Samsung’s influence on the Android ecosystem is profound. As the world’s top manufacturer of Android smartphones, Samsung consistently expands its impact by selling millions of devices annually. But this is merely the beginning. The South Korean tech giant not only fuels Android’s user base but also plays a pivotal role in supporting the Play Store. According to information unveiled in the Epic Games v. Google lawsuit, Samsung’s Android devices generated ‘half or more’ of Google Play revenue.Here are the details…

Epic Games v. Google Lawsuit Sheds Light on Samsung’s Share of Google Play Store Revenue

n a recent hearing in the ongoing Epic Games v. Google lawsuit, it was revealed that Samsung devices accounted for “half or more” of Google Play revenue as of early 2019. This information was disclosed by Google’s Vice President for Partnerships James Kolotouros.This statistic highlights the significant role that Samsung plays in the Android ecosystem and its contribution to Google’s Play Store.

Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, and its devices are widely popular among Android users. As a result, it is not surprising that Samsung devices generate a substantial portion of Google Play revenue. The reliance on Samsung devices raises concerns about Google’s dominance in the Android market.

Epic Games has argued in its lawsuit that Google’s control over the Play Store is anticompetitive and that the company is using its market power to stifle competition. The disclosure of Samsung’s share of Play Store revenue could further strengthen Epic’s case against Google.

It is important to note that Google has not independently confirmed the statistic that Samsung devices account for “half or more” of Play Store revenue. However, the revelation from Kolotouros provides further evidence of the close relationship between Google and Samsung in the Android ecosystem.

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Vivo is preparing to launch the highly anticipated X100 series of flagship smartphones in China soon. But just ahead of the official announcement, the Vivo X100 Pro model surfaced on the Google Play Supported Devices list.

Vivo X100 Pro visits Google Play Supported Devices

The Chinese tech giant’s X100 Pro was spotted carrying the model number V2324A. Based on what we know so far, the Vivo X100 Pro will be equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC that is paired with 12GB of RAM. This model will also run on Android 14 OS based OriginOS 4 custom skin out of the box. In a recent teaser video, the high end smartphone was confirmed to feature the Dimensity 9300 and V3 image processing chips.

The processor will also be paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5T RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. A large 5,400mAh battery pack is expected to power this device, which will likely offer 120W fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging support. The leaked unboxing video that surfaced earlier this week also revealed the design of the Vivo X100 Pro. We recently the camera details of the Pro and base model as well.

The X100 Pro is expected to sport a tall 6.78-inch AMOLED display that will offer Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, curved edges, and a 32-megapixel punch hole selfie shooter. Meanwhile, the rear will feature a 50-megapixel triple camera setup. You can click here to check out our detailed X100 series roundup.

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(Via)

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In 2021, Microsoft introduced Windows 11 with a host of exciting new features. One standout feature among them was the ability to run Android apps on your computer. This brought a significant expansion to the already extensive gaming support on the platform, allowing users to access a much wider range of games.

Although Google had previously announced its plans to bring Android games to Windows through the Play Games PC store, users had to wait a considerable amount of time for a complete experience. Fortunately, that waiting period has come to an end, as the store, which was in the beta phase, is now receiving additional features and an increasing number of gaming titles. Here are the details…

Android Gaming Comes to Windows 11 PCs with Over 3,000 Games Now Available

Google has announced that there are now over 3,000 Android games available for Windows PCs through the Play Games PC store. The library includes a wide variety of games, including popular titles like Asphalt 9: Legends, BADLAND, Clash of Clans, and Clash Royale. Google has also partnered with a number of major game publishers to bring their games to the service, including Activision Blizzard, EA, and Konami. (Some of them will be added in the coming weeks.)

To play Android games on Windows, users will need to download and install the Play Games PC app. Once installed, users can sign in with their Google account and browse the library of available games. Games can be downloaded and installed directly from the app, and users can also sync their progress between their Android devices and Windows PCs.

In addition to the expanded library of games, Google has also added a number of new features to the Play Games PC app. These features include support for Xbox and PS5 controllers, a search bar for the games library, and the ability to adjust the size and resolution of game windows.

