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May

Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.10 With Location Bug Fixes

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, Apps/Games, News

A new update to the Google Play Store app with version 4.1.10 is rolling out following the big 4.1.6 refresh from two weeks ago, just before I/O. As far as I can tell from a quick teardown and playing around, this is a minor update. All the important changes happened in the previous release, so 4.1.10 is likely a bug fixer. That said, if you see something I missed, please drop a line in the comments.

Update: 4.1.10 fixes the severe battery-draining location bug introduced in Google Play Services recently, which was especially painful for HTC users. Ron looked into it and found that it downloads a Network Location Provider patch for Google Play Services, though I'm puzzled why Google didn't just update Play Services itself.

May

[Hands-On] Play Music Is Now The Template For All Future Music Services (Even If It Takes A Little While To Love)

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

At the start of this review, I was simultaneously excited and frustrated. Now I'm just plain excited. For a bit of context, I have been bouncing between cloud music services since Lala was still a thing. I had one simple desire: I wanted to pay a monthly fee for unfettered access to a large library of content, but still wanted to be able to bring my own. I know that $10/month is not going to get me every song in existence, but if I can pay for most music, and then supply the rest, I'll be happy. Today, Google finally gave me what I wanted and, make no mistake, this is the model that other apps are going to follow for a long time to come.

May

Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.6 - Sweet New Designs And OCD Fixes

Posted by Ron Amadeo in Apps/Games, News

Last Updated: May 29th, 2013

A hot new Play Store update just hit the internet. We're now up to version 4.1.6. So far we've spotted a much nicer looking button and wishlist designs, more consistent menu text, and a few minor visual tweaks, like new open/uninstall buttons.

There is a more recent version of the Play Store available for download here: Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.10 With Location Bug Fixes

And a few earlier ones:

Here's the new content section buttons, which are a lot more inviting than the old designs.

Apr

Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.0.27

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Apps/Games, News

Last Updated: May 25th, 2013

A minor update to the new, cleaner Google Play Store v4.0 started rolling out earlier today. The new version is 4.0.27 which follows closely the previous version from April 19th - 4.0.26.

There is a more recent version of the Play Store available for download here: Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.10 With Location Bug Fixes

And a few earlier ones:

Ron and I tore down the apk but found only minor changes to translations and a small change to the manifest that removed android:excludeFromRecents="true" from one of the billing activities.

Apr

Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.0.26

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Apps/Games, News

An incremental update to the massively refreshed Google Play Store started rolling out yesterday evening. The new version is 4.0.26 while the previous version from April 9th was 4.0.25.

There is a more recent version of the Play Store available for download here: Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.10 With Location Bug Fixes

And a few earlier ones:

As expected, there are no major changes in this release, just minor bug fixes, as confirmed by Ron's quick teardown and comparison.

Apr

Download: Completely Redesigned Latest Google Play Store 4.0.25

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Apps/Games, News

Following several recent leaks and the official announcement earlier today, Google started pushing out a completely redesigned, simpler, cleaner, and faster version of the Play Store for Android. The previous version was 3.10.14 while the new one is 4.0.25, and we have the download mirrors for you right here.

There is a more recent version of the Play Store available for download here: Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.10 With Location Bug Fixes

And a few earlier ones:

The new Play Store really does look a lot better, especially on tablets.

Feb

Download: Latest Google Play Store 3.10.14

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Apps/Games, News

Google is pushing out an update to the Play Store for Android with version 3.10.14. The difference in size compared to the previous version 3.10.10 from a bit over 2 months ago is about 14KB, and after ripping through the APK, I found no significant changes. There are some tweaks to the billing code, but from what I can tell, this is a bug fix release.

If you spot any changes compared to 3.10.10, please drop a note in the comments.

There is a more recent version of the Play Store available for download here: Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.1.10 With Location Bug Fixes

And a few earlier ones:

File Size History

com.android.vending-3.5.19.apk 3.81MB (4,000,309 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.7.11.apk 5.07MB (5,319,551 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.7.13.apk 5.07MB (5,322,241 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.7.15.apk 5.07MB (5,322,517 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.8.15.apk 5.35MB (5,618,814 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.8.17.apk 5.35MB (5,618,730 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.9.16.apk 5.22 MB (5,482,490 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.9.17.apk 5.34 MB (5,610,397 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.10.9.apk 5.87 MB (6,158,861 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.10.10.apk 5.87 MB (6,160,306 bytes)
com.android.vending-3.10.14.apk 5.88 MB (6,174,123 bytes)

Download

The APK, uploaded by XDA member ecs1984, is signed by Google and upgrades your existing Play Store.

Jan

T-Mobile Stores To Carry Nexus 4 In All Retail Locations Starting Some Time In January

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 4

It certainly seems like Google and LG have been ramping up production of the Nexus 4 after the initial launch left countless customers without a phone. While it's still unclear if they've made enough to meet worldwide demand, there will at least be one group that will finally have complete representation: T-Mobile stores! Back in November, the company picked up Google's latest flagship handset online and in 'select stores.' As of some undisclosed time this month, however, all retail locations will carry the Nexus 4.

It doesn't look like anything related to device subsidies or contract requirements are going to change, despite a brief scare in December when the on-contract price shot up to $400.

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

[New Game] Gameloft Brings Toy-Sized Swashbuckling To Android With Playmobil Pirates

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Games, News

Playmobil, famous for miniature people and toy sets covering themes from knights to doll house life to Native Americans, has partnered with Gameloft to bring their Playmobil Pirates game to the Play Store. While Pirates is significantly different from its Nintendo DS namesake, the game features the same animated Playmobil pirates and environments you'd expect, plenty of missions, and social integration.

Starting out, players will need to build a "pirate camp," or home base for a team of pirates you'll assemble to help in your ultimate quest to defeat Blackbeard. Before getting to the infamous pirate boss, however, players will need to complete one hundred levels of swashbuckling, firing cannons, and steering pirate ships, along with plenty of mini games, all while defending their pirate camp.