Google Play: Google Play, formerly the Android Market, is a - TopicsExpress

Google Play: Google Play, formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution platform for applications for the Android operating system and an online electronics and digital media store, developed and maintained by Google. The service allows users to browse and download applications developed with the Android SDK and published through Google, as well as music, magazines, books, movies, and television programs. Users can also purchase hardware, such as Chromebooks, Google Nexus-branded mobile devices, and accessories, through Google Play. Applications are available through Google Play either free of charge or at a cost. They can be downloaded directly to an Android or Google TV device through the Play Store mobile app, or by deploying the application to a device from the Google Play website.[2] Many applications can be targeted to specific users based on a particular hardware attribute of their device, such as a motion sensor (for motion-dependent games) or a front-facing camera (for online video calling). On March 6, 2012, with the merging of the Android Market and Google Music, the service was renamed Google Play to coincide with the rebranding of Googles digital distribution strategy.[3] As of July 2013, the Google Play store officially reached over 1 million apps published and over 50 billion downloads.[4] Catalog content Play Music Google Play Music Screenshot [show] Original author(s) Google Developer(s) Google Initial release 16 November 2011 Stable release 5.3.1233L / October 17, 2013; 19 days ago Development status Active Operating system Android Available as a web app on iOS Type Digital distribution On November 16, 2011, Google introduced Google Music with a music store, Google+ integration, artist hubs, and purchasing reflected on T-Mobile phone bills.[5] The three major label partnerships announced were with Universal Music Group, EMI, and Sony Music Entertainment, along with other smaller labels. To celebrate the launch, several artists released free songs and exclusive albums through the store. The Rolling Stones debuted the live recording Brussels Affair (Live 1973) and Pearl Jam made available a live concert recorded in Toronto on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks as 9.11.2011 Toronto, Canada.[6] A cloud media player was first hinted at the Google 2010 I/O Conference, where Google Senior Vice-President of Social Vic Gundotra showed a Music section of the Android Market that would allow users to download music through the market.[7] The music streaming service was announced by Google on 10 May 2011 at its I/O conference as Music Beta and released as Google Music, before the rebrand to Google Play. The service supports streaming music to Android devices and web browsers that can use the Adobe Flash platform.[8] At launch, the service was only available with an invitation and only to US residents.[9] In November 2011, however, it became open to the public, but still only for US residents.[10] According to Google, there are hundreds of free songs in Google Play and millions available for purchase.[11] Users can also upload up to 20,000 of their songs to the service free of charge.[11] Songs in Google Music are priced at US$1.29, $0.99, $0.69, and free.[5] Users also get personalized recommendation based on what they listen to the most. Music can be played on the Google Play website or on any Android device, and can be stored for offline playback.[11] Google also noted that from time to time well be showcasing exclusive concerts and interviews available in Google Play.[12] The service allows the user to automatically create a playlist of songs that go well together[13] using a feature known as Instant Mix.[13][14] Music and playlists imported to Google Play music can not alter playlists in other music program libraries, while changes in other applications are reflected in the Google Play music library.[15][16] Alternative players are available for the service, for example G-Ear on the Mac, and GMusic on Windows. On October 29, 2012, Google announced Google Play in the US and Europe would get song matching: the capability to scan a users music library and make available any songs which are present on Googles servers without the need to upload them. Google also announced partnership with Warner Music Group, the last major music label not already presented in Google Music.[17] Google also announced that customers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK will be able to buy music on Google Play from November 13, 2012.[18] Google Play Music is currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.[19][20] Play Music All Access On May 15, 2013 at Google I/O, Google announced Google Play Music All Access, a music streaming platform that will debut immediately in the US for $9.99 a month ($7.99 if signed up before June 30). The new service lets users combine the All Access catalog with their own library of up to 20,000 Songs. All Access is currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.