Last week, Google introduced the online Android Market. Using the Market in your browser, you can search, view, and download Android applications straight to your Android-enabled device. This is a great way to deliver content.
I often resented Apple’s genius iTunes application for allowing selection and installation of applications to the mobile device. However, unlike Apple’s application, the online Android Market permits over-the-air installation. You click the application you want to install to your device, pay or select install, and voila, the app gets magically installed through “the cloud.”
One other great feature (among many) is the ability to manage your applications through the Market Account Manager. You can see when you downloaded an app, and whether it’s still installed on your device. From there, you can choose to reinstall any of the applications that are missing from your device.
The Market also allows you to sync applications between devices and family members, which I think was a missing element from the device-only market.
