Can I use Google Play Market on Lumia? Pros and cons of the application

Apps, apps, and more apps! It takes more than just a fancy device sporting an incredible HD display, a great camera, and amazing processing capabilities to make a phone truly "smart". Honestly, it's all about the apps. An “app market” is a one-stop shop for getting games and other Internet applications such as Google+, Angry Birds, and more. It’s easy to say that without app markets, your smartphone might as well just be called a dumbphone. Here's the rub: The Android Market (Google Play) entered the game after Apple did, and the Windows App Market was not even released until one year after Google broke ground. We compare both markets to see how they stack up to one another.

Developers

It turns out that although Android owns more than 50% of the total market share, developers still favor creating apps for Apple’s iOS platform. But in this case, we have cropped iOS out of the picture. So which market do developers favor now?

Membership Cost

Before you can even build an application for either market, both Google and Microsoft require that developers cough up some cash. For Windows Phone developers, Microsoft asks for $99 per year. And, if said developer wants to submit more than 100 free apps, Microsoft asks for $19.99 for each submission after that. Google, on the other hand, is asking for a $25 membership fee to keep “spammy” developers out of their market. However, $25 is not too much to ask for as a one-time investment.

SDK and Language

The Windows Phone SDK is comprised of multiple parts including Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone, XNA Game Studio, and others. In addition to having the SDK, Microsoft suggests that you be familiar with Microsoft .NET Framework and C++ or Visual Basic. The Android SDK is available for Windows, Mac and even Linux, unlike the Windows Phone SDK being Windows only. Furthermore, most all Android apps are written in Java. But C/C++ apps are not forbidden from the market either.

Downloads and Fragmentation

The main source of developers not liking the Android platform is it’s seemingly inherent fragmentation. The Android platform is very staggered between builds and that makes it difficult for developers to make an app that works on all versions of Android. But that anger didn’t stop Windows Phone from going down the exact same path. With Windows Phone 8 on the way, rumor has it that Microsoft will only be releasing WP8 to the latest devices that are released in 2012. Therefore, this will leave developers stuck in between two different versions of Windows Phone. This could create a sticky situation and a possible opportunity for market share, should Android solve its ongoing fragmentation.

According to the Android.com developer website, “Users downloaded more than 2.4 billion apps in Q3 2011 alone.” Furthermore, Google recently beefed up the Android Market into “Google Play”, a books, music, movies, and apps hub that reaches hundreds of millions of users in over 130 countries.

Number of apps

The current design of Google Play has come a long way. With a few updates and the most recent name change to Google Play, I feel that Google has really done a nice job with the current design. With big and bold pictures, a feature of Ice Cream Sandwich, it is easy to find the best apps without having too much in your face. In addition, the new design takes advantage of the ‘sideways swiping’ feature found in most other Google apps. Swipe the whole screen left and right to find different categories and the top app lists (Top Free, Popular Apps, etc.)

Windows App Market

The Windows Phone App Marketplace has followed Windows Phone’s widely hailed “Metro” style user interface in the recent 7.5 Mango update. In addition, Windows and Google use similar categories to sort their apps. The only main difference between the two markets is that Google has chosen to use big and vibrant pictures to represent new and featured apps, books, movies, and music.

Although many people could argue that “ads” are just annoying, the makers behind the health app RunKeeper would disagree. After becoming featured in the Android Market, the app saw a significant increase in downloads. Finally, Lightbox was a featured app during the holiday season of 2011 and received the lions share of an estimated 1 billion plus downloads during that time period.

Content Management Client

It is no secret that Microsoft has been in the program and application business ever since it started. Furthermore, Microsoft had already been working on the Zune platform long before Windows Phone came into the picture. Therefore, the Zune Software is in use for Windows Phone users. The program can be used on your Windows PC and comes pre-loaded with access to a horde of music and videos. It also has the ability to move around media between your phone and computer. Finally, it can also install new software updates to your device.

On the other hand, Google created an online marketplace similar to the Chrome Web Store. Along with Google Play, previously known as Android Market, they have re-introduced their cloud management client. First used as an online music player, Google Play now allows you to manage all of your music, apps, books, and even movies. Furthermore, by visiting Google Play on any Internet connected device, you can play all of your music just like on iTunes. You can also read all of your books, and manage your movies and apps between your Android devices directly from the Google Play website. Finally, as mentioned before…

Re-Cap

As you can see, both markets are similar in a lot of ways. Due to the fact that Google’s market has been around longer, they have a substantially larger selection of apps. Microsoft on the other hand, has an advantage with the desktop client; they had the Zune series around to develop and implement at the right time. In the category of developers, Android has more users on their platform which would easily attract more developers. Microsoft has taken the route of paying developers to develop apps on their platform.