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The Google Play Store and App Store provide significant convenience for users and a great platform for developers to earn income. However, these open marketplaces can also present risks. A recent incident highlighted this concern, when a legitimate app on the Google Play Store became malicious, secretly sending microphone recordings every 15 minutes. Here are the details…

Google Play Store App iRecorder Transforms into Malicious Spyware That Records Audio from Users

ESET, a name most of us recognize from antivirus software, recently made a dangerous discovery during their tests. According to the company, an app called iRecorder Screen Recorder, available on Google Play Store, records audio every 15 minutes and sends it to the app developer. This scandalous news once again proves that even applications available in official stores cannot always be trusted.

The iRecorder Screen Recorder app, initially launched on the Google Play Store in September 2021, took a dark turn with an update in August 2022. This update incorporated AhMyth, an open-source Remote Access Trojan (RAT), turning the app into a stealthy espionage tool. The RAT gave the app the ability to remotely record audio, link to an attacker’s server, and upload recorded audio and sensitive files.

This update fundamentally shifted the trajectory of the app, turning all of its users into potential victims. The truly terrifying part lies exactly here. Many users, without realizing, have been using the app in this condition for almost nine months, and their voices have been recorded. After the incident came to light, Google removed the iRecorder Screen Recorder app from the Play Store. However, you are also advised to be careful and take the necessary precautions if you have downloaded this app even once.

Google’s Malware Problem

Despite Google’s best efforts, apps laced with malware have continuously plagued its platform. The technology behemoth usually reacts swiftly in expunging these hazardous apps upon detection. However, their preventive measures to stop these apps from making their way into the Google Play Store in the first place have been less effective. In addition, there has been a perceived lack of transparency about the reasons behind the failure of Google’s own security measures to identify these looming threats.

This most recent case underscores the issue. It involves an application that clandestinely records audio, compromising the privacy of a broad user base. ESET officials suggest that the app, iRecorder, might be part of an active espionage campaign. Yet, without additional evidence to substantiate this claim, it remains just a hypothesis. Google’s role in permitting such a dangerous application to exist on its Play Store, hence, raises questions about culpability and effective digital security measures.

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(via)

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After an investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) into allegations made by Indian startups regarding Google’s in-app billing system, Google has announced that it will take measures to ensure the fair application of its Google Play payments policy in India. The company stated that it is fully compliant with the CCI’s October 2022 order and will expand its user choice billing to all developers in the country.

Google India Notifies Developers to Choose from 3 In-App User Choice Billing Options

In response to the allegations, Google emphasized that its payments policy adheres to the CCI’s order. The company also defended the fees it charges developers, stating in a blog post that the rates are 15% or lower, which are the lowest rates among major app stores. Furthermore, Google highlighted that the fee is reduced by an additional 4% if users opt for alternative billing systems, acknowledging that Google Play’s billing system was not utilized.

Developers in India now have three billing options available: using Google Play’s billing system, offering an alternative billing system alongside Google Play’s, or providing access to paid content through external means without any service fee.

Google noted that the majority of developers worldwide have already chosen one of these options. In India, the company will take steps to ensure that developers who have not implemented one of these choices comply with the policy, as the deadline for implementation has passed.

Previously, the CCI had fined Google Rs. 1337.76 crores for abusing its dominant position in the Android ecosystem. The order also required Google to enable users to uninstall first-party apps from their Android devices and cease imposing exclusivity clauses on device manufacturers.

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At the annual I/O developer conference, Google unveiled its latest offerings for Play Store developers, aimed at streamlining the process of creating and optimizing app listings. Among the new features announced are generative AI tools and an AI-powered review summary feature. These additions demonstrate Google’s commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance user experiences within its Android app store.

Transforming App Listings with AI: Google’s New Tools for Play Store

The generative AI tool, presented as an experimental feature, simplifies the creation of app listings. Developers can now open the AI helper, input audience and key theme prompts, and generate an initial draft that can be further customized, discarded, or used as is. While Google suggests using this tool in collaboration with human copywriters and editors, there is a concern that it may lead to an influx of low-quality text. Nevertheless, this advancement aims to make the listing process more efficient and accessible for developers.

In addition to aiding listing creation, generative AI will also be employed in conjunction with user reviews. By analyzing and summarizing hundreds or even thousands of app reviews, Google’s AI technology will provide potential users with a concise overview of the general consensus surrounding a particular app. While initially available only in English, Google has plans to expand this feature to support other languages later this year. Furthermore, this development suggests the potential for similar generative AI applications across Google’s various services, including Google Maps.

