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CyanogenMod contemplates an app storeThe big question that is on everyone's mind when it comes to CyanogenMod these days is "when might we see Ice Cream Sandwich on device xyzzy?" Work on the ICS-based CyanogenMod 9 (CM9) proceeds apace, but trying to get any kind of estimate would undoubtedly violate the first rule of CyanogenMod: "you don't ask for ETAs". There are a couple of different interesting things going on in CM-land right now, beyond all of the work on bringing ICS to the many supported devices. Two things in CM developer Koushik Dutta's Google+ post from January 10 stand out: the idea of a CyanogenMod App Store is gaining some traction, and that CM is approaching one million unique installs. While one million users is a pretty significant number, it's still a drop in the bucket compared to Android devices overall (which have 700,000 registrations per day at last count). Still, it is quite an achievement for the project. Incidentally, the numbers gathered by CM come from the opt-in CMStats program that users are asked to enable at first-boot time. Undoubtedly, some users don't, so it's likely that CM has already surpassed the million-user mark. Since CMStats checks in on each boot, though, it is a reliable source of data for counting "unique, active, user installs", as Dutta put it. The app store idea comes about for a couple of different reasons. Apps that required rooted devices have a tendency to get kicked out of the Android Market, presumably because the carriers don't like them. Other unpopular app types include emulators for older video game systems (without the ROMs that would clearly be a copyright violation), one-click rooting, and tethering apps. Dutta is thinking that an app store that is not under the thumb of Google and the carriers would provide one-stop shopping for those kinds of apps. The "shopping" part is important. Dutta and project founder Steve Kondik see a CM app store as a way to generate revenue to help support the project's development. If a portion of the revenue from such a store went to the project, it could cover some of its increasing hardware and server costs. As Dutta mentions, there is no reason that it would be limited only to CM installs either as any alternate Android ROM could include it (presumably with some kind of revenue sharing deal). Based on the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the Google+ posting (it reached the 500 comment limit in less than a day) it seems like an idea with some legs. In fact, a follow-up posting would seem to indicate that Dutta has started working on code for the app store. Several commenters brought up issues that a CM app store would need to address, including ensuring app quality (and security/privacy), but overall, it would appear there are quite a few users interested in a single place to get "banned" apps. While there have been no CM9 progress updates since one was posted to the blog on December 2, there are a lot of CM9 "KANG" (unofficial) builds floating around in threads on the XDA-developers site and elsewhere. No official builds have yet appeared, though, not even release candidates or nightlies as yet. In the meantime, one can either be patient or go ahead and build CM9 from the source. (Log in to post comments)
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 4:29 UTC (Thu) by jmalcolm (guest, #8876) [Link]
I would be willing to install CyanogenMod just to support this app store. I would hope that perhaps, over time, they could feature not just "banned" apps but regular apps from the mainstream app stores as well. I would like the freedom to have my purchases fund this amazing project and not just fill the coffers of Google and Amazon.
I have a Nook Color that would run CyanogenMod but I have not bothered to put it on. It is unusual for me not to hijack a computer or gaming console to put Linux on it. I use the Nook to read books and PDFs, surf the web, and watch Netflix. I guess it does that well enough that I have not seen the need. Ironically, the ability to fund the CyanogenMod project might just be the very feature that brings me to the CyanogenMod platform.
Do not get me wrong though. As an unashamed free-market supporter, I also support B&N and Amazon and do not mind (and would even want) to provide revenue to them. I like their products. However, a true free market would allow me a choice of app stores.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 7:28 UTC (Thu) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]
There are a few different app stores. Amazon's is one. SlideME is another.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 15:25 UTC (Thu) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] I'm surprised no one's mentioned F-Droid, an Android app-store for Free & Open-Source Software.
F-Droid Posted Jan 13, 2012 11:36 UTC (Fri) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link] Yes, F-Droid is worth mentioning. Almost all apps on my phone coming from F-Droid, the few other apps are also free (as in freedom) software. Having yet another app store with non-free software is dispensable, IMHO.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 13, 2012 15:33 UTC (Fri) by job (guest, #670) [Link]
I was too surprised by this until I realized he was talking about a store for non-free software. That would be very far from the spirit of f-droid. Why would I install a free firmware in my phone just to run non free software? I don't understand but judging from the reactions a lot of people do.
