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mobile
October 9, 2012
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Android

Android developers now have access to ‘try before you buy’ option for in-app content

By on October 9, 2012 at 8:57 PM.

Android developers now have access to ‘try before you buy’ option for in-app content

Google (GOOG) in May of this year announced a new “try before you buy” period that Android developers could utilize for subscription content in Play Store apps. Although the option was announced nearly five months ago, it wasn’t until recently that developers could integrate it into their apps. Within the Developer Console there is now an option to set a “Free Trial Period” that will let users access subscription content before billing goes into effect. The trial must be seven days or longer and does not require developers to modify or even update their existing APK files. At the conclusion of the trial period Google Play will automatically bill the credit card that the user provided, unless they cancel their subscription before the trial ends. Users have had access for quite some time to a 15-minute refund window when purchasing any application from Google Play. More →

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TV
October 8, 2012
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Google TV updated with support for Movies, Music and TV Shows

By on October 8, 2012 at 9:15 PM.

Google TV updated with support for Movies, Music and TV Shows

Google TV Update

Google (GOOG) on Monday announced an update to its Google TV platform that will allow users to finally be able to buy and rent movies, music and TV shows from the Play Store. In addition to content already purchased from other devices being automatically available on Google TV, Google Play titles will now be available through the built-in TV & Movies app, alongside Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon’s (AMZN) offerings. Users will still be unable to begin a show on one device and resume it on another, however. The latest update will be rolling out to Google TV devices over the next few weeks and will include various Google Play features that can be utilized by developers such as auto-updates, subscription billing and smart app updates. More →

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Gaming
September 28, 2012
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Halfbrick’s award-winning ‘Jetpack Joyride’ finally hits Android

By on September 28, 2012 at 5:00 PM.

Halfbrick’s award-winning ‘Jetpack Joyride’ finally hits Android

Jetpack Joyride Android Release Date

Forget about Angry Birds Space or the newly released Bad Piggies — Halfbrick Studio’s Jetpack Joyride is where the real mobile gaming action is at. From the developer that brought the world Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride was originally released for iOS devices last September, Facebook (FB) in May and most recently on Amazon’s (AMZN) Appstore. After a year since its debut on iOS, the game that has players controlling a jetpack-strapped Barry Steakfries is finally available on the Google (GOOG) Play store for Android devices. The addictive side-scrolling game has players dodging electric zappers and missiles, riding vehicles and scattering jumpsuit-clad scientists across levels in a quest to rack up the longest distance traveled and collect new jetpacks and other items. Jetpack Joyride has won multiple awards as well as being featured as the runner up for “iPhone Game of the Year” in Apple’s (AAPL) App Store Rewind 2011. The game can be downloaded for free here. More →

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Software
September 26, 2012
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Google Play celebrates 25 billion app downloads with 25-cent app sale

By on September 26, 2012 at 9:15 PM.

Google Play celebrates 25 billion app downloads with 25-cent app sale

Google Play Milestone

Yes, people still like mobile apps. Google (GOOG) on Wednesday announced that its Google Play store had now served up more than 25 billion total app downloads, an impressive figure for a store that launched just four years ago. To celebrate this milestone, Google has slashed prices on many of its apps and games to just 25 cents, including offerings from Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Rovio, Runtastic and Full Fat. The store is also offering other “25″-related deals, including “25 movies you must own, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and our 25 top-selling magazines, all at special prices.” More →

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mobile
September 18, 2012
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Google Play adds 600 Fox movies and TV shows

By on September 18, 2012 at 6:30 PM.

Google Play adds 600 Fox movies and TV shows

Google Play 600 New Movies And TV Shows

Google’s (GOOG) entertainment ecosystem for Android is about to get a big boost thanks to a new deal to bring additional movies and TV shows to the catalog. Google revealed on Thursday that its new partnership with Twentieth Century Fox will bring more than 600 movies and TV shows to Google Play in the U.S. Google was particularly proud to tout the fact that Google Play will get the high-definition release of Prometheus on Tuesday, three weeks before its release on Blu-ray, DVD and video-on-demand. “We’re now working with all six of the major film studios and many independent studios to bring you the best new releases and your favorite classics to rent or own,” wrote Jonathan Zepp, Manager of TV & Film Content Partnerships. More →

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Software
August 31, 2012
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Grooveshark faces the music once again, pulled from Google’s app store

By on August 31, 2012 at 9:30 PM.

Grooveshark faces the music once again, pulled from Google’s app store

Grooveshark Android App

Well, that didn’t take long. Just two days after popular music streaming app Grooveshark was allowed back onto the Google Play app store, Google (GOOG) has apparently decided to yank the app once again without providing an immediate explanation. A Grooveshark spokesperson tells BGR that Google has not yet told the company why it again decided to pull its app from Google Play and reiterates that Grooveshark is eager to work with Google to get any issues resolved so Android users can once again download it from Google’s official app store. Android users can still install the Grooveshark app by downloading it directly from Grooveshark’s website.

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Software
August 29, 2012
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Grooveshark welcomed back to Google Play store

By on August 29, 2012 at 10:05 PM.