Which app store is your favorite? Is it about having more apps, or fewer apps of a higher quality? Let us know in the comments and poll below!

From the review you will learn:

Google Play Market: a guide to “virtual shopping”!

Global world wide web- this is an abyss of information. In it you can easily find the most necessary, most specialized and even strange things. But in the process of searching for these very things, there is an even greater chance of simply getting lost in information flows and either not finding what you needed at all, or finding something unpleasant and harmful. First of all, this applies to various types of media products - films, games, books, music and simply useful applications.

Fortunately, there are special information repositories, a kind of huge virtual libraries, the main task which is to save the user from long and tedious searches and immediately give him exactly what he wants. One such library is Google Play Market.

Functional features

The main advantage of this utility - as, indeed, of almost any product developed by specialists from Google - is convenience and functionality. Downloading Play Market to your computer is primarily worth it for those who care about their time and prefer not to waste it. Here you don’t have to sit at the computer for hours, scrolling through page after page and trying in vain to choose what you want from the mountains of information garbage.

A well-structured interface, an intuitive system of tabs, a minimum of unnecessary buttons and elements on the screen - mastering this program will not be difficult even for a person who has only recently started using a computer and the Internet.

So, the first thing you should pay attention to when installing Google Play Market on a PC is sections and categories. There are several of them: “Movies”, “Games”, “Books”, “Music”, “Software” and so on. As you might guess, the corresponding files and applications are organized into categories. Each category has several subcategories: in “Movies” these are “Science Fiction”, “Drama”, “Fantasy”, in “Music” - “Rock”, “Club”, “Country” and so on. It should also be noted here flexible system search: you have a choice of several filters that you can customize at your discretion. So, presented in the “store” software products can be sorted by rating, space occupied on your hard drive, date added, developer company and many other parameters. It’s not difficult to understand all this: the principle of the search engine’s operation is easily understood intuitively.

About each product - no matter whether it is an application, a book, a game or a movie - the maximum information is provided detailed information. By going to the page that interests you, you will see an extended summary, system requirements, several screenshots, as well as a comment thread. This is another plus of the Play Market - any user can at any time go to the page of the product he has used and express his opinion about it. Also in the comments thread you can ask a question or ask for an explanation of unclear points related to management or installation.

Many developers regularly monitor reviews, so there is always an opportunity to get an answer, as they say, first-hand. In addition, here, in the feed, you can rate the application. Yes, user ratings are not always adequate.

Some people judge exclusively subjectively, from a “like it or not like it” standpoint; others generally blame the developers for what they are actually guilty of outdated computer. But nevertheless, in most cases, ratings turn out to be very useful - they allow you to quickly form an opinion about a particular application and decide whether it is worth downloading or not.

Also, Google Play Market on a computer provides the user with the opportunity to add an application that interests him to bookmarks - the so-called “Wish List”. This option is useful when you don’t have time to install a new utility, but you don’t want to lose it. The “Wish List” is always available in your personal account.

All applications downloaded from Google Play Market have the function automatic update. This means that you do not need to check every time whether the a new version one or another utility, and then download it manually - the system will do everything for you. If you are wary of such “virtual arbitrariness,” you can always change the settings so that the store sends you a notification before each update.

Finally, it is worth noting that Google company bears full responsibility for all those files and software products that are posted in its virtual store. You don’t have to worry about introducing a worm or Trojan program onto your computer along with some small timekiller toy created by an unknown developer.

Before files are presented to the user, they are checked for viruses, so that only “clean” programs end up in the store.

System requirements

Google Play Market - mobile app and it is intended, as you might guess, primarily to work on mobile devices. Therefore, it does not impose any exorbitant requirements on the system configuration and will work without much difficulty even on outdated morally and physically machines. However, in order for the application to run at all on a laptop or home computer, you will need an emulator - a program that simulates the working environment operating system Android. Together with the emulator, the virtual store will require at least nine gigabytes of free hard disk space and at least two gigabytes of RAM to function fully. Yes, this is not so little. But again, it’s not at all critical for most more or less modern (read - manufactured, although not earlier than 2007) devices.

How to install the Play Store application on PC and laptop

So, the first thing you need is . Once you have this exclusive useful utility, you can move on. Namely - download installation file and run it. You will be prompted to “Enable AppStore support” - do so. After - add an existing Google account if you have one. And if not, create a new one, fortunately it’s not at all difficult.

That's all. Installation completed successfully. You can travel along the waves of information.

Additional Information

How to create a google account

The second way: go to google.com and register.

Installation via .APK

• Open a trusted resource that distributes Apk distributions.
• Download the apk file to your computer.
• Move (drag) a file to the window Nox App Player to launch.

Similar programs

Mobogenie. A very similar store - the only difference is that it can work on devices running the operating system even without an emulator Windows systems. The disadvantages are that the range is not so rich and the interface is not very user-friendly.

