Google Play (formerly Android Market ) is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for the Android operating system, enabling users to browse and download apps developed with Android software development tools (SDKs) and published via Google. Google Play also serves as a digital media store, offering music, magazines, books, movies, and television programs. It previously offered Google hardware devices to purchase up to the introduction of a separate online hardware retailer, the Google Store, on March 11, 2015.
Apps are available through Google Play either for free or for a fee. They can be downloaded directly on Android devices via the Play Store mobile app or by applying to the device from the Google Play website. Apps that utilize hardware capabilities can be targeted to device users with specific hardware components, such as motion sensors (for motion-dependent games) or front cameras (for online video calls). The Google Play store has over 82 billion app downloads by 2016 and has reached more than 3.5 million apps published in 2017. It has been the subject of numerous security-related issues, where malicious software has been approved and uploaded to stores and downloaded by users, with varying degrees of severity.
Google Play launched on March 6, 2012, brings together Android Market, Google Music, and Google eBookstore with one brand, marking a change in Google's digital distribution strategy. Services that operate under the Google Play banner are: Google Play Books, Google Play Games, Google Play Movies & amp; TV, Google Play Music, Google Play Newsstand, and the Google Play Console. After their re-branding, Google is gradually expanding geographic support for each service.
Video Google Play
Catalog content
Android app
By 2017, Google Play has over 3.5 million Android apps. Users in more than 145 countries can purchase apps, though Google noted on its support page that "Paid content may not be available in some provinces or territories, even if the governing country is listed above." Developers in over 150 locations can distribute apps on Google Play, though not every location supports merchant signups. In order to distribute apps, the developer must pay a one-time $ 25 registration fee for the Google Play Developer Console account. App developers can control the countries where apps are distributed, as well as prices for apps and in-app purchases in each country. Developers receive 70% of the app price, while the remaining 30% is given to distribution partners and operating costs. Developers can manage sales, with original prices crossed out and banners below it notify users when the sale ends. Google Play allows developers to release an initial version of the app to a select group of users, as an alpha or beta test. Developers can also release apps through a staged rollout, where "your update only reaches the percentage of your users, which you can improve over time." Users can pre-order certain apps (such as movies, music, books, and games) to deliver items as soon as items are available. Some network operators offer billing for Google Play purchases, which allows users to choose a fee in their monthly phone bill rather than on a credit card. Users may request a refund within 48 hours of purchase if "something you purchased does not work, not what you expected, was accidentally purchased, or you changed your mind about the purchase". Apps that meet specific usability requirements may be qualified as OS App. Apps.
Play Game
Google Play Games is an online gaming service for Android that delivers real-time multiplayer player capabilities, cloud storage, social and public rankings, and achievements. This service was introduced at the Google Developers Conference I/O 2013, and stand-alone mobile app launched on July 24, 2013.
Music
Google Play Music is a music streaming service and podcasts and online music lockers. It features over 40 million songs, and gives users free cloud storage of up to 50,000 songs.
Starting May 2017, Google Play Music is available in 64 countries.
Books
Google Play Books is a digital distribution service ebook. Google Play offers over five million ebooks available for purchase, and users can also upload up to 1,000 of their own ebooks in the form of PDF or EPUB files. Starting January 2017, Google Play Books are available in 75 countries. The Google Play Store now includes audiobooks. You can listen to your favorite books by telling real people, not by sound synthesis. Some books are told by the author. With a large selection of books currently available in 45 countries.
Movies and TV shows
Google Play Movies & amp; TV is a video on demand service that offers movies and television shows available for purchase or rental, depending on availability.
Starting January 2017, movies are available in over 110 countries, while TV shows are only available in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, the United States and the UK.
Publications and news magazines
Google Play Newsstand is a news aggregator and digital newsstand service that offers subscriptions to digital magazines and topical news feeds.
Starting January 2017, Basic Kiosk services, with topical news feeds, are available worldwide. Pailed Newsstand content is available in over 35 countries.
Device
Google Play, before March 2015, has a Device section for users to purchase Google Nexus devices, Chromebooks, Chromecast, other Google branded hardware and accessories. A separate online store retailer called the Google Store was introduced on March 11, 2015, replacing the Devices section on Google Play.
Maps Google Play
History
Google Play comes from three different products: Android Market, Google Music, and Google eBookstore.
