The European union wants Google to end what it sees as anti-competitive practices that force most phone and tablet makers to preload their devices with Google Search and the Chrome web browser if they also include the Google Play Store. Google plans to appeal the decision, but what if Google loses? What happens next? I […]
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Hacking Amazon’s 7th-gen Fire tablets (Prime Day 2018 update)
Amazon’s Fire tablets are on sale for some of their lowest prices ever as part of the company’s Prime Day sale which runs through the end of July 17th, 2018. You can pick up a Fire 7 for as little as $30, a Fire HD 8 for $50 and up, and a Fire HD 10 […]
Google Play Instant lets you play (some) Android games without installing
Google is expanding its Instant Apps feature to games, allowing you to tap a “try now” button in the Google Play Store to test some Android games without first downloading and installing them. It’s called Google Play Instant, and there are a half dozen games that support the feature at launch. You can find them […]
Android’s “Check for update” button finally seems to work (with Google Play Services 12.2.09)
Dig into the settings of your Android phone or tablet and you’ll find a “check for update” button in the System Update section. Tap it and… most likely nothing will happen. At least that’s been true for years. But it looks like it’s finally starting to change. Multiple users are reporting that the latest version […]
How Google Play audiobooks work
This week Google started selling audiobooks through the Google Play Store. And after purchasing a book this afternoon, I was getting ready to join Nate from The Digital Reader in declaring that the experience of actually using Google Play for audiobooks is frustrating and disappointing. But while I was tinkering with the Google Play Books […]
Google Play now offers audiobooks
As expected, Google is now selling audiobooks through the Google Play Store. Customers in 45 countries can find audiobooks in 9 languages, along with all the other things that Google sells through the Play Store (including apps, games, movies, TV shows, and books). Google notes that you can listen to purchased books using an Android […]
Google bans (most) apps with lock screen ads from the Play Store
When you install a free app on your phone to use as a file browser, keyboard, or photo editor, you might expect to see some ads in the app. Developers have to get paid somehow, right? But you probably don’t expect to see ads show up outside the app. A few years ago Google banned developers from […]
Audiobooks coming to the Google Play Store (probably)
You can already find apps, movies, TV shows, music, periodicals, and eBooks at the Google Play Store. Soon you may be able to purchased audiobooks as well. Android Police took a look at some of the code in the latest version of the Play Store app for Android, and found evidence of a new book […]
Deals of the Day (10-17-2017)
Find yourself buying apps, games, music, movies, or eBooks from the Google Play Store from time to time? Right now Amazon’s selling $50 Google Play gift cards for $45. That’s basically like free money if you were either going to spend $50 anyway and/or could be persuaded to buy your next few DRM-free albums of […]
How to get Android apps without using the Play Store
Most Android phones, tablets, and TV boxes sold in the US ship with the Google Play Store pre-installed. Some devices, like the Amazon Fire line of tablets lack the Play Store, but it’s often easy to find a way to load it yourself. But the Play Store isn’t the only place to find Android apps. […]