[rhygar]

Android is "open" - so just about anything goes. It uses Java, that starter language for just about anyone who learns how to program these days. So you end up with an environment that is very conducive to spamware/adware type apps and people trying to get rich quick. It only takes a few bad apps before it becomes like Windows, where users are afraid to install anything new or off-brand.

[jamesbritt]

before it becomes like Windows, where users are afraid to install anything new or off-brand.

Is that even true? I keep hearing how Windows users are not selective enough about what they install.

[alanh]

Sure, but it’s true for some people. Wasn’t there a story about someone’s mom who was afraid to install programs on the PC but enjoys installing apps to her new iPad? Now substitute a Galaxy Tab for the iPad and have her read a story about Android app malware in her Reader’s Digest.

[rblackwater]

Fantastic results like these are why scientific studies all use "someone's mom" as a sample size.

[there]

right, because nobody ever made fart apps and other tacky shit in objective c.

[jamesbritt]

Plus a common complaint about android is the app dev environment and tools suck compared to iOS.

People interested in creating crap seem to find a way, platform notwithstanding.

[woodall]

Because I do not have a Mac(and cannot run OSX in a VM) I am kind of left out in the cold when it comes to developing apps for the iOS. Granted, the Android SDK can, at times, be a bit wonky(sometimes taking as long as 10 mins to boot into a VM) it is still there and available to all platforms. To say it sucks is a pretty tall order.

[obviator]

I agree. The barrier to entry for developing iOS apps is too high for me, as I'd have to buy a Mac and, realistically speaking, an iOS device for testing. But I can run the Android SDK on all my computers, Windows & Linux alike, so development is available wherever I am.

Also, the Android SDK works really well for testing with a physical device. Plug in by USB, or use wireless ADB, and it only takes a couple of seconds to deploy a debug package to your testing device. Much faster than using the emulator.

[jamesbritt]

"To say it sucks is a pretty tall order."

I agree, but look through past posts on hn and see if this isn't a oft-mentined opinion.

[jonknee]

> that starter language for just about anyone who learns how to program these days

It's also the language that most big businesses run on these days. It's popular to learn because it's used many places (e.g. useful). Language has nothing to do with it. The iTunes App Store is riddled with comically bad apps and that's never going to change. NetFlix is also riddled with horrible movies, it's the nature of the business.

[0x12]

That doesn't address at all what is specifically wrong with this particular app, other than possibly the logo.

[kokey]

I actually had a dream last night that I was sent a video that I viewed on my Mac, and only after running it realized it was a trojan. In my dream I felt stupid and also amused at the fact that there are Mac trojans. Then I woke up from my dream, and remembered the trojan wouldn't have been able to run without asking me first and wouldn't have been able to install anything with asking me to type in my password.