In a dramatic and potentially frustrating change to the Android Market, the time period in which you can get a refund on purchased apps has shrunk from 24 hours to a mere 15 minutes.
Google will roll out an update to the Market to all devices running Android 1.6 or higher over the next two weeks. The update will focus on improving "discoverability and merchandising", according to the Android developer blog, with an interface refresh to sweeten the deal.
The move will make the Android Market a more attractive place for developers looking to profit from making apps, which in turn should improve the overall quality of apps on offer. Google says the change will "help developers manage their businesses more effectively".
Fair enough, but that's a huge reduction, and a quarter of an hour may well prove insufficient time for a user to figure out whether or not an app is what they really wanted.
The iPhone App Store has no equivalent refund system, so Android still trumps Apple's offering there, but Android fans accustomed to taking a day to figure out if they like a download might rue the changes.
In more appealing news, a massive aesthetic overhaul is also due. We've long thought the Android Market was a little unfortunate looking, with its hard to navigate menus and ugly interface. The new update will add a carousel on the home and category screens, which should help users discover new and cool apps, or just those that are being mercilessly promoted.
There are also two new categories, for widgets and live wallpapers, with more promised in the weeks ahead.
Most importantly, all the information on an app is now available on a single page, with the tabbed view for investigating an app thrown on the scrapheap. Hopefully this will make evaluating new apps a much simpler process, and brings the design more in line with the excellent iPhone App Store.
What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 8
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Pokeh 13 December, 2010 14:00
Owned my HTC Hero for about 6 - 7 months now and I've never bought a paid app off the Marketplace. This just makes it even more unlikely now. How can I possibly judge whether or not an app is suitable or not within 15 minutes?
I mean, if I took my chances with a Sat Nav app how do I adequately test it out in the space of 15 minutes? If there's a rampant problem of people getting refunds on apps on the Marketplace then the developers should take action to make their apps, well, less rubbish.
It's unlikely I'll get another Android phone - it feels like I've just been left in the dark with software updates ever since getting Android 2.1.
Anonymous 13 December, 2010 16:00
Wouldn't you just do what you do with an iPhone app and read the reviews to see if it's suitable?
billfred 13 December, 2010 16:33
You can read reviews on Android Market, but doesn't give a full understanding of the app or if perhaps a feature is broken with your device. iPhone doesn't even give you a refund option (Apple giving money back... HA!) which Luke has pointed out in the article, so Google still have this one over on the iPhone.
Andyt95 13 December, 2010 18:01
Pokeh, when you're getting bored with it, root it. rooted phone = new phone whenever you want one.
anonymous, the problem with that is that the android market had a huge appeal due to the 24 hour refund system, and good developers got their good apps bought by good customers. the bad apps, such as the original doodle jump, were bought, but then everyone realised it sucked and refunded Lima Sky. what if people don't have the time to play it within 15 minutes?
It's a major flaw with the apple market and it is one of many reasons why I said 'screw you apple' and bought my hTC hero. The number of times I have refunded is biblical, the only reason being, if an app sucks, I don't want it clogging up the limited space I have on my phone... If an app is good, I keep it, such as mini squadron...
The only solution is that EVERY paid app must come with a free version to try out, and that will just put off developers... If not, then I think we'll all go into our /data/app/ folder and post the apk on t'internet and then the developer gets screwed even more so.
Good decision by google? umm... NO
Anonymous 13 December, 2010 20:03
doesnt windows phone trump them all by allowing you to try / rent an app?i dont know but thats what ive seen when looking windows phones. thats a good way to see if you actually want or need a certain app. I thing i was suprised though was how expensive the windows phone apps were compared to the apple and android apps. again, dont know why.
Anonymous 14 December, 2010 11:43
I have downloaded so many apps due to the 24 hour refund, and only a few have gone on the scrapheap. My likelihood of buying new apps just plummeted. I'll now need to be really sure, or I'll have to put up with dodgy trial versions first.
When they say "a more attractive place for developers", what they really mean is GAME developers. Maybe a developer set period should be in place. This will suit both those making games you'll get bored with after 20 min, and those who care about their customers and are making quality software.
Anonymous 17 December, 2010 18:03
It looks like I will stick to the free apps for my Dell Streak
Anonymous 17 December, 2010 20:11
I won't have to pay for an Andriod app for years - I haven't tried all the free ones yet !!