But how many non-geeks will be installing software outside that store? The first doorway matters, and it's been left wide open. There's even a note pinned to the frame inviting vampires across the threshold.

Personally, I'd think a multiple-store method should work best, where each store can control what's in it. A "kid-safe, parent-approved" store would be useful, as would "experimental", "anything goes", and "cryptic dogma but generally good". A way to select which ones you want to look in, and you're golden.

Though I realize I've just described a package manager with configurable sources.

(unless this is possible currently? haven't heard anything, and it would make the blog post nearly a moot point...)

--- edit:

I was referring to the openness of the store, not the platform, as evidenced by referring to "[Google's] Android store". Maybe it would've been clearer if I said "Android Marketplace"? Should I edit it while there's time? The openness of the platform is utterly fantastic, I wouldn't want them to change that for anything.

> But how many non-geeks will be installing software outside that store?

Depends how strict the app store policy is I guess. If Apple allowed this option then I'm sure a lot of geek and non-geek users would take up the option.

> Personally, I'd think a multiple-store method should work best

Agreed. Payments would be difficult and I guess they would want to discourage a 'pirate store' as well. But different listing criteria would be useful.

> I was referring to the openness of the store, not the platform

>> Someone actually admitting that there's a benefit to filtering! Who saw that coming?

I don't think the idea that assisting users to filter their options was ever controversial or surprising. With your multiple-store idea the openness of any particular store wouldn't be such an issue.

There's been a redonkulous amount of uproar over Apple's filtering of their own store. Often coinciding with people saying the world would be a better place if only Apple would allow their app, and if puppies fell from the sky, and nobody had to go to work, they could just bang on these drums all day.

Granted, it's the only store, so it's a different situation. It's just a nice reversal, where Android fanbois have been ripping on Apple fanbois for having such a closed store, and now the benefit of that closing is being made apparent. There's not much Android ripping here, most people here are at least somewhat geeky, and would love to see Android become bigger and better than iWhatever.

edit: as to the first point, I'll still say "very few", unless drastic steps are made to make it easy to choose from the very first interaction. There's a lot of change-fear out there in normal people - change means you don't know where your favorite button is any more, and it now breaks in new and exciting ways instead of the ones they could somewhat predict.

I'm not really that interested in fanboyism. The principles at stake in comparing open vs closed systems are orders of magnitude more important.

That's true but he is still correct. While Android can (and should) keep the ability to download and install "apps" (I am surmising that an app is some kind of packaged binary or deliverable like a .tar.gz), the need to make their App Store more like Apple's App Store is critical. They need to have strict guidelines and restrictions and say "you can't put this crap on our store." The difference is that if the dev disagrees with Google they can go post their app on their website. Is this Google controlling their ecosystem? Yes -- and rightly so. Google's App Store has their name on it for a reason and the apps accepted into it should reflect at least some of the professionalism displayed by the company itself.

Of course, the problem with this is that Google is completely awful at product management. As far as engineering goes they have a great deal of success but I don't think anyone would deny that their customer service is abysmal.

exactly. Google always has great engineering, but poor customer service. I dread the day I can't get into my Gmail account...

They work as autonomously as possible, and don't like stepping on peoples toes. The Marketplace needs some strictness, if you want to download dodgey ringtone apps, you can go to the browser and get the install from there. But the marketplace should be far better than it is now. Not even just talking about the fact there is dodgey apps there, the search function isn't the best... THE SEARCH FUNCTION GOOGLE! I tend to go to those app review sites and use the bar code scanner, which I shouldn't have to do to find apps from the worlds best search company.