Friday, November 19, 2010

Android market gets even better: AppBrain V5!

Hello everyone!

We just pushed out version 5.0 of our AppBrain Android app. This major update offers a details page for every app. It loads very quickly after tapping an app within AppBrain, and allows you to view all interesting information before deciding to go to the market to download an app. It not only shows the familiar thumbs-up thumbs-down reviews from the website (and allows you to post your own!), but also has a tab with the related apps of an app as shown in the two screenshots on the side. Very useful if you're shopping around for an app and want to know what other similar apps are out there!

The new app page also allows you to really easily share apps with friends directly from your phone. The share button lets you share the app you're viewing through any sharing app that's installed on your phone, for instance Facebook or Gmail.


In addition to the app page, we've also integrated the Fast Web Installer with the AppBrain app itself. It can be enabled from the preferences. Apart from directly installing apps from the web, the fast web installer is active in the app, such that AppBrain can install or update apps from without going through the market.

We're sorry to report that Google has disabled the Fast Web Installer functionality in the latest update of the Android Market. Google is pushing out this update to all devices now, so we don't know how long the fast web installer will still be relevant. (You can uninstall updates of the market to make fast web installer work again, but it seems the update keeps reinstalling automatically).

Fortunately, we have developed the "Fast Sync Widget". This is a simple 1x1 widget which allows you to sync your phone to AppBrain directly from your phone's desktop.

When there is a change detected, you're taken to the Manage-my-apps screen automatically, and from there it's convenient to batch install and uninstall the things you selected on the web and new app updates. In case there are no changes, there's just a message saying that. You can also directly start a search for an app from the widget.


We hope you like the changes, and we'll talk a bit more about the other features soon!

Mathijs for the AppBrain team




at 6:20 PM

32 comments:

  1. its a shame google is doing this...
    you think its a bug, or on purpose?

    ReplyDelete
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  3. So is Google gimping Fast Web Installer because they are going to implement a similar function on their Market app in Gingerbread? Or can the FWI functionality be re-enabled in a future update?

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  4. So do we still need the separate fast-installer program?

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  5. I would ass-ume this is an auto update for the phones?

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  6. I would like to put in another request to be able to see lists that I've created other than Apps on the Phone in the app on the phone not just on the website. Thanks!

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  7. this for the galaxy tablet android v2.2 cant install anything or market web page blank page not found :(

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  8. I can't find it right now, but not too long ago I saw a post somewhere about someone who had released an app demonstrating an exploit -- his app didn't request certain permissions, but can install apps with other permissions without prompting. This is pretty much what Fast Web Installer does too. That article mentioned that Google had plugged the hole that allowed this. That may be why it no longer works. Even though AppBrain isn't malicious, it may have been hit by the closure of something that could be malicious in the wrong hands.

    I think a better work around than the widget would be to still have it use push notifications, but just open the market page and have us install from there.

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  9. The Fast Sync Widget is nowhere to be seen, how do I enable/install it?

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  10. Impossible to install apps that are not on the market. Is it normal?

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  11. It's a shame Fast Web Installer no longer works. The plugged exploit is probably the reason, but it's a shame nonetheless.

    Could you still implement push notification of changes, so that Appbrain automatically syncs on website (un)installs? From then on, the process would be the same as after syncing from Appbrain: launch the Market app to install/uninstall/update.

    Another option is more convoluted: a root app. It would only work on rooted phones, but it would allow you to bypass the market: Have the Appbrain app request root permissions. If granted, bypass the market and install, otherwise launch the Market.

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  12. I tried putting the widget on one of my screens but it's just too ugly. The shape stands out compared to the square icons. Even in the screenshot above they've had to put the widget separate to de-emphasise its wide shape.

    I'd really appreciate a square widget that just syncs. maybe a separate one for search

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  13. confused becuase it works fine for me. could it be becuase I am on android 2.1?

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  15. Oddly, I'm not having any problems with the Fast Web Installer. Now, I did notice a couple of weeks ago that Fast Web Installer wasn't working (and it gave me an error message of not being enabled even though it was successfully enabled in the AppBrain app). I redownloaded the separate Fast Web Installer app and have had no problems since. I just used it today to install Google Books and I am running the latest Market (have the similar tab).

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  16. isn't any way to download without android market page?
    in my country, still we can't download any apps in game category..!

    and, i just uninstalled FWI, so i can't cancel the update..! =_=;
    i don't know what to do..!!!

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  17. I have an HTC EVO and don't see the Fast Sync widget. However, my friend has it on his Samsung Transform. Anyone out there with an EVO that has the widget? Thanks!

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