Is it possible to publish an iOS App in App Store and Google Play Store, which is unlisted and can't be found by search? Only people, who have the link to the App in the Store can download it. Is this possible?
Both Google Play and Apple's App Store have options for publishing Enterprise apps. The two stores have different options and conditions, but it's possible.
Other options that are available to you is to release the app as an Alpha or Beta version for specific people on the Play Store, or simply create an .apk file and allow people to install it without passing through the store.
On the Apple App Store, you also have the option of having your app approved by the review team and then using codes for specific users to redeem on the store (but you only have about 100 of those per version) or submitting the app for TestFlight review (which is a much shorter process), in which case you'll be able to install the app on 1,000 different devices.
I hope one of these options works for you. Good luck!
Yes, this exact thing is now possible in the Apple ecosystem. It's called "unlisted apps". See here. Not sure about Google/Android.
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I have developed a game using Unity and I have used Google Play Games in it. It works good for testers and also for public users when I publish it on Google Play Games. The problem is I want to publish it on a local app store (and not Google Play Games) and it does not work this way! Is there any trick about it?
Yes, this is possible. It does even work if you sell your app through google play and on another platform. But the device needs to have the google play games app installed, so it does not work on Amazon devices.
Let’s assume your app is called “TheGame”.
Go to the Google Play Developer Console to “All application”:
Add another app name call it “TheGame (DRM-free)”
Create an empty APK that signed with a keystore and a different bundle identifier (if you already sell it on Google Play)
Upload the APK to alpha or beta testing, but not production.
Complete the Store Listing and Content Rating
Set pricing to free
Publish your app. (no worries it will not appear on Google Play)
Then go Google Play Developer Console to "Game Services:
If you not already have that add new game
Link your app “TheGame (DRM-free)” to you game services under “linked apps”
Make sure you set the “Enable anti-piracy” option to “OFF”
Publish your changes
This work with achievement, leaderboards and multiplayer.
The users don’t need to be testers anymore.
Also multiplayer between your DRM-free and your Google Play app is possible.
You may want to check this document- Alternative Distribution Options
As an open platform, Android offers choice. You can distribute your Android apps to users in any way you want, using any distribution approach or combination of approaches that meets your needs. From publishing in an app marketplace to serving your apps from a web site or emailing them directly users, you’re never locked into any particular distribution platform.
Distributing Through an App Marketplace
Distributing Your Apps by Email
Distributing Through a Website
User Opt-In for Apps from Unknown Sources
Android protects users from inadvertent download and install of apps from locations other than Google Play (which is trusted). It blocks such installs until the user opts-in Unknown sources in Settings > Security, shown in image below. Users need to make this configuration change before they download your apps to their devices.
Users must enable the Unknown sources setting before they can install apps not downloaded from Google Play.
Note that some network providers don’t allow users to install applications from unknown sources.
Also you can check this SO question about : What is the fall back plan for devices without Google Play Services, this may add information to ensure your app should run.
Hope it helps!
I posted an app into google play production section and now I want to download it for testing. It's not free. I don't want to buy it. How can I do that?
Uninstall your current app on your device
Go to play store and search your app
If you were an alpha or beta tester, renounce to it
Install your app again
I think the correct way is to have two applications, one for testing and one in release. It is really a mess because package name must be unique within the market...
But it is the only way I can imagine right now. Release one only for alpha/beta restricted users (you) and publish as paid one when done.
I´ve read also here How do I allow android app alpha/beta testers to download the app for free?
and here Google Play developer console: beta test paid apps for free?
Is there any way android provides to restrict my custom application to get it published other than Google play store? And this app will not be a paid app so I can't use LVL feature and as per below discussion, we can't publish free app with licensing check:
LVL behavior on client side license validity check for free apps
So, not able to find any ways to restrict it to publish my free app to other stores :(.
Why I want to restrict it to publish it to other stores:
Because any hackers can download your app from google play store and inject malware in it and publish infected app to other stores.
Please provide me the guidelines to achieve it.
It doesn't matter. If you're worried about someone injecting malware into your APK just think- they can just as easily lie, say that they're your app, and upload pure malware. They don't actually need to be your app.