The Android Market was announced by Google on August 28, 2008, and was made available to users on October 22. In December 2010, content filtering was added to Android Market, each app's detail page started displaying promotional images at the top, and the app's maximum size was increased from 25 megabytes to 50 megabytes. Google eBookstore was launched on December 6, 2010, debuting with three million ebooks, making it "the largest collection of ebooks in the world". In November 2011, Google announced Google Music, part of the Play Store that offered music purchases. In March 2012, Google increased the maximum size of allowed apps by allowing developers to attach two extension files to the app's basic download; each expansion file with a maximum size of 2 gigabytes, giving the app developer a total of 4 gigabytes. Also in March, Android Market was re-branded as Google Play.
In May 2016, it was announced that the Google Play Store, including all Android apps, will be present on Chrome OS in September 2016.
User interface
In addition to searching for content by name, the app can also be searched through keywords provided by the developer. When searching for an app, users can tap on the suggested search filters, helping them find apps that match the specified filter. For ease of finding apps, the Play Store consists of a list featuring top apps in each category, including "Top Free", a list of the most popular free apps of all time; "Top Paid", list of most popular paid apps of all time; "Top Grossing", a list of apps that generate the highest revenue amount; "Trending Apps", a list of applications with recent install growth; "Top New Free", a list of the most popular new free apps; "Top New Paid", a list of popular new paid apps; "Featured", a list of new apps selected by the Google Play team; "Staff Choices", a list of frequently updated apps selected by the Google Play team; "Editor's Choice", a list of the best-considered apps of all time; and "Top Developers", the list of apps created by the developer is considered the best. In March 2017, Google added the "Free Apps of the Week" section, offering one paid app for free. In July 2017, Google expanded the "Editor Choices" section to display a list of curated apps that are considered to provide a good Android experience in the overall theme, such as fitness, video calls, and puzzle games.
Google Play allows users to know the popularity of apps, by showing how many times an app has been downloaded. The number of downloads is a color-coded badge, with special color marking to exceed certain application download milestones, including gray for 100, 500, 1,000 and 5,000 downloads, blue for 10,000 and 50,000 downloads, green for 100,000 and 500,000 downloads, and red/orange for 1 million, 5 million, 10 million and 1 billion downloads.
Users can submit reviews and ratings for apps and digital content distributed through Google Play, publicly displayed. Ratings are based on a 5-point scale. App developers can respond to reviews using the Google Play Developer Console.
Design
Google has redesigned the Google Play interface on several occasions. In February 2011, Google introduced a website interface for Android Market named that provides access through a computer. Purchased apps are downloaded and installed on your Android device remotely, with the "My Marketplace" section letting users nicknames on their devices for easy recognition. In May 2011, Google added a list of new apps to Android Market, including "Top Paid", "Top Free", "Editor's Choice", "Top Selling", "Top Developers" and "Trending". In July, Google introduced an interface with a focus on featured content, more search filters, and (in the US) book sales and movie rentals. As of May 2013, the website's website redesign matches the recently redesigned Android app. In July 2014, the Android Play Store app adds a new header to the Books/Movies section, a new Additional Information screen that offers a list showing the latest available app versions, installed sizes, and content ratings, and simplifies permissions for app permissions into the overview category. A few days later, he got a redesign that was consistent with the new Material Design design language, and the app was updated again in October 2015 to feature new animations, split the content into "Apps and Game" and "Entertainment" sections, as well as additional support for languages ​​read from right to left. In April 2016, Google announced the redesign of all icons used for its Play suite app, adding similar styles and consistent views. In May 2017, Google removed a shopping bag from the Google Play icon, with only the remaining triangles and colors remaining. In March 2018, Google experimented with changing the screenshot format used for the Application page from WebP to PNG format but restoring changes after it caused the image to load more slowly. The update also sees a small UI tweak to the Google Play Store site with the review section now open for special pages and larger images in the light box viewer.
Monetize apps
Google states in the Developer Policy Center that "Google Play supports monetization strategies to benefit developers and users, including paid distribution, in-app products, subscriptions and ad-based models," and requires developers to adhere to the policies on ordering to "ensure the best user experience ". This requires that developers charge apps and downloads via Google Play to use the Google Play payments system. In-app purchases that open additional app functionality must also use the Google Play payments system, except in cases where purchases "solely for physical products" or "are for digital content that may be consumed outside of the app itself (eg playable songs on other music players). "Support for paid apps was introduced on February 13, 2009 for developers in the United States and the United Kingdom, with support extended to 29 additional countries by September 30, 2010. In-app billing systems were originally introduced in March 2011. All developers at Google Play is required to display a physical address on the app page on Google Play, a requirement set in September 2014.