And how would the project earn money from it, by charging to downloads? Not a good idea, in my opinion, as it requires centralization which is bad for the project. The Debian project has a much larger installed base, imagine if they would charge for downloads. They do it by being decentralized.
I regard this talk about banned apps a red herring. I am very skeptical that Google somehow lets carriers police Android Market and until I see some proof I regard it as that.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 16, 2012 23:30 UTC (Mon) by hugoroy (subscriber, #60577) [Link]
See http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreemen... section 7.2
"Google enters into distribution agreements with device manufacturers and Authorized Carriers to place the Market software client application for the Market on Devices. These distribution agreements may require the involuntary removal of Products in violation of the Device manufacturer's or Authorized Carrier's terms of service."
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 18, 2012 11:20 UTC (Wed) by job (guest, #670) [Link]
That sounds insane. Normally it is the manufacturer who has to jump through hoops to get license to put Market in, and get access to the software ecosystem. There's a long list of requirements from Google. So depending on your hardware id string you are presented with different Markets. Is this actually done in practice?
One word Posted Jan 18, 2012 12:31 UTC (Wed) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link] So depending on your hardware id string you are presented with different Markets. Is this actually done in practice? Yes.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 7:27 UTC (Thu) by hugoroy (subscriber, #60577) [Link] "Apps that required rooted devices have a tendency to get kicked out of the Android Market, presumably because the carriers don't like them." What do you mean by that? On what grounds can carriers remove apps from the app store just because they "don't like them"?
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 9:49 UTC (Thu) by hrw (subscriber, #44826) [Link]
Tether applications gets removed/blocked by carriers for their users.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 13, 2012 0:13 UTC (Fri) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]
Or things that are offensive, too political, violate IP laws (Mame, for example), etc etc.
Also ones that are, unfortunately, malicious.
One of the bad things about Android is that in order to use third party stuff you have to disable the signature support for the package management system. So you can't tell if you accidently install from a malicious server through a IP hijack or domain poisoning or whatever.. or has been modified on a hacked server by somebody other then the original author.
I could very well be wrong, but it would be nice to have the ability to add new signatures for packages for third party repositories like it's possible with RPM and such. So as long as you can trust your repos you can trust the safety of the apps.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 13, 2012 13:56 UTC (Fri) by hugoroy (subscriber, #60577) [Link]
Ok, but how do they achieve that? It looks very surprising to me that the carrier is able to interfere between the user and Google on that matter.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 16, 2012 23:29 UTC (Mon) by hugoroy (subscriber, #60577) [Link]
Ok so in the Android market distribution agreement, developers agree that "Google enters into distribution agreements with device manufacturers and Authorized Carriers to place the Market software client application for the Market on Devices. These distribution agreements may require the involuntary removal of Products in violation of the Device manufacturer's or Authorized Carrier's terms of service." (section 7.2; Google Takedowns) Similar clauses exist in all agreements.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 10:25 UTC (Thu) by fatrat (subscriber, #1518) [Link]
I'm running CM9 on my phone (from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1363593) and it's already solid enough for daily use.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 12, 2012 22:12 UTC (Thu) by yokem_55 (subscriber, #10498) [Link]
I'm using an AOSP based ICS build on my Incredible that is working relatively well also (with some annoying bugs)...
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 12:41 UTC (Fri) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link] When I bought my Android telephone some months ago, I selected a CM compatible one. Putting CM on the phone seems to be easy, But I would like to save my contacts/address book before and restore them after. Anybody has an idea how to achieve this with Linux? (Some people seem to trust third parties and put the data on their servers, but I feel uncomfortable with that idea. And, of course, I would have to ask all my friends for permission to upload their addresses, phone number, birth dates...)
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 13:09 UTC (Fri) by lab (subscriber, #51153) [Link]
> But I would like to save my contacts/address book before and restore them after. Anybody has an idea how to achieve this with Linux?
You simply install an app from the Android Market, that performs that function. There's many of them. You could take a look at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rerware.android... for example.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 14:00 UTC (Fri) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link]
> You simply install an app from the Android Market, that performs that function.
