Android Dev Tip: Show Your "Invisible Apps" in Android Market

Aren’t you pissed when you’ve done all the codings and debugging only to find out after you pay $25, your apps didn’t show up at Android Market? Okay this particular issue has bugged me twice in the last 3 months and it’s suffice to say, I must share this with other developers who might be experiencing the same issue.

Yes it’s the Urbanesia app I’m talking about :) Today was planned to release the app to Android Market. So I uploaded the app to my Market Publisher account and filled all the required info and graphics. I did a search with my Nexus One and it showed correctly. Asked for help with some friends using Samsung Spica and Motorola Droid, it showed correctly on their phones. After that, the Nexian Journey was next. It didn’t show up :(

I dug through the usual channels only to find that I was not alone with this annoying bug from Android Market. Other developers are experiencing the same old thing. This is a guide of what to be done when you’re caught in the middle of it.

1. Make sure that all your Android Manifest permissions and features are formatted with android:required=“false” or required=“false” if the particular permission or feature is a luxury with different phone models. The documentation showed that there are default values if not explicitly defined, however Android Market is not in sync with the documentation. Examples:
   • <uses-feature android:name=“android.hardware.camera.autofocus” /> should be formatted as <uses-feature android:name=“android.hardware.camera.autofocus” required=“false” />
   • <uses-permission android:name=“android.permission.CAMERA” /> should be formatted as <uses-permission android:name=“android.permission.CAMERA” android:required=“false” />
2. Remove this particular permission from your Android Manifest:
   • <uses-permission id=”android.permission.CALL_PHONE” /> instead use this with your source code Intent callIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_DIAL);
3. Do not Copy Protect your app from your Android Market Publisher console or your app will only be visible to Android Market “included” phones that has their respective fingerprint registered. This is a big roadblock for emerging manufacturers. Google should make this a requirement. Anyways, with a rooted phone, you can still break the Copy Protect feature so what’s the use of protecting it anyways?

For you guys owners of a Nexian Journey, download the app with the QR code above :)