Google Play

Google Play Books purchases on iOS now skirt the App Store’s commission

Apps /

Google has gained permission to sell its e-books and audiobooks directly to customers through its iOS app, Google Play Books. While iOS apps today can offer access to content previously purchased elsewhere, like e-books bought via a website, developers have to request a specific exception to link their iOS app’s users to the company’s own […]

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App downloads decline 2.3% in 2024, but consumer spending grows to $127B

Apps /

The global app economy continued to recover in 2024, after an earlier slowdown in 2022 — at least in terms of consumer spending. In 2024, global consumer spending in mobile apps and games reached $127 billion across the App Store and Google Play, up 15.7% from the prior year. However, those increases were driven by

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Google Play gets ‘Comics’ feature for manga readers in Japan

Media & Entertainment /

Alongside a slew of announcements for Play—such as AI-powered app comparisons and a feature that bundles similar apps—Google has introduced new “Curated Spaces,” hubs dedicated to specific topics. Announced Wednesday, “Comics,” is designed to appeal to manga fans. Positioned at the top of the screen in between “For You” and “Top Charts,” the new hub

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Google adds AI-powered comparisons, collections and more data controls to Play Store

Apps /

Google on Wednesday launched a slew of features for its Play Store that aim to encourage users to use the app store to find and engage with content rather than simply visit it to download apps. The Play Store is getting AI-powered app comparisons, automatically organized categories for similar apps, dedicated hubs for content, data

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Google pauses its experiment that permitted real-money games on the Play Store

Apps /

Google said today that it is globally its experiment that aimed to allow new kinds of real-money games on the Play Store, citing the challenges that come with the lack of a central authority to approve such apps in some regions. In January, the company said it would start allowing real-money apps widely in June

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Google Play cracks down on AI apps after circulation of apps for making deepfake nudes

Apps /

Google on Thursday is issuing new guidance for developers building AI apps distributed through Google Play, in hopes of cutting down on inappropriate and otherwise prohibited content. The company says apps offering AI features will have to prevent the generation of restricted content — which includes sexual content, violence and more — and will need

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