[19][21][22] Play Books Google Play Books Screenshot [show] Original author(s) Google Developer(s) Google Stable release 3.0.15 / October 15, 2013; 21 days ago Development status Active Operating system Android, iOS Type Digital distribution Google Play Books carries over 4 million titles.[23] Purchased books are stored in the cloud and are available for both online and offline viewing either through a web browser or in the official apps for Android and iOS. On May 15, 2013, Google updated the Google Play Books app on both Android and iOS to add support for user uploaded PDF and EPUB files. Users can store up to 1,000 files free of charge, as long as they are under 50MB.[24] A Google Play Book, however, is only a license to read the book. If the purchaser happens to travel to a country where Google Play Books are not sold then the books on the device can be deleted. In such a case, the books would have to be re-downloaded after the traveler returns to a country where they are sold.[25] Google Play Books are currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.[19] Play Magazines Google Play Magazines Screenshot [show] Original author(s) Google Developer(s) Google Stable release 2.0.0 / May 29, 2013; 5 months ago Development status Active Operating system Android Type Digital distribution Google Play offers the purchase of magazines in the United States, Australia, Canada,[26] and the United Kingdom.[27] Play Movies & TV Google Play Movies & TV Screenshot [show] Original author(s) Google Developer(s) Google Stable release 2.7.15 / September 26, 2013; 40 days ago Development status Active Operating system Android Type Digital distribution According to Google, there are thousands of movies and television shows available on Google Play Movies & TV, some in HD, including comedy, drama, animation, action and documentary.[11] Movies can be rented or purchased and watched on the Google Play website or via an application on an Android device. Some titles are only available for rental, some only for purchase, and others for both rental and purchase. TV shows can be purchased by episode or season but cannot be rented.[11] Alternatively, users can download movies and TV shows for offline viewing and view them later using the Google Play Movie app.[28] Movies are available in the US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia and Spain.[19] TV shows are available only in the US and UK.[19] Play Games Google Play Games Screenshot [show] Original author(s) Google Developer(s) Google Initial release May 16, 2013 Stable release 1.1.06 / September 5, 2013; 61 days ago Development status Active Operating system Android Type Digital distribution Google Play Games is a service designed for Android, iOS and web which features real-time multiplayer capabilities, achievements, leaderboards and cloud saves. This service is similar to Apples Game Center. Though it is already[when?] becoming a popular service, it is only available in a limited selection of games such as Super Stickman Golf 2, PBA Bowling, World of Goo, Osmos HD, and a few others. The service was introduced at Googles I/O 2013 Developer Conference along with many other new services, and the standalone app was launched on July 24 at an event called Breakfast with Sundar Pichai together with the new Nexus 7, Android 4.3 and the Chromecast. Applications Google Play makes free-of-charge applications available worldwide (except countries under US embargoes),[29] while paid applications are available in 129 countries.[30] Applications can be installed from the device or the Google Play website.[31] According to Google there are over 700,000 titles available as of October 2012.[11] Google Play can update the applications the user selects automatically, or users can update them on a per-case basis or update all applications at once.[11] Google Play filters the list of applications to those compatible with the users device. In addition, users may face further restrictions to choice of applications where developers have tied-in their applications to particular carriers or countries for business reasons.[32] Carriers can also ban certain applications, for example tethering applications.[33] Some carriers, such as Sprint, offer direct carrier billing for Google Play application purchases.[34] Purchases of unwanted applications can be refunded within 15 minutes of the time of download.[35] There is no requirement that Android applications be acquired from Google Play Store. Users may download Android applications from a developers website or through a third-party alternative to Google Play.[36] As of 19 October 2012, developers in 32 countries were able to distribute paid applications on Google Play.[37] However, developers pay $25 for registration to distribute on the Google Play Store.[38] Application developers receive 70 percent of the application price, while the remaining 30% goes to distribution partner and operating fees.[39] Revenue earned from the Google Play is paid to developers via Google Wallet merchant accounts, or via Google AdSense accounts in some countries.