Google Play Store

724 'Google Play Store' stories August 2012 - November 2019

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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’s App Defense Alliance to stop malicious apps from hitting the Play Store

Abner Li Nov 6 2019 - 9:33 am PT

Google today announced the App Defense Alliance to “stop bad apps before they reach users’ devices.” This partnership sees the Play Store integrate third-party protections from ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium.

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Google bringing Play Points rewards program to the US

Abner Li Nov 4 2019 - 9:00 am PT

google play points US

Rewards programs are all the rage today, from ride-sharing services and airlines to credit cards. After launching in Japan and South Korea, Google is now bringing Play Points to the United States.

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Play Store redesign begins rolling out on Android TV [Gallery]

Abner Li Oct 18 2019 - 9:36 am PT

Following the Android revamp in August, Google is now beginning to roll out a Material Theme for the Play Store on Android TV. Compared to the current iteration, the redesign is gorgeous and makes use of full bleed cover art and large text.

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Datally

Google Play Store

Google’s mobile data-saving app Datally removed from the Play Store

Damien Wilde Oct 17 2019 - 5:10 am PT

It appears that yet another Google app might have bitten the dust, this time mobile data-saving app Datally.

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Play Store 17.0.11 preps Material Theme account switcher, dark theme settings [Gallery]

Abner Li Oct 9 2019 - 10:25 am PT

The latest version of Google Play is rolling out today, and it addresses how inline changelogs were broken and inaccessible for the past week. Play Store 17.0.11 also details work on a manual Theme toggle and new account switcher.

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Google Play Store dark theme

[Update: Fixed in 17.x] Google Play Store breaks inline app update changelogs

Abner Li Oct 9 2019 - 8:10 am PT

In addition to the dark theme being more widely available over the past day, the latest update to Google Play is also rolling out on Android. However, the latest version has an annoying little bug that breaks inline app changelogs.

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Google Play Music app

[Update: Temporary issue] Google Play Music app is no longer searchable on the Play Store for some users

Damien Wilde Oct 3 2019 - 5:11 am PT

We all know that time is slowly running out on Google Play Music as Google eyes a transition to YouTube Music within the next few years — or potentially much sooner. In an odd quirk, reports are coming in of people not being able to find the Google Play Music app within the Google Play Store.

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[Update: More widely available] Google Play Store dark theme starts rolling out

Abner Li Oct 2 2019 - 9:38 pm PT

Google Play Store dark theme

With the launch of Android 10 at the beginning of September, there are still some major Google apps that have yet to gain a dark theme. The Play Store is now the latest to roll out a dark theme after the last 24 hours saw both the Google app and Gmail.
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Duet Display

Google Play Store

Duet Display for Android turns your smartphone into a second monitor

Damien Wilde Oct 2 2019 - 7:22 am PT

The popular iOS app Duet Display that turns your smartphone or tablet into a secondary monitor is now available to download on Android.

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coronavirus app

New ‘Google Play preferences’ can remove you from all betas, promo notifications

Abner Li Sep 28 2019 - 1:45 pm PT

Google Play had a big week that included the Play Pass unveil and a wider dark theme launch. One small, but useful feature that just rolled out are unified “Google Play preferences” that allow you to take bulk actions.

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[Updated: Fixed] Google Play Store bug preventing Android app updates

Abner Li Sep 26 2019 - 5:38 pm PT

Google Play Store Easter Egg

This week saw both the launch of Play Pass and the dark theme actually beginning to roll out. Some users this evening are now encountering a Google Play bug that prevents them from updating Android apps.

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Mario Kart Tour available for download

Mario Kart Tour is now available to download now on Android

Damien Wilde Sep 25 2019 - 5:09 am PT

The wait is finally over! After waiting for over a year, Mario Kart Tour is now available for avid Nintendo gamers on Android.

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Google Play Pass explained: Android TV support, $1.99/month promo, buying apps, developers

Abner Li Sep 23 2019 - 12:00 pm PT

Google Play Pass explained

Google this morning announced Play Pass, a subscription service that “unlocks” Android app and games. You can use and play without having to pay anything beyond the $4.99 per month fee. We spoke with Google ahead of the announcement and they shared their thinking behind Play Pass. It’s been in development for a “couple of years,” and Google hopes that it helps great content “reach more users at scale.”

