Tag: play store

Over 2,000 Dangerous Apps Found On The Google Play Store

Google’s Android is by far one of the most accessible OS (operating system) available in the market. It is estimated that about 75% of all smartphone users are using the software. This implies that 3 out of every 4th person has an Android enabled device. Hence, there are bound to be shortcomings and problems related to such a high user base. Notably, a brand new report has claimed that over 2,040 of Google Play Store apps are harmful to the users, some of which are famous.

Research by the University of Sydney and Data6161 or CSIRO has administered over 1 million apps on the Google Play store. The two-year long study had found a large number of fake apps which weren’t malware but still required an unnecessary amount of permissions. These apps had no need for the data access that they were asking the users to provide. Certain software available on the Play store were famous, such as Hill Climb Racing and Temple Run. However, a few of these applications were downright malware.

Machine learning and Neural networking are being heavily implemented in the processing of all the 1 million applications. An algorithm was specifically developed to look for similar text description and icon designs in Google Play’s top 10,000 most popular apps. A massive number of 49,608 were seen as potential threats to users or their device’s integrity. VirusTotal flagged about 7,246 of the apps as outright malicious while the remaining 2,040 were fake and high-risk apps. Furthermore, 1,565 of such apps made at least 5 sensitive permissions request and 1,407 were embedded with 3rd party ad libraries.

Also Read: Honor 9X To Feature A Triple Camera Set Up And Kirin 810

The aforementioned dangerous applications have since been removed. Google has reported that the number of rejected app submissions has jumped by more than 55% over the previous year while app suspension has increased by up to 66%. Users should be wary of such applications and should ensure to always download only the official and recognised corporations applications from the Google Play store. If unavoidable, one should pay attention as to what permissions the apps are demanding. A game should have no right to making calls and sending messages or have access to customers contact details.

June 25, 2019
After TRAI, Google Too Makes Life Difficult for Facebook

Looks like it’s not the best of times for Facebook. There is another potential blow headed towards the company now, thanks to Google.

Google is allowing some Android users to download apps directly from search results without the need to visit the App Store. Though these downloads are available only through organic searches and not ads yet, but we can hope to see this extension soon as well.

Now these downloads mean some not-so-good-news for Facebook which had begun advertising apps on its website a few years ago. Since then users have been able to download apps from these ads. However, since Google is allowing for direct downloads of its apps from search results, app developers are likely to pay less and less to Facebook to promote themselves.

This, in turn, means a cut in revenue for Facebook. Also, it should be noted that one of Facebook’s main arguments in support of its app ads is that it can direct app-developers to their target audience -with the help of the information Facebook has of its users. Not creepy at all, Facebook.The new development in Google’s add-download might be quite a setback for the networking website since mobile app ads has been a significant source of its revenue.

Google, on the other hand, is making app-downloads more and more inviting for users by introducing features like “trial run ads” which lets users use an app for 60 seconds before deciding whether or not they want to download it. Additionally, the users can now also stream app content from search without actually downloading the app.

January 21, 2016
Here’s a List Of Android Games You Must Play This Week

We cannot even remember the time when mobile phones were only used to make a call and send a text, today we can do almost everything on it. One of those many things include modes of entertainment; and we are here to bring you a list of six Android games that you must play this week.

December 1, 2015
Upcoming Android Devices Will Come With Less Google Bloatware

We had earlier reported about how Samsung was planning to introduce apps to delete bloatware in China. It has now been reported that Android users all around the world will soon be getting less bloatware on their phones. Therefore apps like – Google+, Google Play Games, Google Play Books and Google Newsstand will not come pre-installed.

Some new devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 already doesn’t have Google+ pre-installed. The problem of bloatware did upset many customers and perhaps even companies that decided to use Android as their operating system. Hence, if a company wanted to make an Android handset with the Gmail app, it would also necessarily have to pre-install Google+ and Google Newsstand on it.

However, this new report does not mean that the pre-installed apps are soon to become redundant; they will be available on Google Play Store for those who want them and will be regularly updated too. This new move seems to give users a chance to choose what they do with their storage and companies a chance to provide more storage space and memory to the users.

Source

August 22, 2015
Google Nexus 5 is No Longer Available for Purchase

Google’s 2013 flagship smartphone, the Nexus 5, which debuted alongside the second generation Chromebook Pixel, will no longer be available for purchase. As promised by the search giant, the flagship remained up for sale during the first quarter of 2015, but now, its MIA in Google’s Play Store and the newly formed non-Play store.

