While the Android app market is extensive, it's more like the hunt for Windows software than iPhone apps - there's no single point of entry. Not declaring judgment; it is what it is. It just wasn't what I was expecting.
My primary frustration over apps is that the Android Market isn't installed on the ViewSonic gTablet (without rooting - not willing to go there yet). And, the Android Marketplace seems to be built for telephones only, requiring a device phone number. (Whose brilliant idea was that showstopper???) So, using the Android Market is not an option.
Of course, ViewSonic installed a link to another market. They refer to it as gMarket, but it's really nothing more than a link to handango. It works well enough, but there are many, many (many) others out there. Here's what I've come across so far.
If you know of another Android market, leave a comment and I'll add it to the list.
For those market that support multiple platforms (as well as filtering to a specific platform), the links in this list are to the Android platform section of the market.
| Site | URL | Notes to self... |
| Android Freeware | http://www.freewarelovers.com/android | Good source for freeware. |
| PocketGear | http://www.pocketgear.com/us,en,usd/android/index.html | Recommended by ViewSonic. Device specific filtering available. |
| SlideMe | http://slideme.org/en/applications | |
| AndSpot | http://andspot.com/ | Social network app store. |
| handango | http://www.handango.com/homepage/Homepage.jsp?storeId=2218 | ViewSonic pre-installed app store. |
| MOBANGO | http://www.mobango.com/ | More than apps - skins, themes, etc. |
| phoload | http://www.phoload.com/ | Geared toward phones. |
| MobiHand | http://www.mobihand.com/platformMain.asp?platform=13 | |
| AppsLib | http://www.appslib.com/ | |
| Insyde Market | http://www.insydemarket.com/AndHp.php?pageid=ISYMRKEN | |
| AppSroreHQ | http://android.appstorehq.com/ | |
| Camangi Market | http://www.camangimarket.com/index.html | |
| ANDROVATION | http://androvation.com/content/index.php | Seems to have archived versions of some apps. |
| AppPlanet | http://www.applanet.net/ |
UPDATE:
Well, after banging my head against the wall for a couple of days, I came across this post (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=827209) which provides a download package and instructions for adding the "missing" core Android components to the ViewSonic gTablet. Note that I was able to get it to work on my ViewSonic gTablet without root access. Rather than copy apps to the system/apps folder, I installed them from the G Tablet folder. Worked perfectly, and I have Android Market access now.
