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Google Play makes it easier to test Android apps
It's not too hard to beta test an Android app, but the process still tends to involve jumping through a few hoops. You might need to visit the developer's website, for instance, or join a community. Thankfully, it's about to get downright trivial in the near future: Google is rolling out a Play Store update that lets you join (or leave) Android betas right from the regular app's listing. Certain tests may ask you to sign up for a Google+ community first, but you won't have to go scrounging for a beta-specific app entry or download an installer from a website.
Google helps Android app makers understand its rules
It's frustrating when a favorite Android app disappears from Google Play, but it's even worse when that happens due to a misunderstanding of the rules. Do you really want to lose access over an honest mistake? Google is taking steps to prevent that from happening in the future. It just overhauled its Developer Program Policy Center to make app guidelines easy to understand, reducing the chances that an app will get the boot.
Google Play holiday deals include three months of music for $1
Most big digital retailers do holiday deals, and Google Play is no exception. Google surely wants the recipients of new Android phones and tablets to get used to buying things through its storefront as quickly as possible. While that obviously benefits Google, that doesn't mean these deals aren't pretty solid this year. Perhaps the best deal is three months of Google Play Music for $1 -- a deal that'll also include commercial-free videos on YouTube Red and full access to the new YouTube Music app. That deal is comparable with promos Spotify has been running for some time (not to mention the free three months of Apple Music still up for grabs), but sadly you'll need to be a new subscriber to take advantage.
Google Play Store bids the Nexus 6 farewell
You read that right: The Motorola-made handset is no longer sold through Google's online shop. Droid Life has discovered that the Nexus 6 has been taken out of the Play Store, a little after a year since the phone was launched. As always, though, you don't have to permanently say bye-bye, au revoir, adios or sayonara to the model, since there are a lot of third-party sellers out there -- a cursory search on eBay shows us tens of thousands of Nexus 6s for sale. If you'd rather not trust an online seller, well, there's always Google's newer phones: the LG-made Nexus 5x and the bigger, Huawei-manufactured Nexus 6P.
Google's redesigned Play store starts rolling out
After being teased last week by Google engineer Kirill Grouchnikov, the redesigned Play store has apparently started showing up on some Android devices. Android Central says the new mobile shop for apps, books, music, movies and more, which features a simplified tab-based interface, hit one of its smartphones last night. We checked ours to no avail, so you shouldn't freak out if it's not on yours either. Now that it's out there for certain people, it won't be too long before everyone can begin using it. Patience is a virtue.
Google gives your Android apps more room to breathe
Google just introduced a low-key change that could make a big, big impact on the Android apps you use. The search giant has doubled the maximum initial download size for apps from 50MB to 100MB, giving developers more headroom before they have to rely on post-install downloads like the ones you often see for large games. That will not only spare you from rude surprises when you're launching apps for the first time, but allow for more complex apps than were possible before.
Google launches family-friendly app program for developers
In case you're worried about your kid getting a hold of the upcoming copy of Mortal Kombat X for Android, well, don't be. That's because Google is finally launching a family-friendly version of its Play Store in a few weeks. To fill the upcoming section, it's inviting developers to join its Designed for Families program and submit apps designed to meet its idea of "family-focused experiences." Rules for the new section include: apps need to be rated ESRB Everyone or Everyone 10+, in-app adds need to comply with laws concerning advertising to children and no violent content for kids under 13. Google's pretty serious about making this a safe haven for kids which means some current apps geared towards children will have to be retooled before being accepted to the program.
Skype for Android finally works like the iOS version
Skype released an update for its Android app. Version 5.3 adds a host of new features and functions -- many of which have been available to iOS and desktop users for a while now. These include a revamped UI boasting chat bubbles and more emoji options. Plus, when you message with only emoticons, the app will automatically enlarge and animate the icon. You're of course still free to shout "Enhance!" at your phone when it does so. The new version also does away with auto-scrolling so that you'll be able to pick up a conversation precisely where you left it off instead of having to scan backwards through unread messages. You'll also finally be able view and modify your group chat avatar. Juggling multiple accounts is getting easier too: Every time you sign out, the system will automatically prompt you to re-enter your login credentials.
