Google Play

639 'Google Play' stories March 2012 - August 2019

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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 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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Play Store’s machine learning based anti-spam system removes millions of reviews per week

Kyle Bradshaw Dec 17 2018 - 2:01 pm PT

The Play Store has a problem with spam, there’s no way around it. With causes ranging from apps that borderline beg users for reviews and companies that pay for fake reviews, it’s obvious something needed to be done. This year, Google has acknowledged all the spam and finally has begun to do something about it by creating a machine-learning-powered anti-spam system to remove fake reviews from the Play Store.

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Google Search

Google Play testing storage indicator in ‘My Apps’ section, ‘Free Up Space’ option

Ben Schoon Dec 6 2018 - 9:29 am PT

We’re keeping more on our smartphones than ever before, and that means storage is hard to keep up with. Now, it appears that Google is testing out a storage indicator that resides directly within the Play Store.

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Google Play Best of 2018 Awards

Google Play Best of 2018 Awards reveal top Android apps, books, and movies

Abner Li Dec 3 2018 - 12:05 am PT

With the year almost coming to a close, Google’s various services are beginning to recap 2018. The Play Store is starting with the Best of 2018 in Android apps, Play Movies & TV, and Play Books, with the first two categories featuring Fan Favorite voting this year.

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[Update: Live] Google Play Cyber Week includes a $.99 movie rental on Thanksgiving

Abner Li Nov 22 2018 - 11:00 am PT

For the Google Store and Made by Google, Black Friday has become more of a week-long affair with deals coming in at various tiers. Today, Google Play is joining in on the festivities with a Cyber Week that most notably sees your first movie rental drop to $.99 on Thanksgiving Day.

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Google Play

App Store sees massive growth, generated 93% more revenue than Google Play in Q3

Peter Cao Oct 11 2018 - 11:20 am PT

It’s no secret that Apple’s App Store makes more than Google’s Play Store when it comes to revenue. However, the latest data recorded by Sensor Tower (via TechCrunch), shows that in Q3 of 2018, Apple widened the gap by a huge amount.

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Google Play’s redesigned in-app purchase UI is more reachable, rolling out now

Abner Li Aug 2 2018 - 8:40 pm PT

In-app purchases (IAPs) — for better or worse — are how many developers today monetize games and applications. Google is now beginning to roll out a redesigned and more straightforward payment prompt for users.

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Google Play’s developer policy updated to ban crypto mining, firearm sales apps, and more

Ben Schoon Jul 27 2018 - 10:01 am PT

There are hundreds of thousands of apps on Google Play which reach millions of users. With that in mind, Google has a developer policy in place to restrict what can and cannot be downloaded from the Play Store. Recently, the company has updated that policy to restrict cryptocurrency mining apps, among others…

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G Suite accounts can strangely no longer review Play Store content

Ben Schoon Jun 22 2018 - 8:22 am PT

It can be frustrating sometimes to be using a G Suite account, as Google sometimes enacts random restrictions that don’t make a whole lot of sense. Recently, Google changed some policies on the Play Store that has further restricted these accounts.

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Google appears to be recommending ‘lite’ apps via the Play Store to some users

Ben Schoon Mar 26 2018 - 7:16 am PT

With initiatives like Android Go and Android One, developers have spent a fair bit of time trying to slim down their apps. One solution many have adopted is creating “lite” apps which ditch features for smaller apps sizes and better performance. Now, it seems Google Play is recommending these apps to some users.

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Android Instant Apps will soon be available for games with Google Play Instant

Abner Li Mar 19 2018 - 10:48 am PT

Ahead of the Game Developers Conference, Google announced new Maps APIs to allow developers to create more Pokemon Go-like augmented reality apps, as well as video ads for the Play Store. At its 2018 developer keynote, Google today unveiled an extension of Instant Apps aimed at games.

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Amazon drops lockscreen ads on Prime Exclusive phones likely due to new Google Play rules

Abner Li Feb 6 2018 - 9:49 am PT

Back in 2016, Amazon introduced Prime Exclusive Phones that took a page from its Kindle line and featured lockcsreen offers and ads. In exchange, the devices are available to Prime subscribers at a subsidized price. This month, Amazon is dropping lockscreen offers and ads on all Prime Exclusive Phones. This is likely due to recent Google Play rule changes.

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Google Play teases audiobook sales ahead of official arrival, will offer 50% off first title

Ben Schoon Jan 19 2018 - 9:14 pm PT

While most people think of Google Play as their center to download apps and games for their Android device, it’s a home for a lot of other content. That includes movies, TV shows, music, books, comics, and more. Now, though, it appears audiobooks are being added to that list.

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Google improving app security, performance w/ Android version target & 64-bit requirements

Abner Li Dec 19 2017 - 12:20 pm PT

Google Android

Google today announced a number of new changes and policies for Android developers to improve app security and performance on Google Play. Coming into effect throughout 2018 and 2019, these policies cover what API levels to target and a new 64-bit requirement

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Google launches ‘Change the Game’ initiative to diversify mobile gaming in Play Store

Abner Li Dec 7 2017 - 9:59 am PT

Google today launched a new initiative to bring more inclusivity into mobile gaming. “Change the Game” conducted interesting research into how women play and the real-world effects that a gender gap has on games. In turn, Google is planning diversity programs, partnerships, and research throughout 2018, starting by highlighting games on the Play Store.

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Google Play Store Android

Google bans Play Store apps that put ads on your lockscreen

Ben Schoon Dec 1 2017 - 8:05 am PT

Ads in apps aren’t necessarily a bad thing, but when they invade portions of the phone you can’t avoid or constantly have to interact with, that can cross a line. Lockscreen ads have shown up quite frequently in apps on the Play Store, but that’s no more, thanks to a policy change by Google.

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Google Play’s Best of 2017 list reveals top apps, songs, and movies of the year

Abner Li Dec 1 2017 - 12:04 am PT

With a month left till 2018, it’s time for the best of the year recaps. Google Play is kicking it off with its “Best of 2017” highlights that include the top apps, games, songs, movies, TV shows, and books.

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Google Play adds ‘Try it Now’ button to demo Instant Apps, new Games tab, bounty program

Abner Li Oct 19 2017 - 10:00 am PT

Google Play Store

For the past several years, Google has hosted a developer event called Playtime centered around the Play Store and apps to share best practices and new tools. At this year’s Playtime, Google announced a number of new tools for developers, including a Security Reward Program, as well as some new features for the Play Store.

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Google announces 2017’s top three indie games from US and Canadian developers

Abner Li Sep 26 2017 - 10:34 am PT

Back in July, Google took submissions for the best indie games of the year from US and Canadian developers. The company hosted a festival over the weekend in San Francisco where the public was able to play the games, as well as vote on finalists. Today, Google unveiled this year’s winners and listed those apps in the Play Store.

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Google appears to be testing app sizes in Play Store search results

Ben Schoon Sep 16 2017 - 2:27 pm PT

Google never really stops testing changes to the Google Play Store, and it appears yet another one is underway. First spotted by some users on Reddit, Google seems to be testing replacing app ratings with the download sizes of those apps in search results.

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Comment: Apple just nailed 4K pricing and upgrades, and Google should follow

Ben Schoon Sep 13 2017 - 10:08 am PT

It’s 2017, 4K is everywhere. 4K TVs are getting cheaper, 4K projectors are constantly hitting the market, HDR is becoming more prevalent, and heck, we’ve even got 4K displays on smartphones. All those extra pixels are a big deal, but movie studios continue to charge ridiculous prices for them. Apple just showed the entire industry how it’s done, and its time for them to follow suit.

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