The phone’s page reads ‘The Nexus 5 is no longer available for sale.’ It implies that users who are interested in a pure Google smartphone will have to opt for the expensive Motorola Nexus 6.

Specs of this smartphone included 5-inch display in Full HD (1920 x 1080), the modern Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of non-expandable internal memory. With this processor and 2GB of RAM running pure vanilla Android, the device was smooth as butter.

The Nexus 5 is not the only product that Google has stopped. The very first Chromebook Pixel, a high-end laptop that is powered by Chrome OS, is unavailable for purchase too. It seems like Google is on a clean-up spree, which could have something to do with the introduction of the new Chromebook Pixel with two USB Type-C connector.

Nexus 6 is Google’s flagship phone and can be purchased from the Play Store.

March 12, 2015
Google Nexus 6 Pre-Orders to Start Today in India

Google’s flagship device Nexus 6 has been listed on Flipkart for a while now. However, the listing is going to drop the ‘Coming Soon’ tag as the new Nexus will be up for pre-orders in India today.

Presently, Flipkart’s Google Nexus 6 page mentions that there are ‘0 days to go for the Nexus 6’. Earlier, we surfaced the news that the 32 GB variant will be available at a price of Rs. 42,999. Google officially confirmed the pricing of the Nexus 6 in India by listing it on the Google Play store earlier this month.

According to the listing, Nexus 6 32GB version will retail for Rs. 44,000, while the 64 GB version is priced at Rs. 49,000. The phone is expected to release in two colour options in the country – midnight blue and cloud white. Last month, Google launched the new smartphone Nexus 6 in the country, along with Nexus 9 tablet, Nexus Player and Android 5.0.

The phone has the same metal structure of the Moto X and also presumably will have the same strength. The button locations are the same, and thanks to the minimal bezel design, the Nexus 6 looks a lot less big.

The smartphone features a 5.96-inch Quad-HD AMOLED display, 2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 32/64 GB of internal storage and 3220 mAh battery with wireless charging support. Nexus 9, which is also listed as ‘Coming soon’ on the Play store, powers Android 5.0 Lollipop, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver processor clocked at 2.3 GHz.

November 18, 2014
Nexus 6 Officially Listed on Google Play Store for Rs. 44,000

Google’s latest smartphone Nexus 6 is now listed on the Google Play store in India. While the smartphone still appears with a ‘Coming Soon’ tag according to the listing, the final price has been revealed on the Google’s official store.

Earlier, we surfaced the news that the 32 GB variant will be available at a price of Rs. 42,999. But now, according to the listing, Nexus 6 32GB version will retail for Rs. 44,000, while the 64 GB version is priced at Rs. 49,000. The phone is expected to release in two colour options in the country – midnight blue and cloud white.

Anyhow, there is no word on the official release date of the handset. However, it is said that the smartphone is more likely to go on sale during the first week of December. Last month, Google launched the new smartphone Nexus 6 in the country, along with Nexus 9 tablet, Nexus Player and Android 5.0.

Nexus 6 features a 5.96-inch Quad-HD AMOLED display, 2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 32/64 GB of internal storage and 3220 mAh battery with wireless charging support. Nexus 9 which is also listed as ‘coming soon’ on the Play store powers Android 5.0 Lollipop, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver processor clocked at 2.3 GHz.

While, the Nexus 9 comes with 2 GB RAM and is available in 16 GB and 32 GB storage variants. The device has an 8.9-inch IPS LCD display with 4:3 aspect ratio. It has a resolution of 2048×1536p and is covered in Gorillla Glass 3. The 16 GB variant is priced at Rs. 28,900 and the 32 GB one will cost you Rs. 44,900.

November 7, 2014
Google Play Store Increases its Return Window to a Fair 2 hours

Google’s Play Store return policy is one of the best feature the company provides. It has been appreciated by Android community a great deal. The service offers you the option of returning an app you’ve just paid for and downloaded. You can do this by simply heading back into the Google’s store, hit the refund tab, and you’re done.

Obviously, there is a time limit for the refund policy which has been fluctuating since it started because of the reluctant developers who were worried about the loss. Earlier, when the service started Google offered 24 hours to initiate a refund which was bit extreme according to the developers. Then the company pulled down the timeframe to 15 mins where it stood until now.

