Are there alternative ways of downloading free applications from Android Market? I can't download applications from the Android Market very well. The most common problem is that it sends an HTTP request and the remote server replies, but no data follows: the TCP connection just stalls. The Market app shows an animated progress bar (before "0%" or sometimes always "0%") indefinitely until I cancel the download.

Sometimes using another network connection helps. (Note: I don't have data plan yet and use only WiFi):


Connection over Wi-fi access point to my laptop that is running VPN and doing NAT: stalls
Connection over Wi-fi access point to my laptop that is running VPN and doing "-j REDIRECT' to tcpsocks that is connecting throught "ssh -D" from my server: sometimes works
Ad-hoc Wi-fi connection to my laptop that is running VPN and doing "-j REDIRECT' to tcpsocks that is connecting throught "ssh -D" from my server: stalls
Connection over Wi-fi access point to my laptop connected to university network and doing -j REDIRECT to tcpsocks that is connecting through the ssh -D (connections originating from my server): sometimes works, very very slow
VPN connection from the device throught the access point (without using laptop): works
Connecting through the ProxyDroid (running redsocks internally) redirecting to ssh -D (connections originating from my server) started on my laptop over Ad-hoc wifi network: stalls
Connecting through the ProxyDroid (HTTP mode) redirecting to proxy server running on my laptop (with by chain of proxy servers finally originates connections from my server) started on my laptop over Ad-hoc wifi network: stalls


The only workaround I found is to capture the request from device with Wireshark and execute it (using netcat) on my desktop computer. It downloads the apk file from the Market which I can put on the device as usual. Obtaining such links is hovewer inconvenient (especially when it uses HTTPS).

Trying to use ProxyDroid does not help.


How can I debug stalled downloads from Android Market?
What are alternative approaches to obtaining apps from Market? Would using the Android Market in the emulator be better?
If you can download from your PC without stalling*, you can then copy the .apk over to your phone and open/install from the file-system.



*Q: how to initate android download in a PC browser?

A: I don't know, but it's possible for other markets, anyway)