Google Play now supports Web3 experiences

Google Play is updating its policies to support “blockchain-based experiences” in recognition of Web3’s potential.

“As a platform, we always want to help developers bring innovative ideas to life. Google Play hosts a variety of blockchain-related apps, and we know that our partners are excited to expand on these offerings to create more engaging and immersive digital experiences with tokenised digital assets such as NFTs,” wrote Joseph Mills, Group Product Manager for...

13 July 2023 | Android

Japan sets its sights on mobile app store monopolies

Japan has joined the growing list of nations pushing for reforms in the mobile ecosystem.

The Japanese government recently held its seventh Digital Market Competition Conference, during which a ‘Competitive Evaluation of Mobile Ecosystems’ report was presented. This report highlighted the critical role mobile ecosystems play in today's digital landscape and emphasised the need for more options and fair competition.

One of the key recommendations of the report is to...

19 June 2023 | Android

Google proposes allowing Android developers to use alternative billing systems

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has invited developers and interested parties to respond to Google's proposal to allow Android developers to use alternative billing systems.

“Google’s complete control over in-app payments raised concerns this unfairly restricted app developers – by forcing them to use Google Play’s billing system – putting distance between them and their customers and reducing competition, to the detriment of Google Play users,” said...

20 April 2023 | Android

Google wants developers to bring their IoT apps to cars

Google is making it easier for developers to bring their Internet of Things (IoT) apps to cars.

Developers can begin building their IoT apps for cars using driving-optimised templates from the ‘Android for Cars App Library’.

The Automotive OS emulator for Android Automotive OS and the DHU for Android Auto simplifies testing apps for this category.

Interested developers should check out the updated documentation, car quality guidelines, and design...

13 April 2023 | Android

Microsoft intends to launch a mobile app store

Microsoft is planning to launch a mobile app store that will compete against the App Store and Play Store.

According to Microsoft’s Xbox head Phil Spencer, Microsoft will take advantage of an upcoming EU law that will break up the monopoly held by the two major smartphone platform holders.

"We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play," Spencer told the...

21 March 2023 | Android

Google offers ML-powered translation for Android apps

Google has announced that it will offer free machine-learning translation for Android apps.

The service will enable developers to bring their apps to as many people as possible, without incurring significant additional costs.

At launch, seven languages are supported:

Chinese (Simplified) French German Indonesian Japanese Portuguese Spanish

Google Translate’s transformer-based language models will be used for accurate translation into...

15 March 2023 | Android

App Bundles will help trim Google TV apps

While it’s that time of year when most of us will put on some weight, Google is putting apps for its TV platforms on a diet.

Google has announced that apps for Google TV and Android TV will require the use of Android App Bundles (AABs) by May 2023.

App Bundles were introduced to Android in November 2020 to replace Android Package Kits (APKs).

According to Google, AABs offer the following benefits:

Smaller size – AABs are around 20 percent smaller...

22 November 2022 | Android

Windows Subsystem for Android is now considered stable

Microsoft is making good on its promise to fully support Android apps on Windows.

Following the demise of Windows Phone, Microsoft has put its weight behind Android. The company adopted Google’s OS for its Surface Phone and said that Android apps will run on Windows 11 as if they were native.

In reality, Android app support on Windows has been limited in functionality and limited to Windows Insiders in some markets. However, as of this week, Windows Subsystem for...

21 October 2022 | Android

App Store revenue hit a seven-year low in September

According to a Morgan Stanley report, App Store revenues in September were rather disappointing.

Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring published a report this week that highlighted App Store revenues hit a seven-year low in September.

The analysis used data from mobile intelligence specialists Sensor Tower and represents a drop of five percent year-on-year, the steepest drop since the bank started modelling data in 2015.

Games revenue suffered the most, with a...

6 October 2022 | Android

Google expands third-party billing support to more countries

Android developers in more countries now have the option to offer third-party billing options.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google quietly expanded its ‘User Choice Billing’ pilot which allows third-party billing options in non-gaming apps.

Registered developers in the European Economic Area (EEA), India, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia can now participate in User Choice Billing.

A Google spokesperson said:

“Android has always been a uniquely open...

6 September 2022 | Android