Market Available Devices Help

[PharCyDeD]

How does the market determine what my app is compatible with? My app needs to be for 7 and 10 inch tablets only. When I uploaded my .apk to the market it said I am compatible with over 1000 devices? Is there any way I can control this? I made layouts for the two different device sizes, but I think some other layouts are in there. However, the code won't work for them so I want to get this resolved if needed! I don't want a flood of negative reviews because it is allowed for phone owners to download.

 

[NJDude]

It's not the layouts but the device's capabilities, one typical example, let's say that your app makes phones calls, so, ALL the WiFi only tabs will not be compatible.

If an app is incompatible with the device it will NOT show on the user's Market app.

 

[nfordbscndrd]

How does the market determine what my app is compatible with? My app needs to be for 7 and 10 inch tablets only. When I uploaded my .apk to the market it said I am compatible with over 1000 devices? Is there any way I can control this? I made layouts for the two different device sizes, but I think some other layouts are in there. However, the code won't work for them so I want to get this resolved if needed! I don't want a flood of negative reviews because it is allowed for phone owners to download.

Can't you just state somewhere on the market screen for your app that it requires a 7" or 10" tablet?

You can also check the device's size and scale and if they don't match your requirements, shut the app down with something like:

Msgbox("This app will only run on a tablet.", "")
Activity.Finish

For example, at this time, if a device has a scale of 1.5 and dimensions of less than 1280x800, it is must be smaller than a 7" tablet. Likewise a scale 1 and size of 800+ is at least a 7" tablet.

 

[PharCyDeD]

Ah, yeah I stated in my description at the very top all caps TABLETS ONLY basically. How long does it take for your app to show up once you click "Publish"?

 

[NJDude]

The time varies, but it's around 15-20 minutes, I ask that question myself everytime I publish one.

 

[Kevin]

I don't know the specifics, but I thought you could manually edit the manifest to specify certain screen sizes (small, large, x-large, etc)?

I've said it before though, no matter how many notices you put up, or how thorough your app description is about specific things that are critical to your app's success for the end-user, you will always have negative ratings from clueless people. I've concluded that many Android users either don't read descriptions very often or have reading comprehension problems.

 

[nfordbscndrd]

I've said it before though, no matter how many notices you put up, or how thorough your app description is about specific things that are critical to your app's success for the end-user, you will always have negative ratings from clueless people. I've concluded that many Android users either don't read descriptions very often or have reading comprehension problems.

That's not limited to Android users. "RTFM!!" was coined long before Android was invented.

An old saying: "It's hard to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious."

(Please ignore the above when it's ME asking dumb questions on here.)

 

[Kevin]

That's not limited to Android users. "RTFM!!" was coined long before Android was invented.

An old saying: "It's hard to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious."

(Please ignore the above when it's ME asking dumb questions on here.)

Good point! I guess it just never bothered me as much as it does having an app on Android. Having written Windows programs for years, I would occasionally get questions that were very clearly answered in the "manual", and often times I would quote my help file when answering the question.

The problem with Android is that it is in mass quantities and people seem to install apps left and right without bothering to read anything but the permissions.

And yes, many of us here (myself included) have asked questions that are answered in the various tutorials and manuals for B4A, but I'm talking about reading an app description.

 

[Kevin]

Back on topic though, couldn't he edit out smaller screens using the manifest editor mentioned below:

http://www.b4x.com/forum/basic4android-getting-started-tutorials/13818-manifest-editor.html#post78136