In February 2017, Google announced that it would allow developers to set sales for their apps, with original prices crossed out and banners underneath telling users when the sale ended. Google also announced that it has made changes to its algorithms to promote games based on user engagement and not just downloads. Finally, he announced a new editorial page for what he considered to be "the optimal gaming experience on Android", promoting and training the game further.
Payment methods
Google allows users to purchase content with credit or debit cards, carrier bills, gift cards, or through PayPal. Google began launching carrier billing for purchases in May 2012, followed by support for PayPal in May 2014.
Gift card
Google Play gift card rumors began to circulate online in August 2012 after references to it were found by Android Police in the 3.8.15 update of the Play Store Android app. Soon afterwards, the picture of the gift card began to leak, and on August 21, 2012 they were made official by Google and launched within the next few weeks.
Google Play gift cards are currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
Subscriptions
Google introduced an in-app subscription to Google Play in May 2012. In June 2016, some sources reported that Google announced that subscriptions charged via Google Play will now share 85/15 revenue, where the developer receives 85% of revenue and Google takes only 15 %, a change from the traditional 70/30 division in the previous year. This step follows Apple's recently announced changes from the same model, although commentators have quickly pointed out that while Apple only provides 85/15 share after one year of active subscription, Google subscription changes take effect immediately. From 1 January 2018, transaction costs for subscription products dropped by up to 15% for each customer developer who persisted after 12 months of pay. So unlike a reporting source, Google uses the same model as Apple with in-app subscriptions in the App Store.
Play Store on Android
Play Store is the official Google app store already pre-installed on Android certified devices. It provides access to content on the Google Play Store, including apps, books, magazines, music, movies, and television programs.
The Play Store filters the list of apps to compatible apps with the user's device. Developers can target specific hardware components (such as compasses), software components (such as widgets), and Android versions (such as Nougat 7.0). The operator may also restrict certain applications from being installed on user devices, such as tethering applications.
There is no requirement that an Android app be obtained using the Play Store. Users can download Android apps from developer websites or via third-party app store alternatives. The Play Store app is an Android Package (APK) file, similar to an.exe file for installing programs on Microsoft Windows computers. On Android devices, the "Unknown sources" feature in Settings allows users to skip the Play Store and install APKs from other sources. Depending on the developer preferences, some applications can be installed to the phone's external storage card.
Android users complain that Google Play store access can not be blocked and there is constant data exchange with the Google cloud. Also valuable CPU resources are used, slowing down the Android system.
Installation history
The Play Store app has a history of all installed apps. Users can remove apps from the list, with the changes also syncing to the Google Play website interface, where the option to delete apps from history is missing.
Compatibility
Google publishes source code for Android via "Android Open Source Project", which allows fans and developers to program and distribute versions of their modified operating systems. However, not all versions of this modification are compatible with apps developed for the official Android version of Google. The "Android Compatibility Program" serves to "determine the basic implementation of Android compatible with third-party applications written by developers". Only Android devices that comply with Google's compatibility requirements can install and access the Google Play Store app. As stated in the help page for the Android Open Source Project, "Android-compatible devices" may participate in the Android ecosystem, including Android Market, devices that do not meet the compatibility requirements that exist outside of the ecosystem. In other words, the Android Compatibility Program is a way of separating "Android-compatible devices" from devices that only run a derivative from the source code. We welcome all use of Android's source code, but only Android-enabled devices - as determined and tested by the Android Compatibility Program - may participate in the Android ecosystem. "
Some device manufacturers choose to use their own app store instead - or as an add - Play Store. Examples include Amazon choosing Amazon Appstore instead of Google Play for Kindle Fire tablet computer, and Samsung adding Galaxy Apps for Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet line.
Google Play Services
In 2012, Google began separating certain aspects of the Android operating system (especially its core apps) so they can be updated through the Google Play store separately from the OS. One such component, Google Play Services, is a closed-source system-level process that provides APIs for Google services, which are installed automatically on almost any device running Android 2.2 "Froyo" and higher. With this change, Google may add new system functionality through the Play Service and update the app without having to distribute the upgrade to the operating system itself. As a result, Android 4.2 and 4.3 "Jelly Bean" contains relatively fewer user-facing changes, focusing on small changes and platform upgrades.
