If you’ve always wanted a way to download an application from the Android Market directly to your PC, boy do we have the right thing for you. An Android developer by the name of redphx sent us an email today, introducing us to APK Downloader. It’s a Chrome extension which allows users to download application APK files directly from the Android Market to their desktop.
In order to use the APK Downloader extension, you’ll need the latest version of Chrome on your computer. Then you will need to disable the browser’s SSL error warnings, enter your device ID number, email and password. Your email and password are stored locally on your computer and are only used when the Chrome extension tries to grab the Android Market cookie to download the APK file from the Android Market. Once your setup is complete, simply browse the Android Market with your Chrome browser on your PC, find an app you would like to download, and click the APK Downloader icon which appears in the address bar when you are on the application page.
At first, we couldn’t think of any real reason to use APK Downloader, but then we realized that there are plenty of Kindle Fire users who do not have access to many of the applications that are only available on the Android Market, plus there are many apps which are made available only for specific devices. Come on, do developers really think that all those Tegra games can not be played on devices with Qualcomm chips?
I don’t think the APK Downloader extension for Chrome is going to change anybody’s life, but it will be handy tool for those of you who have devices with limited access to the Android Market and simply want to enjoy their applications on as many device as possible.
Give APK Downloader extension a try and let us know what you think.
Source: codekiem
Nick is a tech enthusiast who has a soft spot for HTC and its devices. He started HTCsource.com (the first HTC blog) back in 2007 and later joined the Android and Me family in the summer of 2010. Tagged#android market#APK Downloader#chrome extension#video .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; }.nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } 27 Comments Join the discussion!Sort by DateRating 
100Taylor Wimberly 19 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +4Sounds like a cool hack, but I bet the Device ID still blocks devices that aren’t supposed to access the Market. I guess that could be spoofed though. My guess is Google finds a way to disable this soon hah.
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20NasLAU 15 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0This is exactly my concern. I downgraded phones so there are some apps that could technically work on my phone but I’m not allowed to download. I don’t see much use for this app for me at this time.
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70Justin Shapcott 12 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0It basically uses the same mechanism as the Android Market client app, so I doubt they would block it in any way that would not be easily circumvented.
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99Nick Gray 6 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1That’s why I mention it would be great for people with multiple devices. I’m sure most people with the Kindle Fire or other android devices that don’t have access to the market do have at least one device with market access.
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MattGuest 19 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +5Why would Google want to block this? You are using their market place to “sideload” apps onto the Kindle Fire. What Google should try to stop is Amazon using their operating system and completely stealing Google’s revenue.
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32professandobey 16 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +3Google is all about openness. They view this not as a problem for them to stop in a blocking sort of manner, but rather a problem for them to stop by being more competitive in an open system.
ReplySounds cool. Now I can get a couple of those apps that my daughter wanted on her Kindle.
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68jak2rocks 18 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1Hmm… I don’t see many people benefiting from this. But, who knows? At least it’s available for those who need it.
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16artesea 18 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1I could see it working where you might have patchy 3G on your phone whilst having 100 meg broadband on a work PC, or little allowance left and seeing the app is 50mb. But otherwise I’m happy to just hit send to device.
ReplySounds like a cool idea, will fiver give it a try…
Reply sidGuest 17 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1thanks for the info, really helpful
Replynot working for me. I couldn’t disable ssl.
ReplyThis might removes the need for market eneblerer and a rooted device to get those stupid us only google apps
Reply parnoGuest 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1what if this tool is just collecting your access codes / ids ?
Reply 70Justin Shapcott 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0It does look to route all download requests to the developer’s server before sending off to the Market. Since the developer knows how to encode the request, the developer also knows how to decode it on the server and store values. Not saying that’s what is happening, just that it is certainly possible.
Reply redphxGuest 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Hi Justin,
I’m redphx, the developer of this extension.
I have to open a new tab to http://codekiem.com/apk-downloader/download/#….. because that is the only way to make this extension work. If you’re a web developer, I’m willing to explain why I did that.
And about the “encoded request”, because I put it after the hashtag, so that infomation won’t be sent to my server, then I can’t get that data.
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask :)
Regards
Sorry for my bad English
Reply 70Justin Shapcott 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Got it. Thanks for the info.
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3Y314K 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down -1Been looking for something like this for a while…
Any chance of getting a addon for FireFox ???
Reply 3Y314K 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0or why not have spoofed or open accounts just for this program for us that don’t want to have to keep a Android Market log in… All we want is the download the APK (Specially on free apps)…
ReplyThis can also make it easier to just have your apk on your SD card and save some space, there are a lot of 45mb apk’s out there.
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93kazahani 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Samsung Vibrant = abandoned in a lonely corner running 2.2 FroYo. This is magical for me.
I’ll use it till it stops working.
Reply hector manzanarezGuest 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0I’m sorry but if you’re still running 2.2 something is wrong with you. Go to xda and update. Now.
Reply 99Nick Gray 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Rooting and rom flashing isn’t for everyone.
Reply 99Nick Gray 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Just downloaded a few apps with my G2′s credentials and sideloaded them on my HTC Flyer. I love that my Flyer has honeycomb, but I don’t understand why developers don’t allow many phone apps to be visible for HC devices.
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87Hall Lo 4 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Pretty neat. Esp. for those US only apps
Reply 87Hall Lo 4 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Sorry wrong reply but I think maybe its becoz they dun want to have an app thats supposed to be used on phones to be “enlarged” to the big screens of HC tablets?
Reply SomeoneGuest 53 mins ago Thumb upThumb down 0Android Market’s ToS
3.3 You agree not to access (or attempt to access) the Market by any means other than through the interface that is provided by Google, unless you have been specifically allowed to do so in a separate agreement with Google. You specifically agree not to access (or attempt to access) the Market through any automated means (including use of scripts, crawlers or similar technologies from time to time) and shall ensure that you comply with the instructions set out in any robots.txt file present on the Market website.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/q56bt/apk_downloader_download_apk_files_on_android/c3uwsfl
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