Prior to the G1's
stealth launch, Google's on-device
Android Market was a busy place, teeming with some 50-plus apps seemingly ready to win the hearts and minds of early adopters anxious to outfit their G1s with... oh, you know, simple pleasures like a video player or the ability to change the UI's font size. We guess that wasn't part of Mountain View's strategy, though, with all but 13 applications having been removed today -- presumably a knee-jerk response to the knowledge that phones were starting to make their way into paying customers' hands. Truth be told, this was probably the plan all along; the Market had gotten a little dirty from both developer and Google testing, and we're figuring they were just looking to tidy things up a bit to make it presentable on launch day before it got nasty dirty with a flood of developers outside the confines of Google's own
Android Developer Challenge. Either that, or there's some deep, dark conspiracy lurking involving the unceremonious removal of any content that upsets Schmidt, Brin, or Page.
Update: We're hearing this is all due to an update to the Market -- older apps that haven't been updated to meet the Market's specs aren't available at the moment. Thanks, everyone!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt @ Oct 20th 2008 5:36PM
The Market is being updated today.
http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=87&thread.id=508
Stefan Frank @ Oct 20th 2008 5:37PM
The Android Market is showing 20 apps as of this moment (5:30pm Eastern US).
http://www.androidauthority.com/index.php/2008/10/20/google-removes-35-apps-from-the-android-market-for-g1-launch/
STLG1Guy @ Oct 20th 2008 5:39PM
They're slowly coming back, its all part of the Market maintenance that was planned for today. There are currently 20 applications and 5 games. So that 13 number didn't last long. Its still not officially launch day don't forget. Give it time, I'm sure the count will keep climbing.
iNToIT @ Oct 20th 2008 5:47PM
Chris Ziegler, your post was very ill informed and misleading. You may be a blogger, but people rely on the information you provide, yes... just like a reporter.
When you misinform on a popular/widely read and referenced blog like Engadget, you only do Engadget, yourself, and more importantly.. your readership a disservice.
Please stop wth the knee-jerk reactions of your own, and take a moment to think, and maybe look for an answer before going all FUD/conspiracy/tinhat.
The news about the Android market and the apps on the G1 being updated today (20th) has been going around for a few days now. Just because you're not in the loop, doesn't mean you shouldn't try to be when posting ludicris conjecture with no basis in fact. Oh wait...
And, I'd feel this way if you posted this type of misinformation about ANY device.. even.. *gag*.. the iphone.
Chris Ziegler @ Oct 20th 2008 5:53PM
iNToIT, where's the FUD? Think you may have taken my last line WAY too seriously. You're absolutely right, we hadn't heard that there was a Market update in the works for today, but the information regarding the update most certainly didn't indicate that there'd be a mass (albeit temporary) culling of available apps today.
Thanks for addressing me by my full first and last name, by the way -- wouldn't have known this was directed at me otherwise!
iNToIT @ Oct 20th 2008 6:03PM
Oh, I guess my post wasn't over-the-top enough to reflect the wry humor and sarcasm in parody with which it was intended. I'll work on that in the future, or just use tags, since doesn't work anymore. :/
iLA @ Oct 20th 2008 11:48PM
Sorry had to add this (almost forgot). Each app is being updated with a security feature. What it is? I don't know, but you will see most of them back up in the store within the week or before launch. If you look now there are more than their was when this column was posted on androidcommunity.com.