Alongside the AI-related updates, Google is introducing several other features to assist Play Store developers in listing and promoting their apps. For instance, a Google Translate-powered feature will enable developers to produce listings in ten different languages more efficiently. Additionally, a streamlined process for designing dynamic listings that adapt their content based on the viewer’s profile is being introduced. Lastly, new surfaces for showcasing Play Store apps will provide developers with increased visibility and promotional opportunities.

By leveraging generative AI, Google aims to streamline the listing process, enhance discoverability, and facilitate informed decision-making for users seeking new apps. With these tools and features, developers can focus on creating exceptional applications while leveraging Google’s powerful AI capabilities to reach a wider audience in a more efficient manner. Google has also unveiled its first foldable smartphone Pixel Fold, the much-awaited Pixel 7a, and Pixel Tablet at the event.

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After announcing the closed beta back in 2022, Google has now officially released the open beta of its “Google Play Games for PC” desktop application for Windows 10 and Windows 11, promising “bigger, bolder experiences of mobile games on Google’s gaming platform for PC”.

According to the service’s official landing page, “Google Play Games” is a PC application that lets you browse, download, and play select popular mobile games on a Windows desktop or laptop. Besides enjoying your favourite Android games on a PC, you’ll have keyboard and mouse access, seamless sync across devices, and integration with Google Play Points.

Besides the original 3 regions listed in the limited beta (Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan), Google Play Games beta has officially been rolled out to more countries and regions worldwide. The open beta has been expanded to 10 more countries, which are respectively Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States. Anyone in these regions with an eligible account can download the beta directly from the Google Play Games for PC page. 

Google has outlined several minimum requirements to download Google Play Games on PC, and they are as follows:

• OS: Windows 10 (v2004)
• Storage: Solid state drive (SSD) with 10 GB of available storage space
• Graphics: IntelⓇ UHD Graphics 630 GPU or comparable
• Processor: 4 CPU physical cores
• Memory: 8 GB of RAM
• Windows admin account
• Hardware virtualization must be turned on

Google clarifies that currently, over 100 games are available across the beta regions. The company is adding games to the service on a regular basis, so it encourages users to check back often to see what’s new.

In addition to the gaming hub service, Google Play Games also offers users to earn rewards as they play. As stated, with Google Play Points, you’ll earn points on everything you buy with Google Play Games, including in-app items and subscriptions. You can rack up and redeem Play Points on your PC through the same process you use on your mobile device.

As for an official release, Google has stated that the official release date of the service will vary according to the region, and the company is looking to expand the service to more regions later this year. And for availability on macOS, Google commented that Google Play Games is not yet available for Mac.

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Earlier this year, Google announced a pilot project under which companies can bypass the Google Play billing system and can use their own or third-party payments system. The pilot project, named User Choice Billing, is currently limited to select applications and Spotify is among them.

Spotify and Google have now announced that User Choice Billing is available for the users of the music streaming platform in select markets and could expand to other regions later. The company will continue to include the option of Google Play billing.

Interestingly, Google will still get a cut of all the transactions that happen through the User Choice Billing payment system and not the company’s own Google Play billing. The company is reducing the payment commission by 4 percent, which means those developers using the third-party payments system will be paying either an 11 percent or 26 percent cut to Google.

Even though Google gets a commission for the third-party payments system, Spotify says that the system still represents progress toward greater “platform fairness and expanded payment options.” The streaming giant has termed the deal as fair, but it’s not yet known if Google is offering a special deal to Spotify.

The User Choice Billing pilot project from Google is running in 35 countries, and apart from Spotify, some other applications, including dating app Bumble have joined the program. It is available for applications only and games remain ineligible for the program altogether.

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While we already know that Samsung is gearing up to announce the Galaxy A13 5G in the European market, a new report has suggested that the device’s launch is imminent after it was spotted on a Google Play list of supported devices.

Looking at the listing, the smartphone model was found with some of its key specifications, including its display resolution, Android version, SoC, and more. For those unaware, the South Korean tech giant had already launched the Galaxy A13 5G model in other markets a while ago. However, the same handset had yet to make its way to Europe. But now, it seems that the launch is just around the corner after the sighting of the European variant on Google Play.