Google has once again changed its refund policy and increased the return window to a fair 2 hours timeframe. The new 2-hour window strikes a happy medium between the old 24 hours options, giving you a decent length of time to try out an app but not so much that you’d be able to fully utilize an app or finish a game and then return it.

Windows Phone lets willing developers give users a trial period for apps before purchase but mostly you don’t get to play with all the features of the app which defeats the point all together. Apple’s App store in comparison, offers no refund or trial options for the apps and games. Guess it’s time to get apps from Google directly instead of looking for APK files from untrustworthy websites.

September 11, 2014
Google Play Store Beats iOS App Store in Number of Downloads, Lags In Revenue

An app analyst at App Annie have compiled their data for Q2 2014 and have come out with the results. For the months of April, May and June, the Android Play Store has again surpassed the iOS App Store in terms of app downloads. In raw numbers, the Android Play Store registered about 150 million app downloads as opposed to 100 million app downloads against its iOS counterpart. This means a 60% increase from the previous quarter for Android, and a 45% increase for iOS.

App revenue, however, is a completely different story. iOS has a huge lead in this department with $100 million in app revenue as compared to $60 million for Android. Again, that is an increase of 45% for iOS from the previous quarter as against a 30% increase for Android. Now there can be a number of reasons for this, but the primary reasons being ‘free-medium’ apps on Android, which actually cost a few dollars on Apple’s iOS platform.

However, it is predicted by analysts that the Android Play Store will actually surpass the iOS App Store even in revenue by 2018. Android already dominates about 80% of the smartphone market, and app revenues are expected to reflect that soon.

In terms of app downloads by categories, both platforms are dominated by Games, Tools, Communication, Entertainment and Social applications. This is not news as these categories were dominant in the previous quarter as well.

The role of low-priced Android phones in emerging markets also makes a mark on these rankings. India jumped up two spots to claim the third overall spot in total app downloads on Android, behind the United States and Brazil. On the iOS platform, Japan, United States, South Korea, Germany and Taiwan continue to dominate the top five nations in terms of downloads.

Apple is presently preparing for the launch iPhone 6 which is said to be more expensive than the iPhone 5s, while on the other hand Google has recently announced the Android One, a cheap mobile platform for budget phone in India . It will be interesting to see how both companies with different marketing strategy compete with each other in this volatile technology market.

By Pranav Arora

July 21, 2014
New Leaked Images Reveal Google Play’s Makeover

We have been introduced to Android L and Google’s new Material Design UI, which is expected to infiltrate most of Google’s own apps, at this year Google I/O. We will have to wait until Android L’s public launch this fall before we get a good look at these updated apps, but the rumor flying high these days aren’t going to make us wait that long for a peek at Google Play Store makeover.

Android Police reports that Google will be redesigning their interface and aesthetics of the Play Store for Android devices and added that the content listings focus on the new design. Screenshots also shared by Android Police purportedly reveal the Material Design version of the Play Store for both phones and tablets. When compared to the current iteration of the Play Store, the refreshed version uses larger images and album art in the background of a listing.

There is more white space between the content and the review sections are bit more colorful with the addition of color review bars. The new layout and design of the Play Store will be primarily focused on content, with the video or trailer for the item and the app icon or movie/album/magazine cover being more prominent. The content and the text describing the item is lower and you will not be able to view it upon immediate entry.

The whole store listing page has changed, to one that uses artistic layout on a largely white canvas with the new Roboto font highlighted during the Google I/O conference. However, this design is still under wraps and could change entirely by the time it is launched.

Recently Samsung has also showed off its app store with a focus on Galaxy devices. The new Samsung Galaxy Apps store will feature “hundreds of apps” exclusively for Samsung Galaxy mobile users, the company stated in a blog post. The new app store offers higher customization and includes a variety of promotions and discounts for users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices.

July 14, 2014
CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

CyanogenMod is an alternative OS for your smartphone, it helps you to modify the phone content according to your needs. The company took an initiative to spread the application worldwide with its availability on the Play Store. Unfortunately, the CyanogenMod installer application has now been removed from the Play Store.

The CyanogenMod team was contacted by the Google Play Support team to say that the CyanogenMod Installer application is in violation of Google Play’s developer terms. Google advised CyanogenMod to voluntarily remove the application, or they would be forced to remove it administratively.