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Google launches Play Pass subscription with 350+ ‘unlocked’ Android apps and games

Abner Li Sep 23 2019 - 8:59 am PT

Google Play Pass launch

Google is launching its own games — and apps — subscription service for Android. Play Pass provides access to more than 350 “completely unlocked” titles that are free of advertising and in-app purchases.

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Google Play Store Easter Egg

Google Play Store

Adware found in Google Play Store camera apps with over 1.5 million installs

Damien Wilde Sep 23 2019 - 5:04 am PT

Another week, another report of adware in apps on the Google Play Store. This time, a report has found that two camera apps that were available on the Google Play Store were littered with adware and amassed over 1.5 million downloads.

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[Update: No longer working] This is how easy it is to get Google apps on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro [Video]

Damien Wilde Sep 23 2019 - 1:00 am PT

Huawei Mate 30 Pro with Google apps installed

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is in a place that no other flagship has been before, launching globally but with no ‘official’ access to the Google Play Store and Google Play Services right out of the box. This means that many of your favorite Google apps are not instantly accessible on the Mate 30 Pro without a workaround or sideloading.

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Here’s what the Google Play Store’s in-app review system will look like [Gallery]

Kyle Bradshaw Sep 11 2019 - 1:00 pm PT

Google Play Store

Back in July, XDA-Developers discovered that the Google Play Store could soon be providing a way for app developers to get reviews from their users without ever needing to leave the app. Today, we’ve uncovered a demo showing exactly how this in-app review process will work for Play Store apps.

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coronavirus app

Google Play Store

Google removes 24 more malware-filled apps that amassed 500,000 downloads

Damien Wilde Sep 10 2019 - 5:11 am PT

The Google Play Store is having a tough time at the moment with malware-filled apps and sketchy developer practices. Google has again removed 24 more malware-heavy apps from the Google Play Store with almost 500,000 downloads as it tackles the problem on its online app marketplace.

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Google teases ‘Play Pass’ subscription service, launch ‘coming soon’

Abner Li Sep 9 2019 - 3:31 pm PT

Google Play Pass

In late July, Google Play Pass was spotted in testing as a subscription service that provides “access to hundreds of premium apps.” Google today teased the Android offering as “coming soon” and unveiled the official icon.

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Google Play Store

Google Play Store starts autoplaying videos later this month

Ben Schoon Sep 2 2019 - 5:57 am PT

google play store

Autoplaying videos have dominated popular services like Facebook, Instagram, and even Google’s own services. Starting sometime this month, the Google Play Store will start using autoplay for app listing videos.

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Google Play Store adware

Google Play Store

Report: Play Store apps w/ 1.5 million installs ran hidden adware, slowed phones

Damien Wilde Aug 30 2019 - 5:23 am PT

Researchers have found two Google Play Store apps that amassed a combined 1.5 million downloads over 12 months using a new form of hidden click fraud adware that would slow phones, increase overall data usage, and drain batteries.

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Play Store Material Theme hands-on: Slick new outfit, same experience [Video]

Damien Wilde Aug 22 2019 - 9:32 am PT

coronavirus app

We’ve had months of waiting and fleeting glimpses of the Play Store Google Material Theme redesign only to have Google slap it on all Android phones over the past 48 hours.

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Google officially announces and details Play Store Material Theme redesign

Abner Li Aug 21 2019 - 10:51 am PT

Play Store Material Theme official

After months of waiting and temporary appearances, the Play Store Material Theme redesign is now official on Android. Google today announced the revamp after it began widely rolling out last week. The company also detailed the key changes.

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Google Play Store

Report: 85 popular Google Play Store apps forced full-screen ads on users

Damien Wilde Aug 20 2019 - 5:13 am PT

Google Play Store adware

According to a new report, 85 popular Google Play Store apps with over 8 million total downloads were found to be forcing full-screen ads when installed on your smartphone.

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