The Galaxy A13 5G European model carried the SM-A136B model number. Furthermore, it will likely be equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that can be further expanded via a MicroSD card slot. The device sports a 6.5 inch HD+ LCD panel that has a 90Hz refresh rate as well. For photography, the smartphone features a triple camera setup on the rear, which includes a 50MP primary sensor paired with 2 megapixel macro shooter and another 2 megapixel depth lens.

Under the hood, a large 5,000mAh battery pack powers the device, which also supports 15W fast charging as well. Other features include a side mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Android 11 OS out of the box. The smartphone is was sold in the US for 249.99 US Dollars, so we can expect a similar price tag for the European market as well.

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While many economies and industries across the globe have been seeing a decline due to the ongoing crisis, the software side sees a contrary pattern. The time people spend on their smartphones has increased, and with it, the amount of spending on apps as well. Since people are stuck indoors, a record 23.4 billion US Dollars have been spent in Q1 of 2020 alone.

According to a new report from App Annie, the first quarter of 2020 saw the largest number of purchases and consumer spending on applications. Furthermore, statistics have even revealed that the average weekly time spent on apps and games worldwide has increased by about 20 percent over 2019. This translates to a record increase in consumer spending on the app stores that are available across the globe.

App Annie reported on a total of 23.4 billion US Dollars in consumer purchases, out of which $15 billion came from the iOS App Store from Apple and $8.3 billion from Google Play on the Android OS. Both popular platforms saw a year on year increase of 5 percent over 2019. Additionally, non-gaming applications accounted for about 35 percent of consumer spending on iOS and 15 percent on Google Play.

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Thus, a vast majority of 16.7 billion US Dollars has been spent on games in this quarter. Data reports show that the US and China were the largest contributors to consumer purchases on iOS, while Japan and South Korea were the largest for Google Play. Popular apps in Android OS include games, social media and entertainment apps, including streaming services like Disney+ and Twitch.

However, iOS users spent a majority on Games, Entertainment and Photo and Video apps. This includes TikTok, which recently broke into the top 5 of consumer spending apps in iOS, just behind YouTube and Tinder. Notably, 31 billion new apps were also downloaded during this period, which is an increase of 15 percent over last year. This shows the scale of social distancing and isolation that is taking place due to global Coronavirus fears.

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(Via)

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Google Play Services has sort of become the nervous system of the Google licensed Android OS. The app incorporates essential Android services like GPS and background services to ensure that your Android phone runs smoothly. However, an issue with the app could very well mean trouble for your Android system in general and that seems to be the case with the latest 18.3.82 version. Reports are coming in stating that the new version of Google Play Services is draining Android’s battery.

The issue with the new Google Play Services version was first reported by Android Police who noticed an increase in Android phone battery drain reports after the update. Since the issue is with the Google Play Services app, devices across multiple Android versions and vendors are affected. In order to check whether your phone’s battery is draining because of the new update, just head over to Settings and then Battery and click on Show full device usage. In some phones, the option will pop up only after you click the three dots on the top right corner.

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If Google Play Services come up in the top 3 apps sucking up your battery, you are likely a victim of this bug. Given that the app updates automatically for most users, you won’t even realize when your phone was updated to the new version.

There is no known fix to the problem but you can always revert back to the old Google Play Service version. Just keep an eye on the app as it will likely try to update itself to the new version. Given that this issue is popping up on multiple media websites, Google should already be working on a fix.

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(Source)

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We all know that we have so many great devices that are coming out in China. However, many of them don’t have Google Play/Services pre-installed out of the box. Sometimes, there is an easy way to do it, other time you have to wait for a particular workaround.

Of the devices that need to get Google Play installed manually are Letv Le, Le 1 and Le 1 Max. They are all beautiful devices with some killer specs sheet, but this shortcoming is something users in the West can’t live without. In case you missed Letv Le 1 (One/S1/X600) review, you can check it out here. Also, please stay tuned as I already have the Le 1 Pro in my hands and working on another review.

A lot of you guys have asked me how to install Google Play Services on Letv smartphones, so I decided to make a short tutorial video to help you out. Make sure to watch the entire video as you need to follow all the steps carefully.

The post How To Install Google Play/Services on Letv Smartphones (Letv One/One Pro/One Max) appeared first on Gizmochina.