[40] On 17 March 2009, about 2,300 applications were available in Android Market, according to T-Mobile chief technical officer Cole Brodman.[41] On 10 May 2011, during the Google I/O, Google announced that Android Market had 200,000 applications listed and 4.5 billion applications installed.[42] In October 2012 Google announced that Google Play had 700,000 apps available to download, matching the number of apps in Apples App Store.[43] Year Month Applications available Downloads to date 2009 March 2,300[41] December 16,000[44] 2010 March 30,000[45] April 38,000[46] August 80,000[47][48] 1 billion October 100,000[49] 2011 May 200,000[42] 3 billion[50] July 250,000[51] 6 billion October 319,000[52] December 380,297[53] 10 billion[54] 2012 January 400,000[55] February 450,000[56] May 500,000[57] June 600,000 20 billion[58] September 675,000 25 billion[59] October 700,000[43] 2013 February 800,000[60] April 850,000 40 billion May 48 billion[61] July 1,000,000 50 billion Devices The Devices section of the Google Play store allows customers to purchase Google Nexus mobile devices, Chromebooks, other Google-branded hardware, and accessories. Google Play sells the Nexus 5 smartphone for $349 with 16 GB of flash storage unlocked with no contract required.[62] At the Google I/O Conference in June 2012, Google announced the Nexus 7 tablet computer for $199 with 16 GB of flash storage and $249 with 32 GB of flash storage would be made available for purchase through the devices section of the Google Play store.[63] The Nexus 5 is currently sold in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.[64] The Nexus 7 is currently sold in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.[65] The Nexus 7 3G is currently sold in Australia, France, Germany, Spain, the United States. The Nexus 10 is currently sold in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. At Google I/O 2013, it was announced that a special edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 with stock Android 4.2 would be made available on Google Play on June 26, 2013.[66] Likewise, on May 30, 2013, HTC announced that a similar version of the HTC One would also be released the same day.[67] Device Name Price (USD) Available? Galaxy Nexus $399+ No Nexus 7 (2012 version) $199+ No Nexus 7 Cover $19.99 No Additional Nexus 7 Charger $24.99 No Nexus 7 Dock $29.99 No Nexus 7 Sleeve $29.99 No Nexus 4 $199+ No Nexus 4 Bumper $19.99 Yes Nexus 4 Wireless Charger $59.99 Yes Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition $649 Yes HTC One Google Play edition $599 Yes Nexus 10 $399+ Yes Nexus 10 Cover $29.99 Yes Acer C7 Chromebook $199 Yes Samsung Chromebook $249 Yes Chromebook Pixel $1,299+ Yes Chromecast $35 Yes Nexus 7 (2013 version) $229+ Yes Nexus 5 $349+ Yes Play Store (Android app) Play Store Screenshot [show] Original author(s) Google Developer(s) Google Initial release 22 October 2008 Stable release 4.4.21[68] / August 13, 2013; 2 months ago Development status Active Operating system Android Type Digital distribution The Play Store, originally the Android Market, is a digital application distribution platform and digital media store for Android developed and maintained by Google. The service allows users to browse and download music, books, magazines, movies, television programs, and applications from Google Play. The Android Market was rebranded as the Play Store on 6 March 2012. The Android Market updates itself on older devices that it was installed on to reflect the change.[69] History The Android Market was announced by Google on 28 August 2008, and was made available to users on 22 October. Support for paid applications was introduced on 13 February 2009 for developers in the United States and the United Kingdom, with support expanded to an additional 29 countries on 30 September 2010.[70][71] In December 2010, content filtering was added to the Android Market and reduced the purchase refund window from 24–48 hours to fifteen minutes.[72] In February 2011, Google introduced a web client that provides access to Android Market via PC. Applications requested through the Android Market web page are downloaded and installed on a registered Android device.[73] In March 2011, Google added in-app billing to Android Market, allowing apps to sell in-app products.[74] In May 2011, Google added new application lists to Android Market, including Top Grossing applications, Top Developers, Trending applications, and Editors Recommendations. Googles Eric Chu said the goal of this change was to expose users to as many applications as possible.[75] In July 2011, Google introduced a redesigned interface with a focus on featured content, more search filters, and (in the US) book sales and movie rentals.[76] In September 2011, the Motorola Xoom tablet received an update that brought the redesigned Android Market to an Android 3.x Honeycomb based device.[77] In November 2011, Google added a music store to the Android Market.[78] In March 2012, the maximum allowed size of an applications APK file was also increased from 50 MB to allow two additional files for a maximum of 50 MB for the APK and two additional files of 2 GB each, totalling 4146 MB/4.05 GB.