forum, as you people don’t seem to share I’m not going to either and I won’t be coming back!
Good luck and good bye!
Mike.
hello to you all.
I have a few questions regarding the development of ios app. I have no knowledge of this, I do know how I want the final product.
Now I know not all that I ask is probably legal, but this is of course only question
Is it possible to combine several different apps available in the appstore for a common app
app should in theory not be sold, but only serves to make my life easier. so must the app not going to lie down in the app store
Should the device (iPad) jailbreakes for this to be done?
the developer must be present in order to be able to program, or it can be done far away from me. We're talking about apps that are made for home automation.
can anyone help with a bit her tongue in my thoughts?
it would be super cool if there was someone who had the time and energy to look at my plans and see if it was realistic?
Peter
Denmark
plindberg said:
hello to you all.
I have a few questions regarding the development of ios app. I have no knowledge of this, I do know how I want the final product.
Now I know not all that I ask is probably legal, but this is of course only question
Is it possible to combine several different apps available in the appstore for a common app
app should in theory not be sold, but only serves to make my life easier. so must the app not going to lie down in the app store
Should the device (iPad) jailbreakes for this to be done?
the developer must be present in order to be able to program, or it can be done far away from me. We're talking about apps that are made for home automation.
can anyone help with a bit her tongue in my thoughts?
it would be super cool if there was someone who had the time and energy to look at my plans and see if it was realistic?
Peter
Denmark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Peter,
Well your idea is not quite clear to me. From whatever little I understood from your post is that you want a home automation app that is a mixture of many different apps available in the app store. As you clearly know that duplicating app designs without proper permissions is a crime. There are many home automation apps already available in the market. Having said that, if you still want your app to be custom-made to suit your needs, I can help you. I am an iOS developer new york and have built quite a few home automation apps. We can make a custom app suited for your needs. If you can elaborate your requirements, it would be possible to chalk out a plan and see whether your plans are realistic or not.
Hello,
I have some questions, but I'm really not in this field, so it's possible to say some stupid things. Please forgive me.
Also please forgive me for posting this here, but I'm thinking that here I can find some specialists that can tell me in what direction I must look to find solutions.
I want to develop a product, for a group of older people. It's composed from a tablet + the software for it. The tablets I plan to order from a Chinese manufacturer, but for the moment I want to buy a couple of tablets from a local store just to see if it works. The OS should be Android. The main purpose of this product will be an app (with some widgets) that will be pre-installed on it. I don't want the app to be available on Playstore. The app will be very basic in this stage. So, until now seems simple. I hire someone on Fiverr to develop the app knowing the main specifications of the tablets, then I buy the tablets, manually install the app and setting it's widgets to display as I want.
BUT, I want also to customize the opening animation of the device. And very important, to be able to update the app and it's widgets, and also the way the widgets appear on the screens. And maybe install some new apps for added functionality. It must be very simple to use for these people, they don't know how to install apps from Playstore, and to setup widgets and stuff. It must be a product ready to use and possible to update in the future.
Is this possible?
I need a customized version of Android? This can be updated on the devices, and set up all things, apps and how the widgets display?
Or I can make all these with only an Android app?
Any advice is welcome, thank you