Downloading Android Apps

[101RRS]

I have not downloaded or used any apps on my Motorola Defy running Android 2.3. NO DATA PLAN - WIFI only.

Via WiFi I connected to the Google Apps page and spotted one of the car ECU monitoring apps and decided to download it.

Short story the phone couldn't do the purchase - just took so long and timed out.

Simple question - can you download Android Apps to your computer and then transfer them to the phone or must they be downloaded to the phone. My download rate via WIFI on the phone has to be about 10x slower than via the same connection to the computer.

Also - how do you actually pay for these apps - the phone timed out before the pay page came up.

Thanks

Garry

[Basil135]

As far as I know, you cant actually download the app to a computer, and then transfer it to your phone.

What I would suggest is, next time you want a coffee, go to McDonalds, and use their free wifi. While you drink your coffee, download everything from Google Play that you want. :D

Oh, and I have never paid for an app, as I can usually find free ones to do what I want, so can't help you with that side of it.

[101RRS]

Thanks - my home WiFi is a lot faster than Maccas so I might need to also order a Big Mac, Fries, and puddin as well.

As I said I am new to this App thing so looking for something easy to start with - searching for freebies I might want will have to wait a while until I get the basic process worked out.

I can see why Smart Phones are getting bigger - it is almost impossible to search on a screen the size that is on a Motorola even zooming in.

Cheers

Garry

[Basil135]

Just had another thought... You should be able to go onto Google Play via your computer, log in, and then browse the apps there.

Then, you just click download, and it will send it to your phone. This gives you the option to see what you want, and then just let them download overnight.

[goingbush]

you don't need a data plan on your phone,
you do need a google account,

1 get yourself a gmail account on your computer
2 connect your phone to internet via wifi
3 log in to your gmail account on your defy using the preinstalled gmail app
4 use the 'markets' app if your phone is old, or 'play' app on a newer phone
5 download apps

alternatively you can buy android apps on your computer using google play, and they will download and install to your phone next time it has a wifi connection (not they don't download to your computer)

[mikehzz]

Android apps are often a .apk file that you can download to your computer and transfer to the phone. To use Google Play you do need a Google account even if the apps are free. The .apk files are for apps not in the store like the Exploroz EoTrackMe app that allows your family to see where you are on your travels. I don't know how you get by without a data plan on the phone. I use the data more than the phone. :)

[incisor]

you can download an app the lets you install the .apk files that you transfer on to your memory card, if it isn't already on your phone.

you then download the apps of interest on computer, transfer them to the sdcard and the run the installer app to install them all.

do it all the time

[d@rk51d3]

Just run the .apk file on the phone. It's a self extracting installer.

You may need to go into your phone settings and allow non market apps, depending on where you source your .apk