At Google’s I/O conference, they launched many different products. Among them was an interesting thing called the Android L.

Every time a new version of the Android was launched, Google would talk about its camera specs, processors, etc. In short, they usually put an emphasis on its features. This time, Google talked about its design.

What did this shift in emphasis from features to design mean?

I.             It’s not as easy to bring new changes in performance and features

Man’s relationship with cell phones go all the way back to the 90s during the time of black and white phones, but it was not until the release of the iPhone’s iOS, with its touch screen supported functions as well as sensory devices, that this relationship truly changed.

Later, when the Android platform appeared, attempting to copy and improve on the iOS’ strengths such as the desktop.

Over the years, with its many versions, the Android has tried to catch up to the iOS.

Google has added all kinds of personalized features in the Android. Every cell phone manufacturer has scrambled for ideas on how to improve user experience.

Over the last several years, all kinds of excellent third-party apps have been incorporated into the newest Android incarnation. Innovation is no longer difficult, but to actually create new practical features, and not just gimmicky ones, has become very hard. At the same time, the iOS has also studied the Android’s strengths and has also copied the most useful ones. As a result, both the iOS and Android are becoming more and more similar.

It’s no longer possible to be creative with making new apps and features.

II.          In the era of homogenization, design is the best competitive strength

Apps and all other kinds of cell phone feature are being gradually homogenized. Third-party softwares are getting homogenized as well. The only way to improve user experience is by focusing on the device’s design.

Google’s designs have not been the best, especially the 4.x. Whether it’s the menu bar or icons, the design of Google’s interface cannot compare with the iOS’. This time, they finally dropped the design style used by engineers and have worked painstakingly to design the public version. Improvements have been made on the color scheme, font, and animated transition. These improvements should provide a much better user experience.

III.          Challenge on design

For cell phone manufacturers and app developers, new designs mean that they would have to choose the right components all over again.

Cell phone companies will have to look at how to combine their style in designing their own UIs and Apps with Google’s new style. Because of the “flattening” of the iOS, it takes a longer time to develop new Apps. It will only be worse with the path the Android is taking in the way it’s designed.

The post A review of the Android L appeared first on Gizmochina.

On the early morning on June 26 (Beijing time), Google will hold its annual I/O conference in the United States where they may launch the long-anticipated Nexus Tablet, new portable devices, and even the devices in the rumored Silver line which is supposed to replace the Nexus. However, what the users are mostly interested in is the Android 5.0.

It’s been three years since Google first released the Android 4.0 in 2011. Even though there have been several updates since then (4.0 to 4.4), there have not been any revolutionary changes in this platform, so many have high hopes for the Android 5.0. Here are several expectations we have about the 5.0.

“Flattening” and new UI

           Ever since Microsoft used the Metro interface for the Windows Phone and Windows 8, flattening has become the biggest trend in the industry right now. Apple’s iOS7, 8, and even the Mac’s Yosemite interface joined in. Several Android phone manufacturers have also begun to “flatten” their own systems. We can confidently say that they will apply this to the Android 5.0 as well.

It’s also important to consider that Google usually follows new designs for the Android’s UI when they do massive upgrades. As a result, some massive changes may be made for the Android 5.0’s UI. These changes could be done to “flatten” the 5.0. They could also be just to improve user experience.

64-bit

       The use of 64-bit processors is one of the most important selling points for the iPhone 5S. Even though it has received nothing but mockery from the industry, many consumers are still satisfied with it. Soon, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and other companies also released 64-bit processors which many refuse to admit that they want. The problem is that right now, the Android system’s support for 64-bit CPUs is not that great. If you want bring out the potential of these new CPUs, then, you need to upgrade the operating system. The Android 5.0 offers a very good opportunity.

ART

       ART mode is one of the new features added by Google to the Android 4.4. It can effectively improve the performance of the operating system and solves Android’s lack of fluidity problems. Considering compatibility issues and other problems, many manufacturers chose to forgo it when upgrading. To solve this problem, Google may unofficially allow the use of ART for the Android 5.0 and we might say goodbye to the Dalvik virtual machine.

A better App store

Due to several reasons Google’s official app store, Google Play, has not been that popular in China, but this does not diminish its relevance as Google’s official online store. Compared to its competitors, the Google Play is not that complete yet and still lacks many important features. An App store is an important part of an operating system’s ecosystem, so it’s important to improve it and fix its problems. We can probably expect a better App store from the Android 5.0.

