In background check the Play Store to determine if an app is available to download on the device

Question

I know I can link to the Play Store with the URL:

market://details?id=com.example.appname

What I would love to do is 'ping' this URL in the background, and determine if the app is actually available, then, I can modify my UI as appropriate.

Answer 1

Let's assume that, if app is unavailable, the page under http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package_name> contains, for example, word error-section. If app is available, it does not contain this word.

Make HTTP GET to that URL and search for error-section.

• No error-section - your app is available.
• Otherwise, it's unavailable.

Like this:

final HttpClient client = new DefaultHttpClient();  
final String getURL = "http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package_name>";
final HttpGet get = new HttpGet(getURL);
final HttpResponse responseGet = client.execute(get);  
final HttpEntity resEntityGet = responseGet.getEntity();  
if (resEntityGet != null) 
{  
    final String response = EntityUtils.toString(resEntityGet);
    if (response.indexOf("error-section") == -1)
    {
        // available
    }
    else
    {
        // unavailable
    }
}

Answer 2

private class URLTest extends AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void> {

    @Override
    protected Void doInBackground(Void... params) {
        try {
            try {
                HttpClient httpclient = new DefaultHttpClient();
                String strurl = "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.angrybirdsstarwars.ads.iap";
                // String strurl =
                // "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.angrybirdsstarwars.ads.iaptest";
                // //fake packagename append with "test"
                HttpGet httpget = new HttpGet(strurl);
                HttpResponse httpresp = httpclient.execute(httpget);
                if (httpresp.getStatusLine().getStatusCode() == HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
                    Log.e("Found", "YES");
                } else if (httpresp.getStatusLine().getStatusCode() == HttpStatus.SC_NOT_FOUND) {
                    Log.e("Found", "NO");
                }

            } catch (ClientProtocolException e) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                e.printStackTrace();
            } catch (ParseException e) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                e.printStackTrace();
            } catch (IOException e) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                e.printStackTrace();
            }

        } catch (Exception e) {
            Log.e("", "");
        }
        return null;
    }

}

i tried with correct & fake packages and its giving bad request responze if the app not available & positive(success 200 code) if app is there..so plz check it once it might help u.

android 2.2 & app min req 2.3