Why do developers grumble about Apple? For the seeming autocratic monitoring and screening of applications before deploying them in the App Store. Those people who develop for the Android are not fated to face the iron fist. Google has left the door of its online application store wide open. Developers can code anything else and throw them into the Google Store for users to find out what to install and what to ignore. 

The likes of Slasher, Murderdrome, MailWrangler, NetShare, Pull my finger, iBoobs, iShoes, Obama Trampoline, and many of those apps, which were rejected by Apple could find very respectable places in the Google Store. One just need to register for the Android developers program to start submitting applications.

Google initially allowed users to deploy only free applications when it was deciding on the pricing and payment details. Now that developers can deploy paid applications, the list of paid apps is increasing each day. Most of the applications are priced at $1 to $2. However, there are also some applications retailed at $10, $15 and $25. 

With the deploying of paid applications in the Android Store, the best App Store joke is getting repeated. When the App Store just got launched in July 2007, a developer deployed a useless application priced at $999. You remember the I am Rich application, that does nothing? There was just a glowing diamond displayed on the screen. Well, the app just sneaked through Apple’s watchful eyes and was pulled out of the store only after those who bought the application complained. 

A rich application has made it’s way into the Google application store that does painfully nothing. The application ( I am Richer) is retailed at $200 and there basically is no one this time to pull the string to make sure that customers are not purloined. The app description reads, “prove your wealth to other” a bright blue diamond glows from within the application. Google now has allowed the developers to deploy paid application since Friday February 20, 2009 . Those developers who are converting their once free app to paid ones are already facing criticism from users. 

That aside, the biggest question at the moment is how safe would be the store where developers have the freedom to deploy almost anything? Apple’s App Store being a great success is partly due to the closed proprietary nature. Even under the watchful eyes that Apple keeps on the applications submitted for approval, the App Store has many nearly useless applications. Google may have refund policy in place, but keeping it open totally neglects the quality of the store. Reliability is the main concern here. How will Google deal with this?