There's one very good reason to choose Android over iOS

[LIVEFRMNYC]

AppLock is a great 3rd party app! Not a core functionality though.

My point exactly, Apps like AppLock will never be approved in the Appstore.

Aren't Amazon and Samsung stores only available by default to those manufacturers' devices?

Nope. Anyone can download and use them.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I agree with what you're saying about Apple and torrents etc. Part of their brand identity is keeping things clean, legit and safe. I totally understand why they'd sacrifice certain functionality and perhaps lose the odd customer in order to keep this image intact.

Sometimes the limitations are frustrating though. I like to buy music from bleep.com (100% legit site) that is difficult to find elsewhere, but their download system isn't allowed in iOS:

Which devices can I download to?

The Bleep download service should download to all computers. Mobiles and tablets running the Android platform should work running Firefox. Downloading to Apple mobiles and tablets is not possible. Please just download to a computer and transfer.

I can see how that could be annoying. I know Apple allow users to download music from Amazon which is in effect a competitor, but they earn revenue from it. I suppose if Bleep paid a fee like Amazon have, it would be available. Apple protect themselves very well in that regard. I'm sure you could download from Bleep and drag them into iTunes as a workaround. I know many of the mp3's I have from my Uni days where the origin is unknown, still work on my iPhone.

 

[flameproof]

Yes, I get your point completely, my point is you don't find them on the App Store because of the stigma surrounding these tools, and the potential for complicit liability,

I can't see the liability issue, they are not that concerned when it comes to the few 100 people that die every year while using their phone in the car.

BTW, you can get i.e. uTorrent from the official Play Store. Actually the only time I did use was on holiday when I d/l an episode from a TV series - totally legal! Otherwise I don't watch movies on my phone.

But I give you another issue that sux about the Apple system: The country restrictions for apps. And I give an example:

A while ago I was in Germany, and Germany has a great cheap supermarket - ALDI. They have an app, but I can't get it because I had no access to the German iTunes. It's a free app too.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

My point exactly, Apps like AppLock will never be approved in the Appstore.

Nope. Anyone can download and use them.

Actually they might with the new extensions API's in iOS 8. Late to the party, yes.

Yeah, you're right there, I checked up in that myself.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

I can't see the liability issue, they are not that concerned when it comes to the few 100 people that die every year while using their phone in the car.

BTW, you can get i.e. uTorrent from the official Play Store. Actually the only time I did use was on holiday when I d/l an episode from a TV series - totally legal! Otherwise I don't watch movies on my phone.

But I give you another issue that sux about the Apple system: The country restrictions for apps. And I give an example:

A while ago I was in Germany, and Germany has a great cheap supermarket - ALDI. They have an app, but I can't get it because I had no access to the German iTunes. It's a free app too.

What are you going to do with an ALDI app outside of Germany? Browse there assortment from afar? The different regional stores exist primarily because of media rights that need to be adhered to according to agreements Apple has with its media partners, which is a big part of its business model as explained earlier. If that isn't for you, then by all means...MOST apps and games are available worldwide. Those that deal with restricted media rights content usually are restricted to their home country's App Store. An app like ALDI Germany (Aldi is also in the US, UK, and other countries as well, BTW) probably made a conscious choice to phblish their German app only on the German app store, because, yes, developers can do that. In this case, it is the developer who has chosen to limit the app's availability.

As far as liability I don't mean general liability, I mean the almost certainty that there exists an agreement with media rights holders that the ability to circumvent official sales channels is actively restricted. It makes sense.

 

[mrex]

What are you going to do with an ALDI app outside of Germany?

probably he wanted to use that app while he was in germany =)

 

[MyopicPaideia]

probably he wanted to use that app while he was in germany =)

Ha ha, oh yeah, duh! Sorry to the original poster. That is actually a problem!

 

[flameproof]

What are you going to do with an ALDI app outside of Germany?

As said, I was travelling in Germany. The app shows me current discounts and the nearest ALDI stores. You can't buy anything via the app.

So why can't I simply go the German iTunes and install it?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Aldi does exist outside Germany too btw. They are supermarket of the year here in the UK and in my experience are excellent.