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Browse through and download different types of apps, including exclusive ones

Browse through and download different types of apps, including exclusive ones

Vote: (123 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Reliance Jio Digital Services Private Limited

Version: 3.0

Works under: Android

Vote:

Program license

(123 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Reliance Jio Digital Services Private Limited

3.0

Works under:

Android

Pros

  • Works with all Jio-branded phones
  • Curated list of apps
  • No need to create a separate account
  • Installs in just a few minutes
  • Clean UI

Cons

  • May not work with phones from other vendors
  • Not as big a collection as other apps stores

Jio Apps Store is an alternative package distributions system for Android devices. It supports a wide array of independent games and apps that users wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. All of these apps are conveniently indexed, which makes it easy to sort through them and look for ones that fulfill certain needs.

Unlike most apps stores, Jio doesn't just include software. It also features downloadable videos, music and a variety of other types of content. While it's collection of games might be what attracts a majority of its users, it's a good idea to take a look through this alternative content as well. You probably won't be able to find many of these titles anywhere else.

Every piece of software listed in the Jio Apps Store is assigned to a particular category. Users can tag apps if they feel that they're in the wrong category. You're always free to search based on these user-created tags. Depending on the type of material you're looking for, you might also be able to restrict your search results to high-quality recommendations only.

Some sections might not have a sufficient number of apps with recommendations, so you won't be able to use this feature. High-traffic categories, like games, have a tendency to attract the most number of reviews, but you may occasionally find lesser-known categories that are trafficked by enough users to help Jio make solid recommendations.

Since the app store is Jio-branded, it works best with Jio-branded devices. The 4G and VoLTE-enabled versions of the Jio Phone are more than fast enough to run almost any of the apps listed on this alternative apps store, but other Jio-branded phones might struggle with some of the more graphically intense ones. You could theoretically install the Jio Apps Store on phones from other manufactures. While this isn't a problem from a technical standpoint, you might not be able to get the most out of some of the products you can download if you do it this way.

That's because Jio has invested in its own Android-based ecosystem that includes a variety of solutions designed to work with their own hardware and mobile network. Nevertheless, users of mobile devices from other vendors will still find the video streaming services that the Jio Apps Store lists are top rate. They'll also like many of the games that it offers.

Over time, a number of alternative apps stores have sprung up that challenge the dominance of those included with people's mobile devices. Jio Apps Store has made a name for itself by installing a number of language packs along with the basic package manager. A complete installation should support apps in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali as well as English. You'll be able to find musical recordings in all of these various languages. The store also lets users download movies with audio tracks or subtitles in any of them.

As soon as you've downloaded and installed the Jio Apps Store, you'll be able to use it. There isn't a complicated activation process to go through, but you'll probably need to make an account for at least some of the services it connects to. The same could be said of pretty much any package manager, so that's not something that should be held against it.

Interestingly enough, you don't have to create a separate account to download apps. The app store reads the information on any Jio-branded phone's SIM card to connect users to a private server. That makes it considerably easier to use than most similar solutions. Unfortunately, that does add an extra hurdle for those using phones provided by other hardware vendors.

The installation process is fairly straightforward, and it shouldn't take more than three or four minutes on a decent connection. Once it starts up, you'll probably take notice of the clean interface. It's actually much neater than the UI presented by the default apps store that most phones come with. Everything is sorted into a grid interface that's easy to browse, especially if you know what to look for.

Users who aren't quite sure of what they want to download can take advantage of the recommended apps list, which is surprisingly relevant. While the Jio Apps Store doesn't actually have a curated list, it's automatic suggestions are much better than you might expect. That's particularly useful for those who have a new phone and don't have any productivity apps installed yet.

While the number of apps offered by Jio Apps Store is quite a bit less than most large apps markets, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's administrators are more selective than most, so you'll find far fewer bad apps than you otherwise would. Each app and game listed on the Jio store has been individually curated even if the recommendations haven't. All of the software has been tested to work with hardware shipped by Reliance Industries, and their engineers are constantly working to reduce the risk of major bugs in any of the apps found on the store.

As you use your phone, Jio Apps Store will start to collect some anonymous analytics data to figure out what kind of apps you like. It'll compare this information with your search records to make more accurate recommendations. While it might take the app a week or so to start really making recommendations that make sense, the wait is more than worth it. Jio's algorithm is much better than most in this respect, though the fact that the apps store uses any sort of machine learning might be of some concern to privacy advocates.

Those who use Jio's other services will find that the apps store integrates well with them. Reliance is always rolling out new solutions, and the Jio Apps Store is designed to be forwards compatible with all of their new ones. That makes this package manager an excellent choice for those who want to stay with Reliance's own custom ecosystem.

Pros

  • Works with all Jio-branded phones
  • Curated list of apps
  • No need to create a separate account
  • Installs in just a few minutes
  • Clean UI

Cons

  • May not work with phones from other vendors
  • Not as big a collection as other apps stores