Application growth history
Google Play Awards and annual list
In April 2016, Google announced the Google Play Awards, described as "a way to recognize our incredible developer community and highlight some of the best apps and games." This award features five nominations in ten award categories, and the app is displayed in a special section of Google Play. Google states that "Candidates are selected by an expert panel on the Google Play team based on criteria that emphasize application quality, innovation, and have major rollouts or updates in the past 12 months", with the winners announced in May.
Google has also previously released an annual list of apps considered "best" on Google Play.
On March 6, 2017, five years after the Google Play launch, Google released a list of top-notch apps, games, movies, music and bestsellers for the past five years.
In June 2017, Google introduced "Android Excellence", a new editorial program to highlight applications considered the highest quality by Google Play editors.
App approval
Google places some restrictions on the types of apps that can be published, specifically not allowing sexually explicit content, endangering children, violence, oppression & amp; harassment, hate speech, gambling, illegal activity, and require precautions for user-generated content.
In March 2015, Google revealed that over the past few months, Google has begun using a combination of automated tools and human reviewers to examine apps for malware and service violation requirements before being published on the Play Store. At the same time, it is starting to launch a new age-based ranking system for apps and games, based on the official ranking authority of a particular region (eg, ESRB in the US).
In October 2016, Google announced a new detection and filtering system designed to provide "additional enhancements to protect store integrity". The new system aims to detect and filter cases where developers have attempted to "manipulate their app placements through unauthorized means such as cheating, fake reviews, and incentive ratings".
Prohibition of app
Some mobile operators can block users from installing certain apps. In March 2009, reports emerged that some tethering applications were banned from the store. However, the app was later restored, with a new ban preventing only T-Mobile subscribers from downloading apps. Google released the statement:
In April 2011, Google removed the Grooveshark app from the store due to an unspecified policy violation. CNET notes that the deletion came "after some prominent music labels accused the service of infringing copyright laws". TechCrunch wrote about two weeks later that Grooveshark has returned to Android, "though not through the official App Market", but rather "Playing on Android's ability to install third-party applications through browsers, Grooveshark has taken on responsibility distribute the app itself ".
In May 2011, Google banned the developer account of some video game emulators. Neither Google nor developers disclose the reason for the ban publicly.
In March 2013, Google began withdrawing ad blocking apps from the Play Store, per section 4.4 of the developer agreement, which prohibits applications that interfere with servers and services.
Application security
In February 2012, Google introduced a new automated antivirus system, called Google Bouncer, to scan new and existing applications for malware, spyware, and trojan viruses. By 2017, Bouncer features and other security measures within the Android platform are replaced by the umbrella name Google Play Protect, a system that regularly scans applications for threats.
Android apps may request or request specific permissions on the device, including access to body sensors, calendars, cameras, contacts, locations, microphones, phones, SMS, and storage.
In July 2017, Google outlined a new security effort called "peer grouping", where apps running similar functions, such as calculator apps, are grouped together and attributes are compared. If one app stands out, such as asking for more device permissions than others in the same group, Google's system automatically tags security applications and engineers for closer inspection. Peer grouping is based on app descriptions, metadata, and statistics such as number of downloads.
Security issues
In early March 2011, DroidDream, a rootkit trojan exploit, was released to the Android Market which was later named in the form of some free apps that, in many cases, pirated versions of existing pricing apps. This exploit allows hackers to steal information such as IMEI and IMSI numbers, phone models, user IDs, and service providers. Exploits also installed a backdoor that allows hackers to download more code to infected devices. Exploits only affect devices running an earlier version of Android 2.3 "Gingerbread". Google removes apps from the Market as soon as warned, but apps have been downloaded more than 50,000 times, according to Android Police ' forecast. Android Police writes that the only method to remove exploits from infected devices is to reset them to factory state, even though community-developed solutions to block some aspects of exploits have been created. A few days later, Google confirmed that 58 malicious apps had been uploaded to Android Market, and had been downloaded to 260,000 devices before being removed from the store. Google sends an email to affected users with information that "As far as we can determine, the only information gained is device-specific (IMEI/IMSI, unique code used to identify mobile devices, and Android versions running on your device)" as opposed to personal data and account information. It also announced a new "remote kill" function, in addition to security updates, which allow Google to remotely remove malicious apps from the user's device. However, a few days later, a malicious version of the security update was found on the Internet, although it did not contain certain DroidDream malware. New apps featuring malware, renamed DroidDream Light, appear in June next, and are also removed from the store.
