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| It's finally here, for better or worse. |
After a lengthy period as an iOS exclusive, New Zealand’s
popular auction site has finally seen fit to push a dedicated application to
the Android Market. In a sense, this marks the coming of age of Android as a
viable second platform in this country – Trade Me is the second most visited
page in NZ, only losing top spot to Google itself. Yet it has only now released
its own app for Froyo and above, despite the Android platform meriting a
dedicated application quite some time ago (I would argue around the end of
2010, when local carriers finally began making an advertising push for Android
devices). Many major NZ services such as banks have offered Android support for
months if not over a year, notably including the news site Stuff.co.nz, which
is owned by Fairfax media who also own Trade Me .
What’s to blame, here? Fragmentation? Real usage stats by
useragent showing a lack of Android uptake? Lack of development support, or
revenue for the project? Or was the mobile version of Trade Me’s website simply
deemed ‘good enough’? While I don’t have the answers to the above, there is one
pertinent question I intend to explore: Having waited so long, is the app
worthwhile?
Download the app here, and read on for the full review.