However, CyanogenMod says that this app has not violated any of Google Play’s developer terms. As the company says the only work of this app is to guide users to enable “ADB”, a built in development and debugging tool, and then navigate the user to the desktop installer.

The company says that Android is open enough to allow installing from unknown sources, this application is available on the companies website and can be installed. CyanogenMod has also submitted applications to Amazon and Samsung app-stores.

November 29, 2013
Google Opinion Rewards, Earn Play Store Credits By Taking Part in Surveys

Google has always been satisfactory when it is about the consumer experience, and it seems the company plans to improve further for its users as Google just announced Google Opinion Rewards a new application to allow users to complete a survey and help them to improve the user experience.

Google Opinion Rewards is a new application from the company which does exactly what the name suggests, the app will give you Play Store credits for your paid app purchases each time you answer a survey. The survey is said to be on weekly basis and will include upto 10 questions, users will have to enter there Google Wallet account details so that the credits reach the right place. Questions will range from, “Which logo is best?” and “Which promotion is most compelling?” to “When do you plan on traveling next?”. However, this application is currently only available to users in United States.

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zpKBS9pL-o”]

[Play Store]

November 7, 2013
The New Nexus 7 32 GB LTE Listed On Play Store At a Price Of 25999 INR

The much awaited tablet from Google the new Nexus 7 is now listed on the Google Play Store with a tag of Coming Soon. The new Nexus 7 is listed as a 32 GB LTE/WiFi/HSPA+ variant and is priced at 25999 INR.

However, other variants of the tablets seems unavailable as the price is not mentioned in INR and if you try to click on any of them which are Nexus 7 16 GB WiFI or the Nexus 7 32 GB WiFi they have prices in USD and are not available in India. This can surely hint that the new tablet will hit the shelves soon.

The Nexus 7 tablet features a 7 inch full-HD display (1920×1200 pixels), with a pixel density of 323ppi. It is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, and is equipped with a 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of inbuilt storage which is not expandable. The new Nexus 7 also sports a 5 MP rear camera and a 1.2 MP front-facing camera.

For more information check out are unboxing, Gaming, Benchmarks and the full review below:

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November 4, 2013
Google Revealed Nexus 5 On Play Store Priced At $349

Google’s much awaited next generation Nexus phone, Nexus 5 has made an official online appearance on the Play Store.

This is something official and not a leak, as it was found on the Google Play Store, as the phone was listed on the Play Store might be accidentally or Google wants people to keep on talking about the Nexus 5. The listing of the Nexus 7 was with a price tag of 349 USD for the 16 GB Nexus 5, but after sometime Google removed the listing on the Play Store.

Previous leaks have showed that the device will feature a new 1080p 4.95-inch display, 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800. However, this information from Google got everyone a glimpse of how the phone looks like and even an idea of what could be its price, at 349 USD which is approximately 21500 INR this phone can be a success when it lands up to the Indian market. The company might globally launch the device on 28 October. The source link below shows the listing for the device but as said the Nexus 5 listing is been removed from the Play Store for some reason.

[via]

October 18, 2013
Express Yourself with Doodles, Doodly Doo

Messaging apps have become very popular, specifically applications like WhatsApp. These apps allows one to send and receive not only text messages but also images, videos, locations, audio the recent feature and some songs as well.

Making up doodles or expressing your self was first spread out by the Samsung’s Note series, using that one could easily sketch anything down and share it seamlessly. But the default S note is limited to certain things only.

However, for doodling its not necessary that you would need a stylus, as not all phones supports one. We are talking about the app that can help you to express your opinion in a different way, the app is called ‘Doodly Doo’.

Doodly Doo is an app that allows you to doodle anything that you imagine or to take the artist out of you. You can simply draw anything on the app, there are many brush size options along with a lot of color options. You can also take inputs from the camera, gallery, maps, google images and can also add text, rage faces, smileys and greetings to make your ideas of sketching better.

You can simply use the map option to direct someone where you exactly are, and give your personal message on it. And the greeting option shows up greetings for occasions like Happy birthday, Anniversary and ‘Alot’ more.

The app plays back the doodle on the receiver’s screen exactly the same way it is drawn. Users can also post these doodles to their Facebook, WhatsApp and even send links to watch these doodles to the ones who don’t use this app through SMS.

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September 14, 2013