[79] On 6 March 2012, the Android Market was re-branded as Google Play.[80] In May 2012, Google introduced in-app subscriptions to Google Play.[81] On 12 July 2012, Google released update 3.8.15 which added Application Encryption functionality to help reduce application piracy. Since this update, many developers have noted compatibility issues causing various third-party widgets and keyboards to disappear after phone reboots or connecting to USB storage.[82] Currently, a fix is planned for a future release of Android OS. Device compatibility The Google Play application is not open source. Only Android devices that comply with Googles compatibility requirements may install and access Googles closed-source Google Play application, subject to entering into a free-of-charge[83] licensing agreement with Google.[84] In the past, these requirements had included 3G or 4G cellular data connectivity,[85] ruling out Android-powered devices comparable to Apples iPod touch, but this requirement had been loosened by the 2011 release of the Samsung Galaxy Player. Google Play applications are self-contained Android Package files. Google Play does not install applications; it asks the devices PackageManagerService to install them. The package manager becomes visible if the user downloads an APK file directly into their device. Applications are installed to the phones internal storage, and under certain conditions may be installed to the devices external storage card.[86] Some tablet computers such as Amazon Kindle Fire, do not provide access to Google Play, instead using their manufacturers mobile content distribution site. Some owners use Android rooting to access Google Play, or use sideloading to load applications.[87] As of July 2013, Barnes & Noble released an update to the Nook HD that is capable of using Google Play. Some applications, upon downloading from Google Play, elicit a warning that they are about to overlay the previously-loaded Nook version of the same application. App removal Google Play features a download history allowing for users to trace back to earlier installed apps without manually searching, and if the app was purchased, can be re-installed at a later date without having to re-buy it. At this time, however, there is no way to permanently delete or remove apps downloaded from the Google Play website (My Orders/My Android Apps).[88] Since version 3.9.16, users are able to remove apps from the All Apps list on devices only.[89] As of May 2013, it appears that Google has removed all ad blocking applications from Google Play Store. This includes such applications as Adblock Plus which was formerly available through the Play Store. This application (one of the few not requiring root access to operate) can still be downloaded and installed from other sources such as F-Droid, so long as the user has configured his security settings to allow the installation of non-Market applications from Unknown sources. Malicious apps Google currently uses an in-house automated anti-virus system to remove malicious Apps uploaded on to the marketplace called Google Bouncer.[90] This is meant to prevent repeat-offender developers, as well as check for anomalies in uploaded apps. Bouncer is credited to reducing malware by 40 percent between the first and second quarters of 2011. Lookout Mobile Security has reported that malware resulted in a loss of US $1 million in 2011. Hackers at Black Hat in 2012 claimed to have found a way to circumvent the Blocker system by creating a seemingly benign application that used a JavaScript exploit to turn into an app capable of stealing contacts, SMS messages, and photos.[91] Gift cards The rumor of Play Store gift cards started after references to it was seen in the version 3.8.15 update to the Play Store app.[92] Soon after images of the gift cards started to leak,[93] and on August 21, 2012 they were made official by Google and rolled out over the next few weeks.[94] Google Play gift cards are currently available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.[95] Availability Users outside the countries/regions listed below only have access to free apps and games through Google Play. Country/Region Paid apps and games Devices[65] Magazines[19] Books[19] Movies & TV[19] Music[19] Users can purchase[96] Developers can sell[97] Movies TV shows Standard All Access Albania Yes No No No No No No No No Algeria Yes No No No No No No No No Angola Yes No No No No No No No No Antigua and Barbuda Yes No No No No No No No No Argentina Yes Yes No No No No No No No Armenia Yes No No No No No No No No Aruba Yes No No No No No No No No Australia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Austria Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Azerbaijan Yes No No No No No No No No Bahamas Yes No No No No No No No No Bahrain Yes No No No No No No No No Bangladesh Yes No No No No No No No No Belarus Yes No No No No No No No No Belgium Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Belize Yes No No No No No No No No Benin