Android's new flatter design is taking over the Play Store app soon
Google may have already given Android's Play Store a big makeover this summer, but it's not done yet -- there's another revamp coming this year. Android Police has posted shots of a pre-release Play Store 5.0 update that's very clearly guided by Google's Material Design concept. While it's not quite as dramatic an overhaul as what we saw a few months ago, it's still a pretty noticeable change. Swaths of bright, solid color are everywhere, and there's even more of an emphasis on title pictures. You should get some extra function to go with this form, too; code buried in the update hints that you'll get to restore apps on a per-device basis, making it much easier to recreate your setup from an old phone. It's not certain just when the new Play Store will go live, but it's reasonable to presume that you'll see it around the same time as the similarly-styled Android L update.
Google Glass lands in the Play Store next to phones and smartwatches
Itching to strap on a $1,500 face computer so you can follow directions floating in front of your head? Well, Google just made it a little easier to claim a head-mounted display of your own -- it quietly added Google Glass to the Play Store the other day, and the search giant seems intent on making it sound, well, cool. To hear the Mountain View spinmasters put it, Glass Explorers aren't just the people who need to try tech before the teeming millions. No no, they're "bold and inspiring," folks who "make move and marvel through Glass." This isn't the first time that Google has tried to broaden Glass' reach -- they opened up the Explorer program to all comers in the US back in May, but it insisted at the time that it was still very much a "beta" product. Between then and now we've seen a slightly tweaked version of Glass launch and a few software updates go live -- none of those changes seem terribly earth-shaking, but it sure is interesting to see Google stop treating Glass like a special little flower that isn't ready for public consumption.
Google's Play Store is getting a big, visually intensive makeover
Many would argue that the Google Play Store for Android is useful in its current form, but pretty? Not so much. However, there are now signs that it's going to be much better-looking -- if not necessarily more functional. Android Police has obtained a wealth of screenshots hinting at a big Play Store revamp that borrows more than a few pages from the company's new Material Design handbook. Extra-large artwork is everywhere, and there are now a slew of icons that make it clear what you'll be getting, such as mature content. The layout isn't perfect; there's a lot of scrolling, for example, and some of the sharing features appear to be buried at the bottom. With that said, the new storefront is billed as a work in progress with no definite release date. It wouldn't be out of the question to see a few tweaks before the store reaches your mobile device of choice.
Google kicks off Chromecast offers program with £5 of free Play credit
With Google's Chromecast streaming dongle now fully settled in the UK, the great provider (of search results) has kicked off a promotional program rewarding new and old customers alike. You'll find the offer highlighted in the Play store, where (browser) window shoppers are being tempted with "£4.99 credit towards a movie rental." The truth is, however, that you can spend your free fiver on anything available on Play, like music, books or Android apps. Furthermore, anyone with a Chromecast purchased in the UK is eligible, regardless of when you bought it. The only catch really is you must redeem the credit online by mid-July and spend it before the same time next year. It would appear this is just the first freebie in an ongoing offers program, so don't be surprised to see others in the future that sweeten the deal for newcomers, as well as thank old hands for their patronage.
Don't remember what you rated Flappy Bird? Google Play never forgets
If you were browsing through the Google Play store to check out this month's free music, you might've noticed an addition to the sidebar. Nestled between the device and wishlist tabs is a section devoted to showcasing anything you've starred or given a +1, called, wait for it, "My Play activity." Don't fret if personal media and app ratings aren't appearing on your page though, as Android Police notes that the link isn't showing up for everyone just yet. As of this writing, only a handful of Engadget editors can view theirs, for instance. Once the desktop feature finishes rolling out, you should be able to view anyone's rating-history at-will -- much like you can on Android. If anything, it's another venue for (privately) ridiculing your boss' taste in music.