OK, thanks for the link!
Any hint for a free app (with source code), maybe installable without need for an Android Market account?
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 15:22 UTC (Fri) by job (guest, #670) [Link]
You don't need anything special to backup the contact list. Inside the stock Contacts app, press menu and select Import/export and it will save the list in a portable format on the SD card.
Backing up SMS and call logs was a little trickier, and there are many third party apps that perform it. In the end I used SMS Backup+ by Jan Berkel which was available on github and worked perfectly.
I did not care about any other data, but you may have data in your apps or settings that you care about. In that case you can either use a backup app like Titanium Backup or move the files manually when your phone is "rooted" (which means su is available, the normal user account is not privileged enough).
I then used ROM Manager to install CyanogenMod, which automated both download, complete system backup, and installation. I don't know if this software is free software, as I could only find binaries. In the end I trusted it anyway since I could not find usable alternatives.
I hope this information can be of any help for you.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 16:02 UTC (Fri) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link] Many thanks! In fact, the contacts data is the only one I really care about, call logs and text messages are not important for me. However, the GT-I9000 with firmware 2.3.3 does not have the menu point you mentioned. Import/Export in the contacts only offers
Rooting sounds like the most sensible solution to me.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 23:39 UTC (Fri) by job (guest, #670) [Link]
Are you sure you read that right? Mine doesn't have export to SIM (only import), but there is an export to SD. I can not imagine why a manufacturer would remove that piece of functionality. Perhaps someone who knows more about your model can help you better.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 14, 2012 0:13 UTC (Sat) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link]
Thanks! I just found other people having the same problem. The solution is easy: One can only see the option when the external ยต-SD card is plugged in. Tomorrow I will buy one :~) Last step before switching to CM, I hope...
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 14, 2012 18:51 UTC (Sat) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link]
Tested: Having an external SD card plugged in, in the contacts app two more list items appear for import and export from/to SD. The format of the generated file is VCARD and it seems to contain all relevant information, even birthdays, notes, and nicknames. Groups are lost, however.
Result: Contacts can be exported with minor limitations without additional software, for the calendar I don't care at the moment.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 16:55 UTC (Fri) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]
> But I would like to save my contacts/address book before and restore them after. Anybody has an idea how to achieve this with Linux?
Let my phone sync with my Google account then I pull it down to my system using Evolution. Everything is automatic at that point.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 13, 2012 17:06 UTC (Fri) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link]
That's certainly the most pragmatic way to do it. But as I wrote, I will not upload personal data of my friends, colleagues etc. to third party servers without their consent.
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 14, 2012 9:47 UTC (Sat) by lab (subscriber, #51153) [Link]
As someone else said, you can import/export the contacts directly from the contacts app. If you would prefer to only run Free/Open Source apps on your device, and not have a Google account or use the Google Android Market, you really want to look at F-Droid: http://f-droid.org/ It has many fine apps for your delight. There you will also find two backup programs: "LifeSaver2" and "Slight Backup".
OT: How to save my data for converting my phone to CM? Posted Jan 14, 2012 9:55 UTC (Sat) by debacle (subscriber, #7114) [Link] Yes, I know F-Droid, but it seems, neither LifeSaver2 nor Slight backup do save the contacts and calendar, which I care about. Instead, they save SMS and call logs, which are not important to me.
Aptoide Posted Jan 14, 2012 10:28 UTC (Sat) by lab (subscriber, #51153) [Link]
For those interested in an open source approach, to running your own "market/appstore", you might be interested in Aptoide: http://aptoide.com/index2.html. It has both a market client and software/directions for running your own repository.
CyanogenMod contemplates an app store Posted Jan 16, 2012 14:10 UTC (Mon) by meyert (subscriber, #32097) [Link]
"Android devices overall (which have 700,000 registrations per day at last count)."
So what's all the registrations about? Do you have to register your android system? When yes: Why?
This is optional... and required - confused yet? Posted Jan 16, 2012 17:04 UTC (Mon) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link] You must register Android to use Google services. If you don't need to use Google services (like Android Market, for example) then you are free to keep phone unregistered.
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