Android Market Curation?

[jaStrom]

As an Android user, I have to say that searching for apps really sucks. There's so many garbage apps and it's hard to find just what you're looking for. Developers have recently been demanding that Google start enforcing some standards on their platform. I'm hoping they start to clean it up. What about you guys?

[Stimulator]

In a way I like the randomness of the Android market, because it allows new devs and apps a chance to get noticed versus the already popular ones. And reading other people's comments is usually pretty helpful before installing, but even if something does suck, just uninstall, no biggy!

[Stuntman]

it's hard to find just what you're looking for.

It's hard to find just what you're looking for because something that is just what you're looking for is probably not something others are looking for. This not only applies for apps, but for practically anything else as well. The only sure way to get just what you are looking for is to build it yourself (if you have the expertise and resources to do so).

[andre66]

I do my app searches on Youtube now, i just do a search for "best android apps" or "favorite android apps" and i get to see them in action without having to download and then trying them. Some of them i use, some i don't but every app i have downloaded so far i have found from Youtube and they have all been exactly the kind of apps i was looking for.

[qwavel]

I find searching for apps on the new website much easier then doing it on my phone:
https://market.android.com/

Before that I would have agreed with you.

I do not want them to start 'curating' their marketplace. That sort of power inevitably leads to abuse, e.g. blocking apps that provide unwanted competition or go against their interests in any way. Look at what has happened to the Apple App Store.

They should continually improve their app store, but resist the temptation to meddle. They should continue to only block viruses, malware, and apps that violate the law - everything else should live or die on its own merits.

[jaStrom]

I generally agree with you. My only concern is that there are so many terrible apps in the Market right now and they tend to make finding the good ones a bit more difficult. If Google can find a way to deal with it without turning to curation that that's fine with me.

[0defaced]

oh the wonderful world of free app dev. yes there is a TON of garbage apps, but does anyone REALLY want someone telling us what we can or cannot create for the public?

admittedly i'll let someone else sift through it all and just google myself some answers for "the best android apps of 2011", but isn't that the point? users gauging users instead is the brilliance behind user communities.....if it was governed or moderated, it doesn't give everyone a fair chance.

[Stuntman]

Everyone has different needs, so any centralised method to filter apps will result in some false positives for some users. The centralised filter may filter out an app that I really want in which case, makes it impossible for me to find the app I like. There's no guarantee that it will make searching for apps any easier for this very reason.

Also, no one will ever be able to come up with an acceptable standard for apps that will satisfy everyone. For instance, I could care less how good it looks as long as the functionality is there. Others may want to ensure an app looks good and consistent even if you have to sacrifice some functionality.