Google Play charts to show tablet-optimized Android apps by default on bigger devices
Google isn't done trying to improve exposure for tablet-optimized Android apps. As of November 21st, Google Play will default to showing "Designed for tablets" apps when owners of those bigger devices browse top lists. Customers can still find phone-sized software if they like, but those titles will be marked as "Designed for phones." While simple, the switch could represent a big help to tablet users building their app collections -- and developers looking for a little extra attention.
HBO brings its brand of 'not TV' to Google Play for a la carte purchase
If you're not an HBO subscriber and you don't know someone who's willing to give you their HBO Go login credentials, then you're pretty much locked out of the pay cabler's walled original content garden. But as of today, HBO's granting access to seven of its most popular series via Google Play. Pricing for the download-to-own shows, which includes Veep, Girls, The Newsroom, and (nerd-favorite) Game of Thrones, varies from $2 - $3 per episode and $19 - $29 for a full season. And more content is planned to hit Play soon, including HBO's famed documentaries, although the cabler didn't get any more specific than to say it'd arrive in the next few months. So, if you've been pirating to get your 'It's not TV, it's intelligent porn fix,' now you have another paid and legal alternative.
Google tightens Android app rules for device interference and in-game purchases
Google occasionally updates its Play Store rules to weed out inconsistent or shady behavior in Android apps, and we're witnessing one of its larger clean-ups today. The company's new guidelines more explicitly ban device interference: titles in the Play Store can't modify settings or other apps without permission, and they can't install bookmarks or icons that pitch a third-party service. Google is also adamant that any in-game purchases of virtual goods must go through its billing system. As usual, new apps have to follow these guidelines right away, while developers with existing apps have a 30-day grace period to make any changes. The policies won't necessarily stop rogue code from sneaking into the Play Store, but Google can at least say that it gave fair warning.
Textbooks now available through Google Play Books in US, iOS app updated to match
Google promised us that it would offer textbooks through Google Play Books this month, and it's living up to its word. American students can now buy educational titles or rent them for six months, with prices frequently undercutting paper editions. Appropriately, Google has updated its Google Play Books app for iOS to support rentals like its Android and web counterparts. The launch is a painful reminder that the fall semester is just around the corner, but college-goers who want to be prepared can check out the source links.
Google intros Play Textbooks for purchase and rent
Google is clearly committed to education on mobile devices beyond Play for Education -- it just unveiled Google Play Textbooks, a dedicated category on the Play Store for learning material. The section will offer titles from the top five publishers, and students will have the choice of renting books for six months in addition to buying them outright. Textbooks should be available this August, and they'll sync across Android, iOS and the web. %Gallery-194562%
Google Play Music for Android updated to address data usage complaints
Mobile data caps have been the enemy of Google Play Music for quite some time, but a new update, available in the Play Store today, might provide a quick fix. By default, the service streams music at the highest quality possible on a given connection, so it wasn't always friendly to users dealing with data limits. With this update, Google is aiming to decrease the amount of overall data the app uses while providing more bandwidth usage settings. Additionally, the update boasts improved search quality and faster music downloads. Hopefully, Google will continue to work out the kinks before its forthcoming iOS All Access rollout. In the meantime, Google Play Music users can mosey on over to the source link below to download the latest version.
Final Fantasy IV hits Android (critical hit!) for $16
If there's a way to prepare for Active Time Battling, you should probably get on it -- Final Fantasy IV is now available on the Google Play Store. That said, you may want to grab a Phoenix Down before we tell you the price: an ice cold $15.99. At very least, it's the same price carried by its iOS counterpart, and a good bit less expensive than various Sony and Nintendo portable versions. It's also got the upgraded graphics and new localization enjoyed by iOS players -- as far as we can tell, it's identical to other mobile versions. Grab your nearest chocobo and head past the break to see a trailer of the game in action.
