play store

As Black History Month comes to a close, here are five of some of the most thought-provoking apps made by Black developers in the U.S.

Google has paused its rule requiring use of its own Play Store system for in-app payments. Developers can use third-party services and avoid Google's 30% tax.

Google owes app developers a total of $90 million for its 30% cut of all in-app purchases following the company's settlement of a class-action suit.

Google is introducing several new features that will help game and app developers to engage and grow their audience while also improving privacy and security.

The Google Play Store has gotten rid of a popular feature, resulting in a fan outcry and confusion.

The U.K.'s Competition and Market Authority thinks Apple and Google are stifling mobile competition. Here's what that means.

It’s no secret that Google’s wearable platform has been stagnant over the years. Wear OS users are lucky to get one or two quality of life updates a year, but hopefully, with the upcoming merger with Tizen, we’ll see the platform truly take a leap forward in features and usability.However, while we wait for the revolutionary new platform upgrade, Google is releasing some much-needed improvements for installing apps on your smartwatch in the coming weeks.For starters, you’ll soon be able to search for watch apps using the Play Store on your phone by adding the terms “watch” or “watch faces” to your query. Browsing for watch apps on your phone will also get easier with new curated sections for Wear OS and Watch Faces for Wear OS category pages featuring recommended popular apps for your smartwatch.Even better, you’ll also have the option to use the Play Store on your phone to install the apps on your watch. Because what good would browsing watch apps on your phone be if you couldn’t install them from there?Installing apps that have both a phone and watch app will be easy thanks to a drop down menu housed in the “Install” button on the Play Store listing. Tapping on the arrow icon will expand the menu and allow you to choose which device you want to install it on.Along with making apps easier to install when using your phone, Google is also giving the Play Store on your watch a visual refresh. The new layout is based on Material You and features larger cards to help with navigating on a smaller display.Additionally, when you make an in-app purchase on the watch the Play Store will now open the purchase page on your smartphone or provide a URL to open up in a browser to complete the purchase.Google says the new update will begin rolling out over the coming weeks to smartwatches running Wear OS 2.x and above. However, there have already been reports of many users receiving the new Play Store redesign on their watches over the past week. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those lucky few but it’s nice to know that it will be coming soon.

When you opt-in for personalized ads on your Android phone, Google creates an advertising ID which it uses to track you and make suggestions. However, did you know that advertising ID is also available to apps on your phone? Well, that’s all about to change.Google recently updated its support page on the Play Console to inform developers that in the near future their apps will lose access to this advertising ID when a user opts out of personalized ads.Starting in late 2021, when a user opts out of interest-based advertising or ads personalization, the advertising identifier will not be available. You will receive a string of zeros in place of the identifier.As you can see, the change won’t be coming until late 2021–whenever that may be–but at least it’s coming. According to the article from XDA-Developers, a notice shared by a developer sheds some more light on the upcoming change. For starters, it will come via a phased rollout affecting apps on Android 12 first. Later, devices supporting Google Play will get the same treatment starting in early 2022.This Google Play services phased rollout will affect apps running on Android 12 devices starting late 2021 and will expand to affect apps running on devices that support Google Play in early 2022. In July, we will provide more details and an alternate solution to support essential use cases such as analytics and fraud prevention.While most users will be waiting till early 2022 for this feature, if you’d like to go ahead and opt-out of personalized ads right now, here’s how to do it. Open the settings menu on your phone, navigate to Google, select Ads, and toggle on Opt out of Ads Personalization.This recent development is one of Google’s latest attempts to play catch up with Apple, as the Cupertino company pushes its privacy-first approach to smartphones. Google also announced back at I/O that the Play Store would be adding privacy info to apps similar to what Apple added to its App Store last year.

Google will soon make it harder for third-party apps to see what other apps are installed on a user's Android

Facebook is one of the most popular social networks around the globe, but with Facebook Lite, the app goes on a diet for low-end phones. How does it compare?

