Apple may still have a dominant stranglehold on the smartphone and tablet markets with its best-selling iPhones and iPads, but Google’s Android OS continues to make inroads and chip away at Apple’s market share. More and more devices featuring Android are coming to the marketplace and that’s especially true with tablets, as Google’s HoneyComb OS designed specifically for tablets has many developers drooling over some the superior capabilities over the iPad that it offers.
One big advantage that Android already has is its open-source nature, and the fact that there’s no central authority such as Apple determining what apps can or can’t be distributed. While developers still have to follow various rules and protocols to get their apps listed in the Android Market, there are far fewer restrictions on the types of apps that can be distributed. While Apple bans online slots and other gambling games that can be used to wager real money, similar apps have already appeared in the Android Market.
Another nice feature for Android devices is the ability to install a much wider range of applications, including Android APK files. APK files are basically apps just like you download and install from the Android Market, they just haven’t gone through the official process to be listed and distributed there. Many developers will make beta versions of their programs available as free APK files, and some of the cheaper tablets don’t come with access to Android Market, so there are definitely occasions when you’ll want to know how to install APK files and other non-Market apps.
One note of caution, though, is that installing any non-Market app involves a bit of a gamble; much like when you play online roulette, you’re always running a bit of a risk when you download any app that hasn’t been examined and approved. Most developers have good intention and just want to get their game or app out there but virtually any sort of code (good or bad) can be included in APK files, so understand the risk you run and that while you might win with your next download and get a great program you might also spin the wheel and come up a loser, getting either a non-functioning app or malicious code on your smartphone or tablet.
