Google has officially introduced the latest version of its Android Market app store, in the company's latest effort to compete with Apple while attracting new mobile developers.
Android Market 1.6 gives developers several new features to work with, including posting screen shots, promotional icons, and more detailed product descriptions of apps. Furthermore, consumers will be able to locate paid apps through the store, as it's difficult to navigate the older version of the store while looking for paid apps.
Google also is using new subcategories that offer specialized apps -- sports, comics, themes and health are the new subcategories in this edition. The company didn't make several developer-requested changes, however, as the 24-hour app return policy wasn't modified to better benefit developers. Many developers believe shorter apps designed to be played for a day or two are unfairly returned -- for a refund -- without legitimate reasoning.
Some Android-powered phone owners said the Android Market looked like a beta build of an online store, and have long waited for an upgrade. This is simply a minor update to a growing service, but Google hopes it will be able to make a true sales difference in the future.
Google knows it must do something to keep developers away from Apple, Research In Motion, Nokia, and other companies looking for developers to create mobile apps. The Mountain View-based company also needs to do something to bring in new users, with less than half of Android phone owners saying they purchased at least one app through the store.
