Tablet apps on phone?

[ubermich]

My app-specific question didn't go over well, so I'll try a more generic version:

Will the hacked versions of the Play market allow me to download and try to run Tablet-specific apps on my Sensation 4G running ICS?

If not, is there any way to accomplish this?

 

[ColtsWalker]

My app-specific question didn't go over well, so I'll try a more generic version:

Will the hacked versions of the Play market allow me to download and try to run Tablet-specific apps on my Sensation 4G running ICS?

If not, is there any way to accomplish this?

The helpfulness of my response may be limited in scope to addressing your overall concern, but I will chime in with some information for you.

I did install a task "To Do List" app on my phone that was designed for the tablet. On Google Play, the description said it was optimized for android tablet use, or some verbiage to that nature. That particular app did install, but due to the small font and controls, because everything was obviously scaled down on my tiny phone screen as opposed to how it might look on an actual tablet, made the app impractical for phone use in my opinion.

In my reading, I have learned that some apps will refuse to install on, say a phone, if written specifically for a tablet, and the developer deliberately wrote program code that checked to verify the device qualified.

In short, if an app developer writes program logic into the app to intentionally prevent it from running on certain hardware, then the net result is predictable. On the other hand, you may come across an app that was written optimized for a tablet, and will still operate on a phone, just not as efficiently due to the smaller UI screen or other relevant limiting factors. There are also apps written to operate on 3G/4G data that will not work on WiFi only tablets.

Finally, it is feasible that you could "trick" an app into thinking you have the appropriate hardware, even though you don't, via a hack, so that you can force something to install on a device the developer did not intend for it to install on. However, ultimately, you will likely not be pleased with the app as it will be unsuitable for the device.

BTW: I did not read the other post you are referring to so my input is based only on what you mention here.

 

[ubermich]

Thank you ColtsWalker! I did not realize the package itself could be written to deny installation on a device. I thought it was just an option they set in the market.

The actual app I'm interested in is the Pearson eText app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pearson.android.etext.sms&hl=en

I understand it will look awkward, but was hoping it would be functional enough to at least be able to read some of my textbooks.

In my case, Google currently says "This app is incompatible with all of your devices." Does that give any insight into which method of limitation they are using?

And if it is locked in the program itself, does that mean I'll have to spoof a device ID to run it, or is there some other method? (I wouldn't know where to start with spoofing the device ID, much less what to change it to.)

Thanks again!