The new private media picker is available for Android 4.4+ devices Among the myriad of improvements and new features in Android 13, Google also debuted a more private media picker. The new solution was a part of Google Play Services, which allowed the company to backport it to Android 4.4 KitKat, an OS that was released nine years ago. Up until early November, Google Voice was among the first apps to take advantage of the new media picker, with other apps still… Source link
Read More »BeReal and AI art tool Dream by WOMBO top Google Play’s list of best apps in 2022 • TechCrunch
Just a couple of days after Apple announced the best apps of 2022 in its annual App Store Awards, Google Play has now shared its own “best of” list. The company published a list of winners across categories, including those selected by its own editorial team and by Android owners through the User’s Choice awards. Google this year anointed the viral AI-generated art app, Dream by WOMBO, as this year’s Best App in the U.S., while users picked BeReal as their favorite. BeReal also… Source link
Read More »Google Play Reveals Best Apps and Games of 2022
Google Play announced its Best of Play 2022 awards Wednesday for the best… Source link
Read More »Google reportedly has Gmail and Calendar apps in the works for Wear OS
Enlarge / The Pixel Watch colors and their default bands. There are three watch body colors here: black, silver, and gold. Google recently launched the Pixel Watch and breathed new life into Wear OS after years of neglect, but how serious is Google about its second swing at the smartwatch market, really? Getting its flagship apps up and running on the platform would be a good sign of support, and a new report… Source link
Read More »Game-like design features in stock trading apps should be reviewed, says FCA
Stock trading app operators have been warned to review their design features, including those with game-like elements, amid concerns they could encourage people to trade more frequently or take on more risk. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said there could be a risk of app features prompting consumers to take actions against their own interests and it raised concerns about features potentially contributing to “gambling-like behaviour”. Features include sending frequent notifications… Source link
Read More »Google clamps down on illegal loan apps in Kenya, Nigeria • TechCrunch
Google is requiring loan apps in Kenya to submit proof of license to operate in the country, failure to which they risk removal from Play Store, its digital distribution service. Those that have applied for licensing by Central Bank of Kenya, and can produce evidence of the same, may also be spared. Google’s action has, however, been sluggish, coming two months after the Digital Credit Providers Regulations took effect to protect borrowers from rogue apps, many… Source link
Read More »Google Play streamlines policies around kids’ apps as regulations tighten • TechCrunch
Google Play today announced a series of changes to its programs and policies around apps designed for children. The company is describing the update as an expansion of its previously launched “Teacher Approved” program, which includes a review process where teachers and experts vetted apps not just for safety and security elements, but for educational quality and other factors. The newly revamped policies will now impact how apps qualify for this program, which allows apps to gain… Source link
Read More »Google Play streamlines policies around kids’ apps as regulations tighten • TechCrunch
Google Play today announced a series of changes to its programs and policies around apps designed for children. The company is describing the update as an expansion of its previously launched “Teacher Approved” program, which includes a review process where teachers and experts vetted apps not just for safety and security elements, but for educational quality and other factors. The newly revamped policies will now impact how apps qualify for this program, which allows apps to gain… Source link
Read More »Twitter’s crazy week drives social apps’ growth, Google expands user choice billing • TechCrunch
Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. Global app spending reached $65 billion in the first half of 2022, up only slightly from the $64.4 billion during the same period in 2021, as hypergrowth fueled by the pandemic has slowed down. But overall, the app economy is continuing to grow, having produced a record number of downloads and consumer spending across both the iOS and… Source link
Read More »Google now allows Spotify and Bumble to bill U.S. users inside apps
An Android statue is displayed in front of a building on the Google campus on January 31, 2022 in Mountain View, California. Google parent company Alphabet will report fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images The Google Play app store will allow Spotify and Bumble to bill U.S. users for subscriptions directly inside their Android apps, Google announced on Thursday. Typically, Google Play and Apple’s App Store for iPhones take between 15% and 30%… Source link
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