Yes No No No No No No No No Bolivia Yes No No No No No No No No Bosnia and Herzegovina Yes No No No No No No No No Botswana Yes No No No No No No No No Brazil Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No No Bulgaria Yes No No No No No No No No Burkina Faso Yes No No No No No No No No Cambodia Yes No No No No No No No No Cameroon Yes No No No No No No No No Canada Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Cape Verde Yes No No No No No No No No Chile Yes No No No No No No No No Colombia Yes No No No No No No No No Costa Rica Yes No No No No No No No No Croatia Yes No No No No No No No No Cyprus Yes No No No No No No No No Czech Republic Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Denmark Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No Dominican Republic Yes No No No No No No No No Ecuador Yes No No No No No No No No Egypt Yes No No No No No No No No El Salvador Yes No No No No No No No No Estonia Yes No No No No No No No No Fiji Yes No No No No No No No No Finland Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes France Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Gabon Yes No No No No No No No No Germany Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No Ghana Yes No No No No No No No No Greece Yes No No No Yes No No No No Guatemala Yes No No No No No No No No Guinea-Bissau Yes No No No No No No No No Haiti Yes No No No No No No No No Honduras Yes No No No No No No No No Hong Kong Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No Hungary Yes No No No Yes No No Yes Yes Iceland Yes No No No No No No No No India Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Indonesia Yes No No No Yes No No No No Ireland Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Israel Yes Yes No No No No No No No Italy Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Ivory Coast Yes No No No No No No No No Jamaica Yes No No No No No No No No Japan Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Jordan Yes No No No No No No No No Kazakhstan Yes No No No No No No No No Kenya Yes Yes No No No No No No No Kuwait Yes No No No No No No No No Kyrgyzstan Yes No No No No No No No No Laos Yes No No No No No No No No Latvia Yes No No No No No No No No Lebanon Yes No No No No No No No No Liechtenstein No No No No No No No Yes Yes Lithuania Yes No No No No No No No No Luxembourg Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes Macedonia Yes No No No No No No No No Malaysia Yes No No No Yes No No No No Mali Yes No No No No No No No No Malta Yes No No No No No No No No Mauritius Yes No No No No No No No No Mexico Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Moldova Yes No No No No No No No No Morocco Yes No No No No No No No No Mozambique Yes No No No No No No No No Namibia Yes No No No No No No No No Nepal Yes No No No No No No No No Netherlands Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Netherlands Antilles Yes No No No No No No No No New Zealand Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Nicaragua Yes No No No No No No No No Niger Yes No No No No No No No No Nigeria Yes No No No No No No No No Norway Yes Yes No No No No No No No Oman Yes No No No No No No No No Pakistan Yes No No No No No No No No Panama Yes No No No No No No No No Papua New Guinea Yes No No No No No No No No Paraguay Yes No No No No No No No No Peru Yes No No No No No No No No Philippines Yes No No No Yes No No No No Poland Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No Portugal Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Qatar Yes No No No No No No No No Romania Yes No No No Yes No No No No Russia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Rwanda Yes No No No No No No No No Saudi Arabia Yes No No No No No No No No Senegal Yes No No No No No No No No Singapore Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No Slovakia Yes No No No No No No No No Slovenia Yes No No No No No No No No South Africa Yes No No No No No No No No South Korea Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Spain Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Sri Lanka Yes No No No No No No No No Sweden Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No Switzerland Yes Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Taiwan Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No Tajikistan Yes No No No No No No No No Tanzania Yes No No No No No No No No Thailand Yes No No No Yes No No No No Togo Yes No No No No No No No No Trinidad and Tobago Yes No No No No No No No No Tunisia Yes No No No No No No No No Turkey Yes No No No No No No No No Turkmenistan Yes No No No No No No No No Uganda Yes No No No No No No No No Ukraine Yes No No No No No No No No United Arab Emirates Yes No No No No No No No No United Kingdom Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes United States[a] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Uruguay Yes No No No No No No No No Uzbekistan Yes No No No No No No No No Venezuela Yes No No No No No No No No Vietnam Yes No No No Yes No No No No Yemen Yes No No No No No No No No Zambia Yes No No No No No No No No Zimbabwe Yes No No No No No No No No