Better virtual keys

More and more Android devices are starting to abandon real-life keys and are turning to virtual ones, but right now, the Android system’s virtual keys still offer a very terrible user experience. There are times when you may not find it when you need it, and other times when you want to close it from the screen but cannot. When other manufacturers produce virtual keys, the attitude they profess is completely different from the strategy they come up with. Google will have to be consistent in their attitude and actions.

Improvements on their tablets

       Tablets are a very important part of Mobile devices, but Android’s tablets have yet to receive much attention. Google stopped follow this concept after problems of fragmentation with the Android 3.0 which was especially designed for tablets. As a result, today, Google still applies phone designs for Tablet interfaces and this has resulted in poor user experience. If Google wants to provide superior operating systems for tablets, then they should add tablet-related improvements to the 5.0.

These are our expectations for the Android 5.0. If they come true, then users should be very pleased with the new Android. As a very liberated and creative enterprise, Google may deliver a big surprise for us. Nevertheless, we can only find out two days from now.

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OPPO Find 7, Find 7a and Oneplus One all these flagship smartphones are installed Color OS which is base on Android 4.3 now, the default software has no Google Play, it is not convenience for most users. Don’t worry about it, here is guide to help you to add Google Play store and other Google service to your phone.

Thanks for Oppomart, the OPPO Find 7 and Oneplus one samples are provided by them to test this process.

Here is guide, for both OPPO Find 7 and Oneplus One:

Step 1: Please download Google Mobile Service file from here:  Google-Play-Color-OS

Setp 2: Connected your phone with computer via USB cable, copy the downloaded file to phone’s root folder

Setp 3: Setting > About Phone > System Update

Step 4: click the Local update

Step 5: click Refresh

Step 6: click the download zip file

Step 7: Start updating, update now

Step 8: don’t power off your phone, it will reboot and continue updating, about 30 seconds, it will be finished.

It is easy, and download any apps from Google play now. Enjoy it.

Buy OPPO Find 7 and Oneplus one, please visit:  Oppomart

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Early 2012, Google plans to stop using Flash Player on online application store, Android Market. Today, Google officially announced the cessation of support for software owned by Adobe Systems.

After stop supporting Flash Player, then all Android phones will not get the update from Adobe if there is a bug in Flash, unless the application is installed on the initiative early phone vendors.

Quoted from PC World, not just Google, Adobe had also agreed to dismiss their support and ask the user to delete the software on the device.

Along with the presence of Android Jelly Bean later that already does not use Flash, then Adobe was firmly stop all the updates related to the application. Particularly in Google Play.

Google’s decision to no longer use Flash in Jelly Bean considered ‘kills’ the existence of Flash in the realm of smartphones. Moreover, Apple also has made a similar move recently. Instead, the two companies will jointly carry HTML 5 as a standard platform.

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I originally wrote a list of 15 ways how to download Android apps without the Android market here, but as that list of Android apps download resources was getting a little out of date and as other alternatives popped up I’ve decided to write an updated version.

Why would I need an alternative Android apps download site?
You might be thinking ‘Google Play is working just fine, why would I need an alternate Android app store?’.

Well there are a number of reasons, but the main reason is that many Android devices especially Chinese Android phones and Chinese Android tablets do not ship with Google Play installed so how to download Android apps in this case?

20 Alternative Android apps download resources!

1. Pandaapp

Pandaapp continues to be my personal favorite way how to download Android apps. The Pandaapp store is available either via their website, or their own Android application which can be downloaded for free. All the Android apps on the Pandaapp store are Free, but please take care as there are plenty of cracked and pirated games!

Visit the Pandaapp website here.

2. Baidu App Store

Baidu the Chinese search giant who are currently kicking Google’s butt across the Chinese internet also have their own method how to download Android apps. The Baidu App store is actually an aggregator of a number third-party stores which allows you to search a wide network for the apps you are after from only one search screen.

Visit the Baidu App store here.

3. Opera Mobile App Store

Opera have their own way how to download Android apps! The Opera Mobile App store frequently offers discounted applications with some huge savings along with a wide variety of free Android apps. Plus as it is ran by a trusted name this Android apps download solution relatively safe.

