books - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Apr

Amazon's Kindle App Hits Version 4.0 With Reworked Interface

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Amazon, Apps/Games, News

Amazon's Kindle app has just received a significant update, bringing the reader up to version 4 and introducing a refreshed UI, among other things.

Just when I'd decided to try switching to Play Books (despite giving up things like quick two-finger brightness adjustment), Amazon has introduced a redesigned library that's much more lively than a simple grid of book covers. The new library interface has your books plus a nice "carousel" up top for recent items. The navigation panel has also been expanded for quick access to documents and Newsstand items, along with items that used to hide under the overflow button.

Mar

16GB Nexus 7 Is The First Device To Be Sold Through Google Play In India, Available Now For Rs. 15,999

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 7

The global rollout continues as Google adds yet another country to the list of places you can order a 16GB Nexus 7. The device showed up in the Play Store today for Rs. 15,999 (roughly $295 USD). No other variants of the tablet appear to be available, though. It's 16 geebees or bust. Currently the store says it will ship by April 5th, but you can order now.

Currently, the only content offerings from Google available on the Play Store are apps and books, but with the pace of advancement lately, it wouldn't surprise us if other services showed up before too long.

Dec

[Editorial] Play Store Wishlist: How We'd Like To See Google Improve Its Content Storefront In 2013

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Editorials, Google

Hey guys, have you heard that 2012 is almost over? Yep! The new millennium is about to be a teenager. It's exciting. (No, the year 2000 is not included, you mathematically remedial cur.) The past twelve months have been fantastic and we'll be hearing more about that later, but one of the things we felt the need to talk a bit more in-depth about is the Play Store. You know the one.

The last year has been hugely transformative for the Play Store. Most notably, it's now called the Play Store! Play Store Play Store Play Store. Let it sink in real deep, because you're gonna be stuck with it for a while, much to David's dismay.

Dec

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus: Huge List Of Games And Children's Books On Sale [Update]

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Deals, News

Tis the season, Android shoppers. Today there's a cavalcade of games from a variety of developers on sale in the Google Play Store, as well as some of Loud Crow's interactive books for children. We haven't seen any word of when this sale will end, so if you want any of the games or apps listed above, get 'em while they're hot. First, to the game shelf!

Dec

Have You Heard? Play Books And Movies Are Out In St. Petersburg (And The Rest Of Russia)

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

It seems like we can't go more than a week or two without hearing that one of Google's content services has rolled out to a new country. Today, Russia is getting in on the action with Play Books and Movies now available throughout the country. You can purchase books like normal, and movies are available both for rental and purchase.

Prices for movie rentals start at around 49 rubles (USD$1.60) and purchases start at 99 rubles (USD$3.22). There are a number of major studios on board, including many American companies such as 20th Century Fox, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony, as well as local production houses like Central Partnership (Централ Партнершип).

Dec

Google Now Offering Up Play Books And Movies In Brazil

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News

After the successful launches of Play Music in Europe, Magazines in Canada, and Movies in a handful of countries, Google has made another step in its international Play crusade, today bringing Movies and Books to Brazil.

Android users in South America's largest country will now have access to thousands of Brazilian titles from Google's collection, along with movies and TV shows. Interestingly, Google's own international availability page hasn't been updated at the time of writing to reflect the expansion to Brazil, but just the same, users can access the store and look for their favorite titles.

Of course, the addition of Brazil only brings the total number of countries with access to Play Books and Movies to around ten, but it's still nice to see Google continuing the arduous task of expanding their media services globally.

Nov

Now You Can Pre-Order Books On The Play Store

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

When Ron tore down the most recent Play Store APK, he discovered references to pre-orders hiding within. It wasn't clear at the time just what this option would apply to, but now we know! It's books! According to a new help page, if an item on Play Books is not yet available, you may find a pre-order option that you can use to place a reservation. Neat!

The page also states that when you place a pre-order, your credit card will not be charged until the book is available. This may be nice for some people who would prefer to pay later rather than sooner.

Sep

Google Play Movies Come To Korea – Enjoy Hundreds Of Titles From Korea And Hollywood

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News

One of the most common questions users have regarding Google's various content offerings is "Why isn't it available in [insert any number of countries here]?" Google has been working to change that, offering more and more of the Play Store's non-app content abroad. In that spirit, today it announced that Google Play Movies is now available in Korea (where we saw Eric Schmidt having some Gangnam style fun earlier this week).

We’re adding movies to Google Play in Korea, including films from Korean studios & Hollywood. Get started with Avengers:goo.gl/4Alrd

— Google Play (@Googleplay) September 28, 2012

According to the announcement, Korea's Play Movies includes "hundreds of full-length feature films from some local Korean studios and Hollywood." The post goes on to invite users to start their movie enjoyment with The Avengers.

Jul

Google Play Books Arrives In France Following The Settlement Of All Outstanding Legal Disputes

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, Google, News

Last month, Google announced that it would be ending all legal disputes with French authors and publishers in an effort to bring books to a wider audience. The announcement came following the French Publishers and Author's Associations withdrawal of their suits against Google, and marked a "win-win solution" which opened "the possibility for out-of-print books to reach a wide audience," while maintaining commercial rights for authors.

Following up on that announcement, Google added a post to its European Public Policy Blog today indicating that Google Play Books has officially arrived in France.

In the post, Google explains that France, which is the fifth European country to gain access to Play Books (after Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK), will enjoy a Books launch including Google Play's full selection of millions of books.

Jun

[Update: Spain, Too!] Google Announces Books On The German Play Store, Continuing Into Non English-Speaking Markets

Posted by Brian O'Toole in Apps/Games, News

Update: Google just announced that Books is now available in Spain, as well. Yay for reading!

Not a bad week for German Android fans. First on the map in Europe with the recently-reviewed LG Optimus 4X HD, and now the release of books for sale in the Google Play store. The soccer team's not doing too badly, either.

Posted today on its Google+ account, Google Play announced the availability of book purchases effective immediately in Germany, including plenty of German-language bestsellers. Unfortunately their German-speaking neighbors of Austria and Switzerland have been left out in the cold with no way to get their deutschsprachige literary groove on, but this is ~~the service's first step~~ another step beyond the realm of English and is unsurprisingly gradual.