Until recently, the official Uptodown for Android app had a look and operation practically identical to that of the browser edition. Well, we’ve been working hard making changes practically daily, meaning the new version includes many new features (and there are lots more to come) to make it a quality alternative to Google Play.
The app can be downloaded from both Google Play and Uptodown itself, and the only requirement, besides having Android 3.0 or higher, is to enable downloads of apps from unknown sources (see here for an easy tutorial). This lets you install apps in APK format from our own secure servers and with the VirusTotal seal of confidence.
The new version rolls out a new browser sidebar between platforms, a feature that in fact offers a sneak peek of the changes soon to arrive on the web version. Whether you navigate using the category tree or the search bar in the upper part of the screen, it’s possible to download files to your device, with the advantage that now downloads will happen in the background. You can follow its progress and finalization in the notifications bar, and if you click on the notification when it’s complete it will start installing the app straightaway.
It’s also possible to open a session with your user account to have access to a series of additional characteristics, whether by manually adding your login details or using a social login like Facebook or Google+. This lets you access a listing of the installers you’ve downloaded in APK format (located at the filepath /Uptodown/Apps on your device’s memory), and shows you if you’re trying to download something for the second time. This feature is soon to be broadened with a notifications system if one of your downloaded apps has a new update available.
With more than 20,000 total programs, Uptodown has a catalogue of more than 2,500 Android apps, and many of them are not available on Google Play, as in the case of the popular WhatsApp Plus or TubeMate YouTube Downloader. We offer the direct file download in APK format without any sort of files, meaning the best method for managing and installing them directly onto your device is using the official app. We’ll keep you updated!
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