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All articles tagged with #google play

technology7 days ago

Google’s $25 Android Verification Fee and 14-Day Testing Rule Spark Backlash Among Hobbyist Developers

Google’s new Android Developer Verification system requires a $25 fee and identity checks for broader app distribution, while new personal accounts must pass a 14-day closed test with 12 users. Hobbyist developers criticize these hurdles as barriers to free or small-scale projects, though Google argues they curb malware and repeat bad actors. The rules began in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand on September 30, 2026, with wider expansion planned for 2027.

via Cybernews|
#android#app-distribution#cybersecurity
Ownership illusion: Google revokes offline LOTR access after purchase
streaming-and-entertainment2 months ago

Ownership illusion: Google revokes offline LOTR access after purchase

Google reportedly yanked offline access to The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition Trilogy purchased on Google Play, illustrating that digital “purchases” are licenses rather than true ownership; with refunds denied and the buyer redirected to YouTube, the backlash highlights ongoing questions about lifelong access to digital content and bolsters the case for physical media like 4K Blu-ray.

via What Hi-Fi?|
#digital-ownership#google-play#licensing
Aptoide Games Lands on Google Play, Expanding Android Store Options in the US
technology2 months ago

Aptoide Games Lands on Google Play, Expanding Android Store Options in the US

Aptoide has made Aptoide Games available on Google Play for Android users in the United States, marking a milestone for third-party app stores on the official Android store. The move follows years of tension between Google and alternative storefronts and a 2024 ruling that opened Play Store to competitors, with Epic Games’ litigation helping spur broader distribution options for developers and more choices for users.

via Engadget|
#android#aptoide#epic-games
EU fines Google €890 million under DMA for steering users to its own services
technology2 months ago

EU fines Google €890 million under DMA for steering users to its own services

The European Commission fined Google €890 million ($1 billion) for steering users of Google Search and Google Play toward its own services, alleging a Digital Markets Act violation aimed at limiting competition. It’s the largest DMA penalty to date, with fines potentially increasing if Google fails to comply within 60 days; Brussels says the move is to protect consumers and ensure a level playing field for rivals.

via Al Jazeera|
#antitrust#digital-markets-act#eu
Google Play to Welcome Rival App Stores After Epic Settlement Is Withdrawn
technology2 months ago

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
Google opens Play Store to outside payments with lower commissions for developers
policy3 months ago

Google opens Play Store to outside payments with lower commissions for developers

Google plans to replace its flat 30 percent Play Store fee with lower, decoupled rates and allow developers to use outside payment methods, with tiered cuts based on revenue and whether developers use Google Play Billing; changes will roll out in stages—with some regions by September and a global rollout by 2027—alongside programs like Games Level Up and Apps Experience to qualify for lower rates.

via The Verge|
#android#antitrust#billing
AI Studio Lets You Build Native Android Apps From Prompts
technology4 months ago

AI Studio Lets You Build Native Android Apps From Prompts

During Google I/O 2026, Google unveiled AI Studio, a prompt-driven tool to build native Android apps with an embedded emulator and optional real-device testing, targeting personal-utility, hardware-enabled, and Gemini-powered experiences; apps created with AI Studio must still pass Google Play’s quality standards, and Google also released a 1.0 Android CLI and plans for Gemini-backed app recommendations and a Play Shorts feed for apps.

via The Verge|
#ai-studio#android#app-development
Trump Mobile to begin shipping T1 phone this week, CEO says
technology4 months ago

Trump Mobile to begin shipping T1 phone this week, CEO says

Trump Mobile’s CEO Pat O’Brien told USA Today that the Trump Phone (T1) will begin shipping to buyers this week and that all preorders will be fulfilled in the coming weeks, despite an 11-month delay since its announcement. The phone has FCC and PTCRB certifications and was added to Google Play’s device list, with a new promo video released amid viral reports of canceled preorders that lack verified evidence or numbers; The Verge has preorder units but no confirmed delivery yet.

via The Verge|
#fcc-certification#google-play#preorder
Nudify Apps Surface in Apple and Google Stores Despite Policies
technology5 months ago

Nudify Apps Surface in Apple and Google Stores Despite Policies

Bloomberg reports that Apple and Google continue to host nudifying apps that can alter images to appear nude despite store rules; the Tech Transparency Project found 18 nudify-capable apps in the Apple App Store and 20 in Google Play, with 483 million downloads and $122 million in revenue. Apple has removed several identified apps and blocked related search terms after Bloomberg’s inquiry, while Google says it has suspended many apps for policy violations. Researchers warn that enforcement is uneven and that autocomplete can boost visibility. Regulators in the US and UK are moving to curb non-consensual sexual content.

via Yahoo Finance Australia|
#apple-app-store#google-play#nudify
Nudify apps continue to be promoted on Apple and Google stores, report finds
technology5 months ago

Nudify apps continue to be promoted on Apple and Google stores, report finds

Tech Transparency Project finds 18 nudify apps in Apple's App Store and 20 in Google Play—capable of nude transformations or pornographic deepfakes—with about 483 million downloads and $122 million in revenue; Apple says it removed several apps, Google suspended others, and both platforms say they enforce policies banning sexual content as enforcement continues.

via Engadget|
#apple#deepfake#google
DDLC pulled from Google Play over sensitive themes, creators seek reinstatement
technology6 months ago

DDLC pulled from Google Play over sensitive themes, creators seek reinstatement

Google has removed the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club from the Play Store, citing violations of its terms of service related to sensitive themes. The game's creator Dan Salvato and publisher Serenity Forge say they are exploring options to reinstate the title on Android and are considering alternate distribution methods while continuing to advocate for DDLC on other platforms.

via GamesIndustry.biz|
#doki-doki-literature-club#google-play#play-store-removal