At the Black Hat security conference in 2012, Trustwave security firms show their ability to upload apps that will avoid the Bouncer blocker system. Applications using JavaScript exploit to steal contacts, SMS messages, and photos, and also able to make the phone open arbitrary web pages or launch denial-of-service attacks. Nicholas Percoco, senior vice president of Trustwave's SpiderLabs, advanced security team, stated that "We want to test the limits of what can be done". The app remains on Google Play for more than two weeks, repeatedly scanned by the Bouncer system without detection, with Percoco further saying that "As an attack, all malware attackers must do to sign in to Google Play by bypassing Bouncer". Trustwave reaches Google to share their findings, but notes that more manual app testing may be needed to detect apps using malware masking techniques.
According to a research study in 2014 released by RiskIQ, a security services firm, malicious apps introduced through Google Play increased 388% between 2011 and 2013, while the number of apps removed by Google fell from 60% in 2011 to 23% on 2013. The research further reveals that "The app to personalize Android phones leads all categories because it's likely to be evil". According to PC World , "Google says it will need more information about RiskIQ's analysis to comment on the findings."
In October 2016, Engadget reported on a blog post called "Sensitive In-Situ Password Storage" from freelance Android hacker Jon Sawyer, who decided to test the top privacy app on Google Play. Testing two applications, named "Hide Images Keep Safe Vault" and others named "Private Photo Vault", Sawyer found significant errors in handling passwords in both, and commented, "These companies sell products that claim to keep your most intimate safely snippets of data, but at most snake oil.You will have almost the same protection just by changing file extensions and renaming photos. "
In April 2017, security firm Check Point announced that a malware named "FalseGuide" has been hidden in about 40 "game guide" apps on Google Play. This malware is able to gain administrator access to an infected device, where it then receives additional modules that allow it to show popup ads. Malware, a botnet, is also capable of launching DDoS attacks. After being notified of malware, Google deleted all instances in the store, but by that time, about two million Android users had already downloaded the app, the oldest has been around since November 2016.
In June 2017, researchers from security firm Sophos announced their findings from 47 apps using a third-party development library that shows annoying ads on users' phones. Even after the app has been shut down by the user, the ad remains. Google deletes some apps after receiving reports from Sophos, but some apps still exist. When asked for comments, Google does not respond. In August 2017, 500 apps were removed from Google Play after the Lookout security company found that the app contained an SDK that enabled harmful advertisements. The app has been collectively downloaded over 100 million times, and consists of a variety of use cases, including health, weather, photo editing, Internet radio, and emoji.
In all 2017, over 700,000 apps were banned from Google Play because of rough content; this is an increase of 70% of the number of applications banned in 2016.
Patent problem
Some developers who publish on Google Play have been sued for patent infringement by "patent trolls", people who have wide or vague patents that they use to target small developers. If a successful developer successfully challenges the initial statement, "patent troll" alters the infringement claim to allege the developer has violated a different statement in the patent. This situation continues until the case goes to the legal system, which can have enormous economic costs, prompting some developers to settle down. In February 2013, Austin Meyer, the developer of the flight simulator game, is sued for using a copy protection system in his app, a system he says "Google gives us! And, of course, this is what Google gives to everyone. games for Android! "Meyer claims that Google will not help in the lawsuit, and he declares that he will not settle the case. His bout with the troll continued for several years, uploading a video in June 2016 discussing that he was later sued for uploading his app to Google Play, because "the patent troll has an ide [ sic ] from the Google Play Store itself ". Android Authority writes that "This scenario has been playing against many other app developers for years", and has encouraged discussion of "bigger issues at stake", where developers stopped making apps for fear of patent issues.
Availability
Users outside the countries/regions listed below have access only to free apps and games through Google Play.
See also
- List of mobile software distribution platforms
- The list of most downloaded Android apps
- App Store (iOS)
- BlackBerry World
- F-Droid
- Aptoide
Note
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments