Google Play

635 'Google Play' stories March 2012 - April 2024

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google play store

Before the unified Play branding, Google had the Android Market, Google Music, and Google eBookstore. Google decided to merge and rebrand its individual digital offerings into the Play Store in March of 2012.

The Play Store is now the default place to purchase apps, movies & television, music, books, and news subscriptions for all Android devices. The latter four offerings having their individual Android and iOS apps to watch, listen, and read purchased content. Most content can also be accessed through the web.

In April of 2016, the suite of icons were redesigned in a similar style to provide a consistent look across all devices and the web.

google play store

Google Play

Google Play quickly proves it knows almost nothing about Sonic the Hedgehog

Kyle Bradshaw Apr 29 2024 - 2:25 pm PT

In a bizarre set of posts, the official Google Play account on Twitter/X has shared a wildly inaccurate timeline of Sonic the Hedgehog designs over the years.

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Google has an ‘illegal monopoly’ with Play Store & billing, jury finds in Epic case

Ben Schoon Dec 11 2023 - 5:37 pm PT

google play store

The Epic vs Google court battle has come to a verdict, with a jury unanimously voting in Epic’s favor, and declaring that Google has an “illegal monopoly” with the Play Store and Google Play billing.

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Google officially launches redesigned Play Console app for Android

Ben Schoon Nov 22 2023 - 7:15 am PT

A helpful new tool is now available for Android app developers, with a new mobile app for the Google Play Console officially available.

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Google Play Store on Android

Google Play

Google Play credits aren’t working for some Android users for purchases

Ben Schoon Sep 14 2023 - 1:01 pm PT

Credits for the Google Play Store can come from a variety of sources, like gift cards, but if you’re trying to make a purchase right now, you might be left with nothing but an error message.

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Google may soon bring User Choice Billing to Android apps in the UK

Ben Schoon Apr 19 2023 - 7:55 am PT

The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has had an ongoing antitrust probe into Google’s control over Android for months at this point, and it’s now looking like Google will soon bring User Choice Billing to Android apps distributed via the Play Store in the UK.

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Google Play will now machine translate Android apps for free

Kyle Bradshaw Mar 14 2023 - 9:00 am PT

Google Play Store on Android

At the Google for Games Summit, Google announced the launch of free machine translation for Android apps. This will make it easier for developers to launch their apps in seven languages.

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Google made an ‘exclusive’ T-shirt for Play Points Platinum members

Abner Li Dec 14 2022 - 11:15 am PT

Google Play t-shirt

Occasionally, being on a higher Google Play Points tier provides nice perks, with Platinum members now getting a rather cool T-shirt.

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Google Play Store takes aim at annoying game ads, copycat apps, and misinformation in new rules

Ben Schoon Jul 29 2022 - 8:38 am PT

google pixel 6a homescreen

Google has just issued new policy updates for Play Store developers, and the new rules take aim directly at misinformation, impersonation, and annoying game ads… among other things.

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Google Play Pass is now available in India with over 1,000 paid apps and games

Ben Schoon Feb 28 2022 - 10:07 am PT

Google Play Pass is bringing a catalog of paid apps and games to India, nearly three years after launching in other countries.

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Verizon is dropping support for carrier billing through the Google Play Store

Ben Schoon Jan 27 2022 - 10:37 am PT

The Google Play Store offers several ways to pay for apps and subscriptions, including the option of adding the charge to your carrier bill. Verizon, though, is now dropping support for carrier billing in the Play Store.

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Google Play Store updated with Material You design

How to use a Google Play gift card and where to buy one

Andrew Romero Jan 25 2022 - 1:58 pm PT

The Google Play store offers tons of content for all customers – not just Android users. Movies, TV shows, books, and more can be found in the Play Store. A gift card for the Google Play store is a great gift for anyone. So how do you buy one and how can it be used? Read our guide to find out.

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T-Mobile is handing out $10 Google Play credits to Google One subscribers

Ben Schoon Dec 16 2021 - 1:05 pm PT

T-Mobile has been offering better support for more and more Google services as of late, including the recent arrival of a special Google One tier just for T-Mobile customers. Now, T-Mobile is handing out free Google Play credits as a gift to its subscribers.

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Google suspends Parler app from Play Store, citing lack of moderation

Ben Schoon Jan 8 2021 - 5:08 pm PT

Parler app

In the days since the attack on the US Capitol this week, social network Parler has been put into the spotlight. Now, Google has suspended the Parler app from the Play Store on Android, citing the app’s lack of moderation as a reason to remove it.

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galaxy wearable app

[Update: Fixed] Samsung Wearable sideloads the Samsung Pay APK, breaking Google rules

Ben Schoon Jul 13 2020 - 5:17 am PT

Samsung’s various smartwatches are some of the best choices for Android users, but they come with the caveat that you have to install several apps to get them up and running on non-Samsung devices. That includes the individual install of Samsung Pay on your phone, but now Samsung is breaking Google’s terms of service by attempting to sideload the Samsung Pay APK from the Wearable app.

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Google Play Store showcases ‘Premium’ Android games on Chromebooks

Ben Schoon Jun 8 2020 - 7:00 am PT

Android apps on Chrome OS

To help fill the “app gap” on Chromebooks, Google brought the Play Store and compatibility with Android apps and games to just about every Chromebook model. Now, Google is adding a new section to the Play Store to showcase “premium” Android games on various Chromebook devices.

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Google Play Store pushes health/fitness apps, Android TV gets ‘stay mindful & fit’ row

Ben Schoon Apr 16 2020 - 9:21 am PT

With many now staying at home 24/7 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Google has been pushing health and fitness apps through the Google Play Store. On your Android phone, you’ll be able to see collections of various types of health apps, and on Android TV, Google is also pushing at-home workouts.

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Google Play Pass launch

Google extends Play Pass trials to 30 days for a limited time

Ben Schoon Apr 6 2020 - 12:31 pm PT

Google Play Pass makes hundreds of apps and games free for Android users, and now Google is offering a special deal to get you to try it out. For the next few weeks, Google Play Pass is offering an extended 30-day trial.

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Google Play bans Infowars Android app over coronavirus misinformation

Ben Schoon Mar 27 2020 - 9:44 am PT

google play store

Misinformation is spreading like wildfire in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and one source of that has been the highly controversial Alex Jones and his Infowars outlet. Today, Google has finally taken action against the Infowars Android app, removing it from the Play Store.

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Google tells devs to expect longer app review times in light of coronavirus

Stephen Hall Mar 16 2020 - 9:38 am PT

Google is now notifying developers that app review times could be extended “due to adjusted work schedules”. It seems likely that this has to do with the disruptions to normal business that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing at Google and other firms across the country.

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Google Play Users’ Choice 2019 voting goes live, cast a vote for your favorites

Ben Schoon Nov 11 2019 - 6:25 am PT

google play store

Following up on the same event from 2018, Google Play has just opened up voting for its Users’ Choice awards for 2019. Open for the next two weeks, this gives users the ability to vote for some of their favorite apps.

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Google expands Play Security Reward Program for finding bugs in 3rd-party apps

Abner Li Aug 29 2019 - 9:30 am PT

Google Play Store Easter Egg

In 2017, Google launched the Play Security Reward Program to encourage researchers to find vulnerabilities in first and third-party applications. The initiative now includes all Android applications with over 100 million installs.

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Google Play

[Update: Eaze removes in-app purchases] Google immediately bars all marijuana delivery apps from the Play Store

Damien Wilde Jul 1 2019 - 1:30 am PT

Google has updated its developer content policy on the Google Play Store to immediately ban any applications that sell or help assist in the sale of marijuana or products containing THC.

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Google Play Games

Google Play’s Rewarded Products format lets Android gamers watch ads to earn in-app items

Abner Li Mar 6 2019 - 11:03 am PT

Mobile games today are predominantly free-to-play with developers making a living from ads or in-app purchases. Google Play is introducing new Rewarded Products today that will help creators earn revenue when players watch ads to earn free in-app items.

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Google Play Store

Google Play

Google handing out $1 Play Store credits to some users to celebrate 7-year anniversary

Ben Schoon Mar 4 2019 - 10:41 am PT

March 2019 marks the 7-year anniversary of the launch of the Google Play Store. To celebrate, the company is offering up free $1 Play Store credits to some users on Android.

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