Google: Android app engagement on Chrome OS is growing 50% YoY

As we barrel towards 2022, Google has released some interesting statistics about its platforms over the past year.

The demand for software has grown over the past couple of years as enterprises and employees adapt to new ways of working and continuing business in a rapidly-changing world. As consumers, many of us are spending more time at home and relying on software to entertain us and make our lives easier.

Chromebooks are often associated with students as they’re...

21 December 2021 | Android

Google slashes its Play Store cut for more developers

Google has announced that it’s following the industry trend and slashing its cut of Play Store sales for more developers.

The previous 70/30 cut was once the industry standard for app stores but has faced increasing backlash over the years from both developers and regulators. Critics have long argued that the stores have abused their market position to take an unfair cut.

Epic Games was the first major player to disrupt the model with the launch of the Epic Store,...

25 October 2021 | Android

Google announces raft of Play Store security policy updates

Google has announced a number of changes to its Play Store security policies that will come into effect over the coming year.

Starting in September, a new section will be added to Google’s Enforcement policy that will mean inactive or otherwise abandoned developer accounts will be closed after one year of dormancy.

October will see various policies introduced on different dates.

On 15 October, the Device and Network Abuse policy will be clarified to prohibit...

30 July 2021 | Android

Google is surveying developers to find the OEMs that aggressively kill apps

Google is surveying its developer community as part of what appears to be a bid to crackdown on OEMs that aggressively kill apps.

Key factors in most consumers’ smartphone purchase decisions include how fast the device feels and its battery life. To make their devices feel snappy and full of life, OEMs often aggressively kill apps more than Google intended.

Google doesn’t seem happy about that. And it shouldn’t be, the company has put a lot of work into features...

14 June 2021 | Android

Perforce acquires AI-based mobile testing experts 21 Labs

Enterprise development solutions provider Perforce has acquired the AI-based mobile testing experts at 21 Labs.

The acquisition will bolster Perforce’s existing portfolio of solutions for the enterprise development lifecycle with powerful testing capabilities.

21 Labs’ self-learning, AI-based mobile automation testing tool helps businesses to deploy quality iOS and Android apps faster.

Shani Shoham, CEO and Founder of 21 Labs, said:

“Together,...

17 May 2021 | Android

Q&A, Albert Jordan, HARMAN: On building a platform for connected vehicles

Developer spoke with Albert Jordan, VP of Ignite Automotive Cloud at Samsung subsidiary HARMAN, about building a platform for connected vehicles and why developers should come along for the ride.

Developer: Why should developers launch apps on the Ignite Store over other automotive app platforms?

Albert Jordan: Aside from the Google Automotive Services (GAS) Play Store, there are no standard Android app stores deployed commercially. OEMs have tried to deploy their own...

30 April 2021 | Android

Google CEO teases ‘significant’ announcements at I/O 2021 as some normality returns

Google CEO Sundar Pichai told investors this week to expect “significant product updates and announcements” at this year’s I/O developer conference.

Pichai said the company’s product releases are returning to their normal pace now that employees have adjusted to working from home.

Google is allowing employees to return voluntarily from next month and is expanding its remote working policy to allow for working from overseas for more than 14 days a year if they...

29 April 2021 | Android

Play Store’s AI security blocks almost one million policy-violating apps

Google’s AI-powered Play Store security has blocked almost one million policy-violating apps from reaching users.

In a blog post, Google detailed what it’s been doing to protect the billions of Android users and millions of developers creating apps for the world’s largest mobile platform.

2020 was a year when many of us made sacrifices to our freedoms to protect not just ourselves, but those around us. Unfortunately, criminals sought to take advantage of more...

22 April 2021 | Android

Report: Developing markets are suffering a mobile malware pandemic

Anti-fraud platform Secure-D has released a report highlighting the mobile malware pandemic that developing markets are suffering.

The report is based on Secure-D’s processing of one billion mobile transactions and service sign-ups for 35 mobile operators in 23 emerging markets, helping to protect a total of almost 840 million users.  

Secure-D detected 46,000 malicious apps; with around one in six (16%) mobile devices in emerging markets carrying at least...

21 April 2021 | Android