What is the Android Market?
Android Market is an online store that allows users to download software applications designed for mobile devices running the Android operating system. Google created the Android Market in late 2008 and rebranded it to "Google Play" in March 2012.
Application Software
The Android Market is an excellent source of free application software that can be downloaded and installed on most Android-based smartphones, tablets, and other devices. It's easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.
In addition to offering apps, the Android Market also offers music, books, movies and television shows, and other media. In 2010, Google began selling YouTube videos, and in 2012, it expanded its content offerings to include e-books.
Google's main goal is to make it easier for developers to get their applications onto the market. To do so, it requires each app to be signed with a certificate and author-specific private key.
It also uses anonymous usage statistics to rate the quality of each app. This helps developers know how to best target their efforts to the right audience.
The popularity of Android has led to a surge in the number of applications available for download. This is a good thing for both developers and consumers. However, it can be a problem for forensic investigators, who need to ensure that each and every application they investigate meets the requirements of the platform.