Each year Google holds a vote allowing users to pick their favorite app, game, movie, and book from the Play Store. Voting for this year’s contenders ended on November 23, and after tallying them up, the winners for 2020 were announced today.First up, is the winner for best app, and apparently, Disney’s new streaming service has been a hit, because the Disney+ app is number one for 2020. However, when you look at the other apps in the running such as, Vimeo, Reface, and Microsoft Office among others–it’s not surprising to see the mouse came out on top. How can any of those other apps hope to compete with the might of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and baby Yoda?As for the other awards, the game of the year award went to SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off, while Bad Boys for Life took the top movie choice, and If It Bleeds was the number one book.Along with the user’s choice awards, the Play Store editors also came together to share their favorite apps of the year. Number one on their list was Loóna: Bedtime Calm & Relax, a mood-altering app that is supposed to help you get ready to sleep. Given the stressful year 2020 has been, it’s no surprise an app meant to calm you would be the top choice.Some other standout choices include the popular video conferencing app Zoom and the hit free to play game Genshin Impact. The full list of apps and games can be viewed below.Best App of 2020Loóna: Bedtime Calm & Relax by Loona Inc.Best Personal Growth AppsPaired: App for Couples | Relationship Advice by Better Half Ltd.Centr, by Chris Hemsworth by Loup Pty LtdSpeekoo by LearnMyLanguageIntellect by The Intellect CompanyJumprope: How-to Videos by JumpropeBest Hidden Gem Apps Paperless Post Flyer Invitation Maker, Text Invite by Paperless PostLoóna: Bedtime Calm & Relax by Loona Inc.Explorest-Photo Locations by Explorest Inc.Cappuccino by Olivier DesmoulinTayasui Sketches by TayasuiBest Everyday Essential AppsGrid Diary – Journal, Planner by Sumi InteractiveWhisk: Turn Recipes into Shareable Shopping Lists by whisk.comThe Pattern by Pattern Home, Inc.ZOOM Cloud Meetings by zoom.usCalmaria by ABDZBest Apps for GoodGreenChoice: Healthy Grocery Shopping by GreenChoice, PBCMedito by Medito for Mindfulness, Meditation and SleepShareTheMeal: Donate to Charity and Solve Hunger by United NationsBest Apps for FunDisney+VITAReface (formerly Doublicat)Dolby On: Record Audio & MusicBazaart: Photo Editor and Graphic Design Best Game of 2020 Genshin Impact by miHoYo LimitedBest Indie GamesCookies Must Die by Rebel TwinsMaze Machina by Arnold RauersSky: Children of the Light by thatgamecompany incInbento by AfterburnGRIS by DevolverDigitalBest Casual GamesHarry Potter: Puzzles & Spells by ZyngaDreamWorks Trolls Pop: Bubble Shooter & Collection by Huuuge Games – Play TogetherSpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off by Tilting PointDisney Frozen Adventure by Jam City, Inc.EverMerge by Big Fish GamesBest Innovative GamesFancade by Martin MagniMinimal Dungeon RPG by CapPlayThe Gardens Between by The Voxel AgentsGenshin Impact by miHoYo LimitedOrd. by Crescent Moon GamesBest Competitive Games Legends of Runeterra by Riot Games, IncThe Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross by NetmarbleBullet Echo by ZeptoLabGwent: The Witcher Card Game by CD PROJEKT S.A.Brawlhalla by Ubisoft Entertainment

Google is updating its policy to enforce the 30% tax it requires app developers to pay if they want to sell on the Play Store.

Google plans to introduce updated Play Store guidelines that emphasize the requirement for most apps to use the company's billing

Listen up, Apple: Here’s how to end your antitrust problems once and for all

The company wants developers to be more transparent about terms

Google has launched a rewards program for Play Store users in the United States. Play Points gives Android users the chance to earn discounts and win prizes for their purchases in the store.