Posted inNews

Let’s speculate: What would Android look like if Google complies with the EU decision

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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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

Posted inDeals

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 […]