Grooveshark welcomed back to Google Play store

Grooveshark Returns Google Play

Grooveshark, the popular music service that lets users upload their songs and stream them to computers and smartphones, is back on the Google (GOOG) Play app store. Google had yanked the app from the store more than a year ago after copyright holders complained it was letting users download music illegally. Per CNET, Grooveshark says that any illegal downloads were facilitated by third-party apps illegally using Grooveshark’s name, and the company has worked to stop them. BGR spoke to Grooveshark CEO Sam Tarantino in a recent episode of the BGR Show. More →

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mobile
August 21, 2012
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Google Play gift cards now available at RadioShack, Target and GameStop

By on August 21, 2012 at 10:45 PM.

Google Play gift cards now available at RadioShack, Target and GameStop

Google Play Gift Cards

Google (GOOG) on Tuesday officially announced gift cards for its Play Store. “Google Play gift cards are perfect for any occasion,” the company wrote on its website. “You can buy them from your local retail store. Use your gift card to purchase your favorite entertainment on Google Play.” The new cards are available from RadioShack (RSH), Target (TGT) and GameStop (GME) in $10, $25, and $50 denominations, and they will be offered online by Walmart (WMT) starting later this month. Google Play gift cards can be used to purchase music, movies, TV shows, books, magazines, apps, games, and even for in-app purchases. Google revealed that its gift cards will initially be available only in the U.S., however, and cannot be redeemed for Android app subscriptions or magazine subscriptions. More →

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Security
August 1, 2012
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Google actually starts setting standards for Android apps on Google Play

By on August 1, 2012 at 5:35 PM.

Google actually starts setting standards for Android apps on Google Play

Google Android Apps Standards

The days of slapping a malicious Android app together and quickly tossing it onto the Google Play store are at an end. Per Mashable, Google (GOOG) has updated its developer content policy page to ban specific types of apps that are detrimental to Android users, including spam apps, apps that misrepresent themselves and apps that disclose “people’s private and confidential information, such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s and other license numbers.” Mashable also says that Google sent out an email to its developer community outlining the new guidelines. More →

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Tablets
July 30, 2012
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After strong demand wiped out Google’s inventory, 16GB Nexus 7 tablet is back in stock

By on July 30, 2012 at 2:05 PM.

After strong demand wiped out Google’s inventory, 16GB Nexus 7 tablet is back in stock

Nexus 7 Demand 16GB

Good news for Nexus 7 fans: The 16GB version of the popular Google tablet has been restocked and is now available for purchase from the Google Play store again for its standard $249 price tag. Google (GOOG) briefly discontinued sales of the 16GB Nexus 7 last week after the Guardian reported that the company had “seriously underestimated” demand for the more expensive 16GB version of the tablet. The fact that the 16GB model has been selling well should be good news for Google since the $249 version of the Nexus 7 is projected to be far more profitable for the company than the $199 8GB model. More →

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mobile
June 21, 2012
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Google begins allowing top developers to respond to reviews on Play Store

By on June 21, 2012 at 10:30 PM.

Google begins allowing top developers to respond to reviews on Play Store

Google Play Android Developer Responses

Google on Thursday announced that it will begin allowing select developers to reply to users reviews on its Google Play store. “User reviews on Google Play are great for helping people discover quality apps and give feedback to developers and other potential app users,” Trevor Johns wrote on Google’s developers blog. “But what about when developers want to give feedback to their users? Sometimes a user just needs a helping hand, or perhaps a new feature has been added and the developer wants to share the good news.” The feature will be available today, initially to those with a “Top Developer badge,” and based off feedback, the feature may be offered to additional developers in the future. “Conversations are meant to be two-sided, and facilitating discussion between developers and users will ultimately yield better apps, to the benefit of everyone,” Johns wrote. More →

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mobile
June 20, 2012
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Google Play’s Android app fire sale includes GTA III, NBA Jam, Mass Effect

By on June 20, 2012 at 5:45 PM.

Google Play’s Android app fire sale includes GTA III, NBA Jam, Mass Effect

Google Android sale 99 cent apps

Anyone looking to get some premium games on the cheap for their Android device should probably head over to the Google Play market today. Google is offering a series of Longest Day Deals for Android users that offer popular games such as Grand Theft Auto III, NBA Jam and Mass Effect: Infiltrator for just $0.99 a piece. Other 99-cent apps for sale include the ever-popular Draw Something, mSecure Password Manager and RepliGo PDF Reader. The sale ends on Thursday June 21st, so it’s probably best to get these discount apps while the getting’s good. More →

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mobile
May 8, 2012
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Google Play Store surpasses 15 billion downloads

By on May 8, 2012 at 3:50 PM.

Google Play Store surpasses 15 billion downloads

Google Play Store surpasses 15 billion downloads

After reports surfaced claiming the Google Play Store was about to reach 15 billion app downloads, Google confirmed to TechCrunch that it reached the milestone “a few weeks ago.” Apple reached the same number of downloads in July 2011 and recently surpassed 25 billion downloads in March. The gap between the two marketplaces seems to be widening slightly, with Google seeing about 1 billion app downloads per month while Apple is serving about 1.25 billion app downloads per month. The Google Play Store currently has more than 500,000 apps, while Apple’s App Store has some 600,000. There have been reports, however, that claim iOS developers are making more money than their Android counterparts. Analyst Horace Dediu noted that up until the end of January 2012, Google has paid developers $320 million compared to $4 billion from Apple, but the Cupertino-based company’s app download rate is reportedly slowing, having fallen by 30% in March. Google expects to earn $35.9 million from its app store this year. More →

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