Beat them to it. Publish your app on the alternative app stores so that when they try to upload the package name is already taken by your original, clean version.
Here's an idea. Get the installer from here when your app opens and check if it is from Google Play by comparing it to com.android.vending. If it is not, block any use of the app.
But of course hackers can still download your app, remove this kind of security and upload it to other stores. But I guess this can give you an idea? Also Gabe Sechan's answer is possible too.
Is it possible for an android application to act as a custom market place?
The imagined behavior of the app:
Download XYZ app from the built in Google Play Store
Opening XYZ app yields a UI similar to that seen in the Play Store
The user can navigate through XYZ app and select a custom app supported by XYZ to install on their phone
This custom app would not be located on the Play Store and the .apk would be directly installed from the context of the XYZ app/marketplace to the users phone
I did some research and found alternative Android App Stores such as:
Amazon App Store for Android
GetJar
SLideMe
F-Droid
But is it possible to have an alternative marketplace like this that can be accessed from an app that was downloaded from the Google Play Store? Does google allow this type of practice?
So I suppose the heart of my questions is: Is it possible to create an android application that has permissions to install other 3rd party applications directly to a users phone? (without needing to leverage the Play Store or needing to jailbreak the phone)
Thanks in advance for the answers and insights! And please let me know if anything I'm saying doesn't make sense.
(Extra Credit: I would also be curious to learn about the feasibility of doing this with an iOS app as well)
To add to the other answers, you will have problems with some of Google Play's rules. AFAIK they don't allow your app to direct users to a different store. So you won't be able to keep your app on Google Play store in that case.
EDIT
It is not in the Terms and Conditions, as confirmed by #Cumulo Nimbus.
It is in clause 4.5 of the Developer Distribution Agreement:
4.5 Non-Compete. You may not use the Market to distribute or make available any Product whose primary purpose is to facilitate the
distribution of software applications and games for use on Android
devices outside of the Market.
My interpretation of the above was, and still is, that we can't point people to a different app store.
Kudos to #zmarties for pointing me at the Developer Program Policy which links out to the Developer Distribution Agreement. I knew I'd seen this somewhere...
In terms of iOS, Apple does not allow different app stores unless you jailbreak (iOS-speak for rooting) your phone. They are not as open minded as the Google.
Android apps don't need to be rooted in order to install third party apk's. The use just needs to allow this in their settings. The apps you have listed simply instruct their users to enable this setting.
The best example of a third-party "free as in freedom" app store would be F-Droid
Technically it's possible.
The current Developer Program Policy does not seem to prohibit it either - all they have to say on the matter relates to installing "dangerous products" from outside the play store:
Dangerous Products: We don't allow content that harms, interferes with the operation of, or accesses in an unauthorized manner, networks, servers, or other infrastructure.
Malicious scripts and password phishing scams are also prohibited on Google Play, as are apps that cause users to unknowingly download or install apps from sources outside of Google Play.
Having said that, I can't quickly see any alternative apps stores that are themselves in the Play Store.
So, I have a few little android apps now, and am thinking about releasing the in the Amazon App Store. However I have one fundamental question I don't see answered anywhere.
How is Licensing handled if you release the app on the amazon store? I am currently using the Google LVL licensing in my paid apps to ensure the user is licensed to run them. I assume that an app sold on Amazon, isn't going to have any connection to tell Google, hey, this app was purchased, they are licensed, so send them an OK TO RUN status when they launch it. Or am I mistaken?
Does Amazon have its own LVL type code? Or do you just have to forget licensing all together if you want to sell on Amazon?
Simply remove all LVL code from your app (making it unprotected), then select the copy protection radio button when submitting your app to Amazon. They'll add the licensing code to your app before resigning it and releasing it on the Amazon Appstore.
No store-provided licensing code works in other app stores. Many have rolled their own, with varying degrees of simplicity.
I have an app in Android Market. What should I do to ensure the app
works in the Amazon Appstore?
You should make sure that your app does
not include any copy protection functionality (you have the option to
apply Amazon’s DRM technology – see our FAQ on DRM). You should also
take a moment to understand the different signing options available to
you (developer signed or Amazon signed) and choose the option that
works best for your users.
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