Apple may have led the way in mobile phone applications with its iTunes App Store, but it’s now up against other app marketplaces from smartphone makers, mobile carriers and third parties. From official App Stores like Blackberry’s AppWorld to independent outlets like GetJar, there are a number of iTunes alternatives in today’s mobile world.
But which up-and-comer needs to work on its app store? Which one features terrible design, poor navigation, an awful selection of apps, missing functionality or something else that just makes you burn with anger? Sound off in our weekly poll.
We’ve pre-populated the poll with top mobile marketplaces, but have enabled the option to allow you to enter your own answer in case there’s another app store you really feel the need to list (like Verizon’s VCast App Store, for example). The only requirement is that it’s a mobile app store, since this is, in fact, ReadWriteMobile.
If the feature is abused, we’ll switch it off.
After you finished voting, please head to the comments section to explain why you voted the way you did. What is it about that app store that makes it “the worst?” Is a critically missing feature? Terrible user experience? Slow load times on the phone? Lack of apps? Do tell!
UPDATE: As a commenter below pointed out, it sounds like these questions are targeted towards consumers, not developers. I think the poll can be targeted towards both. As a consumer/enthusiast, I’ve been hands on with with several different smartphones myself. Our household, for example, has an iPhone and Android in it. I’ve also spent a month with a Nokia N8 and several hours with the old Pre. And GetJar, of course, features apps for multiple handset types. Developers, on the other hand, not only have experience with the front-ends of app stores, but the back-ends, too. Their reasons for calling something “the worst” may certainly involve either app store design and navigation issues or back-end complaints. Whether you’re a consumer or developer, your feedback on app stores is welcome here.