Amazon Appstore. The brainchild of another media giant - Amazon. A distinctive feature of this store is the presence of a system of discounts, as well as the tradition of regularly organizing promotions, during which various software products can be purchased for half, a third or a quarter of the cost, or even completely free.

Drawing conclusions

Google Play Market is a kind of starting point for a beginner or an already advanced Internet user. Here you can find everything your heart desires - from the latest foreign cinema to online versions of popular news publications. A user-friendly interface, flexible search system and the ability to add your favorite application to bookmarks make the process of “virtual shopping” simple and fun.

How do you like the emulator?

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Play Market for Android - a free catalog of applications (games, programs, music, movies, books, etc.) for the operating system Android system. Google recently changed its official name to Play Google, although previously the directory was called Play Market (Store).

You can download Play Market for Android for free on your phone and computer directly APK file the latest Russian version, and is necessary for those who have problems with an existing application on their smartphone/tablet, or for those who do not have it.

The default mobile application may not be available on a phone with Android OS, for example, from a Chinese manufacturer. This is due to the fact that developers from China are promoting their official brand store for all devices.

Play Market is a free virtual showcase of a wide variety of content. In which you can find and download any programs, games, films, music, books and much more, as well as rate and leave reviews.

Download Play Market for free on your Android phone and install

• convenient visual sorting; sorting of applications;
• there is a section with discounts and promotions;
• selection of the best based on ratings and reviews;
• wish list - planning downloads and purchases;
• compatible with gadgets of any version of Android OS;
• interface in Russian, as well as any other language installed through the settings.

The Play Market works quite simply: you install the apk file on your device and launch it. Next, use the Google interface to search and install the necessary programs, games, and more. The Play Store automatically starts monitoring these applications for updates and, upon notification, updates them via Wi-Fi.

Features of work Google apps Play Market:

1. support for everyone Android versions, starting from 4.0;
2. multilingual - support for more than 50 different language packs;
3. automatic updating of downloaded programs.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's Marketplace doesn't have many apps and games compared to Android markets and iOS, and therefore many owners Lumia smartphones Are you wondering, is it possible to download Google Play Market on Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile and install applications from it?

Let’s not delay the answer and say right away that installing the Play Market on Lumia will not work. No way. Don't even try to find a solution - there is none.

However, there is still an opportunity to play the games you want. Now we will tell you two ways in which this can be done:

First way will help you find an analogue of the required Android application in the Marketplace. The idea is to use the Switch To Windows Phone program, designed to quickly switch from the Android operating system to Windows.

Second looks much more interesting, because it can be used to install files with the .apk extension on Windows 10 Mobile.

Please note that to use the second method, Win 10 Mobile must be installed on your smartphone.

Method 1: Search for analogues using Switch To Windows Phone

First, you need to install Switch To Windows Phone on your Android device to analyze the installed games and applications and make a list of them. You can download it from Google Play directly from your smartphone.

It is clear that this option is only suitable for those who have such a smartphone. If not, then you can ask your friend for an Android device (after all, you got some cool games from him, right?).

Subsequently, you need to open the application on a smartphone with WP and Windows 10 Mobile and try to find analogues of applications and games from an Android phone.

Method 2: Installing files with the extension .apk

Foreign craftsmen have created a tool called wconnect, with which you can install applications in .apk format on phones with Windows 10. Below is a list of supported devices compiled by the developer. Nothing is known about working on other devices.

Supported smartphones:

• Lumia 920
• Lumia 925
• Lumia 929 (Lumia Icon)
• Lumia 830
• Lumia 930
• Lumia 1520
• Lumia 635
• Lumia 730
• Lumia 820
• Lumia 435
• Lumia 928

How to install Android apps on Windows Mobile 10:

1. Download wconnect and ADB tool on your computer and extract the contents of the archives into folders.
2. Open the wconnect folder and run IpOverUsbInstaller.msi and vcredist_x86.exe.
3. On your Windows 10 Mobile smartphone, go to Settings ->Updates and security —>For developers, and turn it on Developer Mode And Device discovery(Developers Mode and Device Discovery).
4. On your PC, navigate to the extracted wconnect folder and open Command Prompt (hold Shift and click right click mouse over the folder, then select “Open command window”)
5. Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB or Wi-Fi.
6. Navigate to the extracted ADB folder and open Command Prompt using the method mentioned above.
7. IN command line enter adb devicesand pressEnter. If the smartphone is connected successfully, you will see it in the list of connected devices.
8. Copy the .apk file of the Android application you want to install to the ADB folder and in the command line type adb install APKNAME. apk, Where APKNAME – this is the name of your application or game.

After completing these steps, the application should appear on your Lumia smartphone.

Tell us in the comments if you were able to install the .apk file on your device? We hope we helped you.