Alternative Android app stores

When it comes to app stores, Google has everything covered. The Android Market has over 100,000 apps, and that number grows every day. But that doesn’t mean we’re left without alternatives. In fact, there are a number of other Android app stores that can get you what you want. This is especially nice for those who can’t use the Android Market on their phones, but is also something worth exploring for app geeks out there. In fact, it seems as though everyone is trying to make an Android app store these days. Carriers are trying to get in on the game. Even Amazon is trying to wedge its way in. They’re currently working on an Android app store that will take advantage of its recommendation system. The store will work quite differently than the Market, in that Amazon has to approve apps and also has final say on pricing (it can even turn a paid app into a free app). It’s going to be an interesting alternative. If Amazon can make it easier to browse than the market, it could gain some traction. At this point, though, we don’t know when it’s going to roll out.
Click for larger The above image comes from a new app store called Aproov. We got an email about this last week and started to play around with it. I’m not sure it adds a ton of value over the Android Market, but it certainly contains less clutter. I do like that it’s a web-based app, so I can search through and find apps while I’m working at my laptop. There are ways to do this with the Market — I often search Android Zoom. But Aproov has the advantage of being well organized. Check it out for yourself at Aproov.com. Then, of course, is the AndGeeks Store, powered by Mobihand. It contains not only hundreds of apps, but it also has a large selection of accessories for various Android handsets. I’ve been a Mobihand advocate since the beginnings of my BlackBerry days, and I think they’ve done a quality job with their Android app store. It’s not quite as specifically organized as Aproov, but it has a number of apps, including high-end apps, that you might find useful. As always, when you’re installing non-Market apps, make sure you’ve given yourself permission. Just go to Settings – Applications and check the Unknown sources box.

About the Author

Joe Pawlikowski is the Senior Editor at MobileMoo.com and has been covering the mobile industry full time since 2007. When he's not writing about the tech scene, he can be found discussing his personal love - baseball (and more specifically the New York Yankees) as well as writing on his personal blog.