Alternative Android Market To House Banned Apps 114
sl4shd0rk writes "In contrast to the Apple's iron-fisted control over their App store, the Android Market is much more open. Google does, on occasion, remove apps it deems inappropriate, such as emulators, legally-questionable music services, tethering apps and one-click root apps. But if Koushik Dutta of CyanogenMod fame has his way, these heretic apps may have a home after all. Dutta plans an 'underground' Android Market complete with an approval process to weed out malicious applications; something Google doesn't do. Ideally, this will give Android users a more trustable source from which to get applications without having to resort to dictatorial software control."
trust is the key element (Score:5, Interesting)
I'd happily use this, maybe even pay for apps if they meet a need well enough.
But only if I can trust it. There has to be a general belief and continued lack of proof to the contrary that the apps can be trusted.
The Google controlled Market ironically lacks this element of trust - but Google have the track record of resolving any issues as soon as they spot them. So on balance, you tend to have a reasonable level of comfort, particularly if an app's been downloaded 5 million times.
However, I'm all for it. Lets get it up and running - after all, this is the very openness that drew me to Android ahead of its rivals.
Re:How is this any different than BlackMart? (Score:3, Interesting)
Besides you needing a facebook account, CyanogenMOD has a reputation, making it a trusted source. I would install their market, but I wouldn't be caught dead with that one in my phone.
AppsLib and Soc.io Mall (Score:4, Interesting)
1) Google Market
How long until Google cease-and-desists the developer of ArcTools, the tool to "pirate" Android Market on Archos devices? And how long until Google cease-and-desists the provider of the Gapps package for CyanogenMod, just as Google cease-and-desisted Cyanogen himself [slashdot.org] when he used to provide it?
2) Amazon App Store 3) SlideME marketplace
Are AppsLib and Soc.io Mall any good?