latest
Google introduces free, near-instantaneous game translation service for devs
This might be great for developers who can't afford the existing paid translation service Google already offers
The most popular games on the Google Play Store are available in multiple languages. If you really want your game to grow, you can't have dialogs and menu items in just one language. But if you're a small developer, you might not be able to afford translation services, and unless you know multiple languages, your hands are pretty much tied. That's exactly where Google's latest developer tool comes in. Google has announced an addition to the Google Play Console that hooks into Google Translate, helping translate in-app text in your games into more languages, near instantaneously and free.
Google reveals new Play Store data safety disclosure, nudges developers to start submitting applications
The widget will go live in February
Late last year, Apple introduced a new policy in the App Store that requires developers to disclose the types of data their apps collect and how they use it. Google followed suit and announced a similar plan back in May, aiming to bring more transparency to apps on the Play Store. Now Google is sharing how the data safety widget will be displayed in the Play Store and encouraging developers to get a head start on their disclosure forms.
Looks like we're finally getting a high-end Android tablet that's not from Samsung
The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro gets listed on the Google Play Console
The pandemic has skyrocketed sales of tablets, and Lenovo, as the third-largest and one of the fastest-growing tablet OEMs, has all intentions of capitalizing on this uptrend. Shortly after releasing a model with HDMI input, the company looks nearly ready set to introduce its next-gen flagship tablet, the Tab P12 Pro.
Google Play Console introduces new publishing controls and a more intuitive overview
This might help developers work around the unpredictable approval process
The Google Play Console hasn't always been the most robust tool for publishing apps, but it's getting better and solving some of the problems developers have experienced over the years. The latest update brings two long-awaited enhancements that should make the publishing experience easier and a bit more intuitive.
Google to make 2-Step Verification mandatory for Google Play Console users
The change starts with new users later this year
In our modern world where anyone could be a hacker (even a Florida teen), it's important to keep our data secure. Google has been pushing its 2-Step Verification program as a way to make sure it's really you logging into your account. Now, the company has announced that 2FA will be mandatory for new users of the Google Play Console soon and existing users with high-risk permissions late this year.
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick shows up in Play Console ahead of release
The sucessor to the Mi Box is seemingly close to release
For years, the Xiaomi Mi Box (and its various iterations) has been the go-to option for a cheap Android TV device. Google is finally producing its own Android TV streaming stick, nicknamed 'Sabrina,' but that isn't stopping Xiaomi from working on a sequel to the Mi Box — the aptly-named Mi TV Stick.
This has been an exciting week for Android developers. The first Android 11 Beta rolled out, Android Studio received a significant update in the Beta/Canary channels, and a shiny new Play Console for publishing/managing applications is now available in beta. Thankfully, the new experimental Play Console addresses many common complaints with the current iteration, and it's definitely worth trying out if you're a Play Store developer.
Developers in 13 African countries can now sell paid apps and games on the Play Store (Update: Three more)
The Play Store continues its worldwide spread
Every few months, Google opens up developer and merchant registration on the Play Console to more countries. The last few times it happened, devs in Iraq, Bermuda, Palestine, Somalia, and many more nations were able to sign up for an account on Google Play and start distributing their apps. Now, 13 African countries are joining the fray, plus Turkmenistan.
Google Play Store app submission reviews may take 7 days or longer (Update: Google's statement)
Developers should plan accordingly
Google is warning developers that app reviews may take seven days or more as a result of work schedule adjustments at the company. That means new app submissions will see delays, and even some updates might take longer to go through if they happen to trigger a manual review.
Over the past few months, details have slowly leaked about Google's upcoming budget Pixel devices — believed to be named the 'Pixel 3a' and 'Pixel 3a XL.' Both phones have now appeared in the Google Play Developer Console, under their already-known codenames.
Google has quietly added more countries to its supported locations for developer and merchant registration. First up, developers in Palau and the U.S. Virgin Islands, two countries that were previously completely off the list, can now register on Google Play as well as create merchant accounts. Their payments will be made in USD, which is the official currency of both nations.
Most of you probably aren't aware of this, but only developers in select countries can sell apps and in-app purchases on the Play Store. Support is slowly spreading, with Tunisia and Zimbabwe having been the most recent additions in April, but the list has just grown by another six countries.
There are many countries around the world where you can register for a Google Play developer account but not a merchant account, meaning you can create as many apps as you want and distribute them, as long as you want them to be free. Four of these countries are getting proper merchant account registration support: Cambodia, Kenya, Uzbekistan, and Zambia.
Not all countries are created equal when it comes to the Google Play Store, but now developers in three new countries can start feeling like first class citizens again. If you develop apps or games for Android and you live in Guatemala, Moldova, or Paraguay, today brings some happy news for you. Previously, you were able to register on the Play Console and distribute free apps, but now you can also register for a merchant account and sell paid apps and in-app purchases to get some revenue for your work.
It might surprise you to know that developers in many countries can't sell paid apps on the Play Store. Last month, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania added support for merchant registration (a prerequisite to sell paid apps and IAPs on the Play Store), and now Tunisia and Zimbabwe have joined in on the fun.
Among the announcements made yesterday by Google at GDC, one feature nearly slipped under our radar: a new "test channel" on the Play Store. Previously, developers could either release apps directly to the public, either test them via an alpha or beta channel. Now a new channel is available, preceding even the alpha, under the "test channel" name. It's specifically made for internal tests, letting developers quickly deploy their new app or update to select users through the Store without having to send them the APK file manually.
Not all countries are equal when it comes to making and selling apps on the Play Store. Some don't even support developer registration, others let developers register but only let them distribute free apps. That was the case of devs in Ecuador until now: the ability to register as a merchant is available to them so they can finally sell paid apps and IAPs on the Play Store.
Read update
Last year, there was a rumor that Google was going to follow Apple's footsteps and improve its subscription revenue split with providers by only deducting 15% instead of 30% for distribution and miscellaneous fees. At the time, Recode was optimistic that Google would make the change universal, so that any time a user subscribed to something, the provider would only lose 15% in fees.
Last weekend, a huge turmoil swept the root-enthusiast Android community as it was discovered then confirmed that the Netflix app was being blocked from showing up in search results on the Play Store for rooted devices. At the time, Netflix said it was using Widevine to block unsupported devices, but that made no sense to us: the app was still functional if it was sideloaded, it was only not showing up as compatible in the Play Store. So what sorcery was Netflix really using?! Turns out it's a new function of the Google Play Console.
Google's new Google Play Console, or the artist site previously known as the Google Play Developer Console, has been brought into the future. The console has been updated to feature an attractive new material design layout as well as the new name. It has been about a year since the last time we saw any major visual changes to the site, and it's good to see Google's keeping an eye out for their developers sense of aesthetics.