play store - 9/18 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Nov

[Editorial] Yes, Google Done Goofed, But This Botched Nexus 4 Launch Is A Fantastic Sign (Or: Please Be Patient)

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Editorials, Google

In case you haven't heard (and how could you not?), Google has sold out of pretty much every new Nexus they've launched. If you head to the Play Store as of this writing, you cannot buy a Nexus 4 or Nexus 10. Even the 3G-connected Nexus 7 was unavailable for a while. As if that wasn't enough, customers started receiving emails saying their shiny new Nexus 4s were going to be delayed as much as three weeks.

So, what do we do now? Call up customer service and yell and complain? Vent on the internet and talk about how much Google screwed up this launch?

Nov

Let The Nexus Hit The Floor: HSPA+ Nexus 7 Is Now Sold Out On The Play Store, Too [Update: It's Back]

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Android OS, News, Nexus 7

Update: It looks like the HSPA+ connected Nexus 7 is back in stock at the Play Store, at least for now. Those of you still hoping to get your hands on one would be well advised to claim yours now.

If the newly-released Nexus devices were people, then what we've been seeing is nothing short of that Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel Cameron can't wait for. Both versions of the Nexus 4 have already dropped like flies, as well as the 32GB Nexus 10. Now, the 3G-connected version of the Nexus 7 is also sold out. Not too shabby.

Nov

Nexus 4, 10, and Nexus 7 HSPA+ Orders Now Open To Customers In The US And Canada

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Google, News, Nexus 4

Update: At the time of last update, the 16GB Nexus 4 is consistently listed as "Coming Soon," with the 8GB version going up and down. The 32GB Nexus 10 is also consistently listed as "Coming Soon." If we receive any word that these device's are again available, we will update this post.

Just a few (long) hours after Australians got their shot at being the first kids on the block with a brand new Nexus device, it looks like orders have opened up for the US and Canada as well. Note: Since these devices just became available, you'll likely notice some errors or inconsistencies in availability.

Nov

Nexus 4 Bumper Cases Show Up On The Play Store For $19.99, Will Be 'Coming Soon'

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 launches tomorrow on the Play Store and it's sure to be a great day for Android fans everywhere. Of course, this will also be the first time that a Nexus device will have glass on both sides of the handset and traditional cases that cover the rear would make all that sleek engineering pointless. Fortunately, Google has you covered (I'm so sorry). A neat-looking bumper case has just shown up on the Play Store and will protect your $300+ investment for an extra $20.

The case actually looks pretty dang slick and fits in with the design of the Nexus 4 rather well.

Nov

Download: Latest Google Play Store 3.9.17

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Apps/Games, News

Last Updated: January 6th, 2013

On the heels of the Android 4.2 dump from the Nexus 4, today we have a slightly updated version of the Google Play Store with version 3.9.17 that follows the previously released version 3.9.16.

There is a more recent version of the Play Store available for download here: Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.6 - Sweet New Designs And OCD Fixes

And a few earlier ones:

What's New

Upon closer inspection and analysis, I found a new set of XXHDPI 144x144px icons for tablets with similar to the Nexus 10 high density as well as some changes to the code for recommendations and Play Store widgets, though I couldn't pinpoint the exact differences in those.

Nov

nexusae0_dan-rosenbergs-presentation-on-android-modding-for-the-security-practitioner-is-a-must-read_thum

Android VP Of Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer Opens Up About 4.2's New Security System

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, News

We knew that Android 4.2 would see the introduction of new security features both on your device and in the Play Store, but Computerworld got a chance to speak with Android's VP of Engineering, Hiroshi Lockheimer, about the platform's beefed up security measures, specifically Android's new real-time app scanning utility.

The scanner builds on the functionality of the Play Store's existing security features by bringing app-scanning security to the frontend, scanning incoming apps from third party sources (including apps like Amazon's App Store).

The service is of course "opt-in" – when you first install a third party app on your device, you'll see a friendly popup asking if you'd like Google to check on all your incoming apps for "harmful behavior." The decision to include this feature, according to Lockheimer, came down to the idea that "security [is] a universal thing.

Nov

Panasonic Eluga Gets Update To Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich Courtesy Of A Play Store App

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Eluga, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Panasonic

Taking a new approach to firmware upgrades, Panasonic has decided to update its Eluga handset to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich via a downloadable Play Store app appropriately named 'ELUGA ICS Update.'

For those who don't remember, the Eluga is a little-talked-about handset that debuted in Spring 2012 in Europe and Japan, touting a waterproof and dustproof chassis.

According to its description, Panasonic's update app "connects to Panasonic download server [sic] and downloads the Ice Cream Sandwich software update." Of course, many of us are familiar with what improvements Ice Cream Sandwich brings over Gingerbread 2.3.x, but Panasonic emphasizes the new "powerful new features" of its custom skin as well, listing the lock screen, status bar, home screen, and app drawer as areas of improvement with the update.

Oct

Google Play Magazines Launches In Canada, Because There Just Weren't Enough Announcements Today

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

We've already heard that Google was expanding their Play Movies and Play Music services today to new countries and with new content. Play Magazines isn't getting left out in the cold, though. Today, the storefront is opening up to our neighbors up north, in addition to signing extra content partners for a more robust distribution platform.

As part of the huge announcement Google put together, the company touted its magazine partnerships:

We’re now working with Time, Inc. to bring you even more magazines like InStyle, PEOPLE, TIME and others...We’re now working with all...the major U.S. magazine publishers."

We're definitely pleased with the major expansions that have been happening today.

Oct

That Was Fast: Samsung Galaxy Nexus And All Accessories Already Removed From The Play Store

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy Nexus, News

So Google just blew our minds with tons of new Nexus stuff. The Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and new variations of the Nexus 7 (32GB, 3G). The new listings for each are all live in the Play Store, so you have from now until November 13th to stare at the the images and memorize every single detail of the spec sheet of each.

What you can't do, however, is buy the Galaxy Nexus or any of its accessories. Why? Because they're all gone. Just as quickly as it unveiled all the new Nexuses, Google has removed the Galaxy Nexus - and everything that goes along with it - from the Play Store.

Oct

Nexus 4, Nexus 10, And New Nexus 7 Flavors Are Now Live In The Google Play Store

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Google, News, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 7

Hot on the heels of the barrage of Nexus announcements, Google just updated the device Play Store with new product pages. Everything that should be available today can be purchased right now, while the other items are waiting their turn and should go live November 13th.