Tag

App Stores

All articles tagged with #app stores

policy11 days ago•35 min saved

Judge orders Google to streamline rival Android app stores

In Epic Games v. Google, Judge James Donato ruled that Google must reduce “anticompetitive friction” in Android app distribution: rival app stores must be allowed inside Google Play, rivals must get access to Google’s full app catalog for years, and Google must fix friction such as a preliminary “view” step before installation and misleading search/surface results. The changes are to be implemented quickly, with a deadline of about a week.

via The Verge|

#android #antitrust #app-stores

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

San Francisco pressures app stores to purge nudification tools amid deepfake crackdown

San Francisco Attorney General David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google demanding the removal of 13 nudification apps that enable non-consensual explicit imagery, arguing they violate California deepfake laws. Google said several flagged apps were suspended; Apple did not respond. The move highlights ongoing debates over how app stores police harmful AI tools and profiteering from platform fees, with broader questions tied to related Grok/CSAM concerns.

via Ars Technica|

#app-stores #apple #deepfake

technology1 month ago•6 min saved

Google Play to Welcome Rival App Stores After Epic Settlement Is Withdrawn

With the Google–Epic settlement withdrawn, Google will begin distributing third-party app stores on Google Play starting July 22. Rival stores will have default access to the full Play catalog, with developers able to opt out, and stores must meet security, IP, and update/uninstall requirements. A $5,000 annual compliance fee applies, and stores can be removed for malware issues. The rollout is framed as a global “Registered App Stores” program to boost competition and user choice while preserving Android security; US rollout details remain to be clarified.

via Ars Technica|

#android #antitrust #app-stores

technology1 month ago•16 min saved

AI Clones Speed Up Game Ideas, Sparking Copycat Surge

A viral prototype for a rotating-Tetris-inspired game illustrates how generative AI makes it easy to clone ideas, leading to a wave of AI-built copies and “vibecode” versions across app stores and platforms, prompting debates over IP, incentives, and how storefronts curb low-effort clones.

via 404 Media|

#ai #app-stores #cloning

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Supreme Court lets Texas app-store age-verification law stand during challenge

The Supreme Court declined to block Texas's App Store Accountability Act, allowing the state to enforce its age-verification and parental-consent requirements for app purchases as litigation continues; the law is backed by 27 state attorneys general, while opponents including SEAT and CCIA argue it restricts access to free-speech tools and raises First Amendment concerns.

via Politico|

#age-verification #app-stores #first-amendment

technology3 months ago•15 min saved

App Boom Goes Easy: Vibe Coding Tests the Market's Real-World Limits

AI-enabled vibe coding lowers the bar to building apps, driving a surge of new releases (about 414,000 iOS/Android apps in Q1 2026, up 115% year over year) and faster iteration. Yet true profitability remains scarce: only a tiny fraction reach high traction, meaning market saturation, distribution, and effective marketing still decide who turns ideas into sustainable businesses. The trend is democratizing creation but not erasing the brutal realities of execution and competition for Silicon Valley veterans and first-time founders alike.

via Business Insider|

#ai #app-development #app-stores

technology5 months ago•37 min saved

Google Adds 24-Hour Hold On Installing Unverified Android Apps

Google is rolling out an 'advanced flow' for installing unsigned Android APKs that replaces the simple 'unknown sources' toggle with a multi-step process in Developer Options: users must enable 'Allow Unverified Packages' and endure a 24‑hour security delay after reboot before the setting can be activated (temporarily or permanently). A limited free developer account will permit up to 20 device installations; for more, developers must pay $25 and provide government ID. The changes also apply to third‑party app stores, with the same verification rules, and are set to roll out to more countries in coming months. Google frames this as improved security, but critics worry it will hinder sideloading and could be exploited by scammers who buy verified accounts.

via Hackaday|

#android #app-stores #google

technology5 months ago•5 min saved

Google and Epic settle app-store dispute, reshaping Android fees and stores

Google and Epic have reached a global settlement ending their antitrust fight over the Play Store, with lower fees and permission for registered third-party app stores on Android. The deal outlines a new fee structure (5% Google billing fee plus 15% service fee for new installs, 20% for existing installs), 15% total for new app purchases, and 10% for subscriptions, and includes broader store access policy; rollout begins in the US/UK/Europe by mid-2027, Fortnite is expected back on the Play Store subject to court approval.

via Ars Technica|

#android #antitrust #app-stores

technology7 months ago•2 min saved

Epic-Google settlement talks could reshape Android's app stores.

Epic and Google are in court negotiating a global settlement that could overhaul Android’s app-store rules: one option would reduce fees worldwide and allow rival app stores under a new framework, while the alternative would push developers into Google’s payment programs with per-install charges if no deal is reached. Judge Donato remains skeptical about approving the settlement today, and Fortnite’s return to Android could hinge on the outcome.

via The Verge|

#android #antitrust #app-stores

law8 months ago•4 min saved

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Texas App Store Age Restrictions

A federal judge temporarily blocked a Texas law that imposed restrictions on minors' use of app stores, citing concerns that it was unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, and potentially violated free speech rights, while the law's supporters remain confident it will be upheld.

via The Texas Tribune|

#app-stores #court-ruling #first-amendment

technology9 months ago•5 min saved

Epic and Google settle legal disputes, agree on Android reforms

Epic and Google have agreed to settle their lawsuit, leading to significant changes in Android's app store ecosystem, including reduced fees, opening up to third-party stores globally, and allowing easier installation of alternative app stores, potentially transforming competition in the Android marketplace.

via The Verge|

#android #app-stores #epic

technology10 months ago•3 min saved

California Implements Age Verification Law for App Stores

California has enacted AB 1043, a law requiring app stores to implement age-gating measures based on user-inputted ages, and signed additional legislation regulating social media warning labels, AI chatbots, and deepfake pornography, aiming to enhance online safety and privacy protections for minors.

via Engadget|

#age-gate #app-stores #california

technology1 year ago•1 min saved

Epic Games Settles Antitrust Lawsuit with Samsung

Epic Games has settled its antitrust lawsuit against Samsung, which accused Samsung of collaborating with Google to block rival app stores through features like 'Auto Blocker.' The case was dismissed following discussions, with Epic expressing gratitude for Samsung addressing its concerns. This settlement follows Epic's previous legal victories against Google and its launch of its own app store.

via TechCrunch|

#antitrust #app-stores #epic-games

technology1 year ago•2 min saved

Texas Advances Online Safety Measures, Including Social Media Restrictions for Minors

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law requiring Apple and Google to verify users' ages in their app stores, mandating parental approval for minors, which opposes the interests of these tech giants and follows similar laws in other states. The law aims to enhance online safety for children but raises privacy concerns and faces opposition from Apple and Google, who argue it could compromise user privacy and impose burdensome data collection requirements.

via BBC|

#age-verification #app-stores #apple

business1 year ago•1 min saved

Lawmakers Push Apple and Google to Ban TikTok by January 19

US lawmakers have urged Apple and Google to prepare to remove TikTok from their app stores by January 19, following a federal appeals court decision requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok in the US or face a ban. The bipartisan call from the House committee on China emphasizes national security concerns over Chinese oversight. TikTok and ByteDance are seeking a Supreme Court review to block the law, while the Department of Justice acknowledges that the ban would eventually render the app unusable. TikTok warns that the app will become unavailable to new users if the law takes effect.

via CNN|

#app-stores #business #bytedance