Download the Opera Mobile App Store here.

4. MIUI.com

MIUI is the name of the Xiaomi OS, and they have their own website with great ways to download Android apps, many of them being free. As well as apps there are a number of hacks, how to’s and other useful resources which make Android apps download site and extremeley usful site to visit!

Visit the MIUI forum here.

5. Tencent App Gem

Like Baidu, China’s other search engine providers are getting involved with Android apps and their own way how to download Android apps. Tencent’s App Gem is the Chinese company’s solution to Android apps downloads and allows users to download apps directly to their Android device via the custom made app.

There are versions of App Gem for both Android phones and tablets and both can be used in conjunction with Tencent’s “iTunes of Android” system.

Visit Tencent App Gem Here.

6. GetJar

While Opera and Amazon offer clean and easy ways to navigate and get your apps on your Android device, GetJar offers a less user friendly and more cluttered approach to Android apps downloads. However that’s not to say GetJar is difficult to use, it just could be a lot simpler.
Like the other alternative app stores on the list, GetJar offers users to search and download popular applications, but unlike some of the others, this store also has a lot of unique hacks and apps developed by budding designers.

Visit the GetJar site here.

7. Wandoujia

Wandoujia is another platform claiming to be the ‘iTunes of Android’. Wandoujia is a PC desktop client which allows you to manage all the content on your Android tablet or phone, meaning you can sync your Android devices contacts, photos and movies.

Best of all is that Wandoujia will search a database of 3rd party Android markets and allow you to download apps from them, it will even let you know when updates are available too!

Visit Wandoujia here.

8. AppChina

AppChina have recently redesigned their whole network to give a more professional and unique experience Android apps download site and application. While a lot of popular Android apps can be found in the AppChina databases , you can also find a lot of cool lesser known indie apps from developers around China.

AppChina look to be going places too as they have already gained funding of $6 million! So keep an eye on this Android apps download solution in the future!

Visit AppChina here.

9. Handango

Handango is absolutely jam packed with free and discounted  Android applications making it one of the most better Android apps download sites around and a popular alternative Google’s Play store. A great resource for those looking for a way to download Android apps without the Android market.

Download Handangou Android store here.

10. OnlyAndroid Superstore

Only Android Superstore is actually ran by Mobihand, who in turn actually run alternative application stores for a multitude of mobile operating systems, but this the Android store is easily the most popular. To start downloading from the Only Android Superstore, you will need to download their app first, which is very clean and easy to navigate. Again be watchful of what you download to avoid malware!

Download Only Android Superstore here.

11. D.cn Games Center

If you are looking for a clean and easy to use way Android apps download site for your phone or tablet without the official Android Play app store then D.cn Games Center could be the one for you!

As you would expect by the name many of the Android apps available on this alternative Android store are games, however they are also mostly free (but ad-supported) and have become the official partner to Rovio Mobile, which suggests this way how to download Android apps could be a little safer than other methods.

Visit D.cn Games Center here.

12. Insyde Market

Insyde Market is another alternative to Google’s Play Android store. Last time we visited they had a lot of free apps but as they grow more unique and indie applications will be made available.

Download Insyde Market here.

13. SlideME

SlideME was one of the first Android app store alternatives to launch, and as such has a rather full database of applications and games to choose from. Apps are listed by category and screen shots are provided so you get a good idea of what you are downloading.

Download the SlideME Android app store here.

14. Gfan

Gfan started life as a forum or BBS for Chinese Android fans to share tip, hacks and of course Android applications. However as the site become more popular and more interest grew they have actually transformed the site in to a fully-fledged Android app store alternative.

Visit Gfan here.

15. HiAPK

HiAPK is a very popular app store in China, however like some other 3rd party Android app stores there are some hacked and pirated applications on here. While you might be rubbing your hands together at the prospect of free games and Android apps, keep in mind that pirated can also mean ‘malware infested’

Visit HiAPK here.

16. Anzhi (GoAPK)

Many of you with Chinese Android phones or tablets might already have this app store installed on your Android device. Like HiAPK there are many cracked or pirated apps available on the Anzhi store, but this hasn’t stopped this Android app store alternative cropping up on a number of Chinese Android devices as preinstalled software!

Visit AnZhi here.

17. YAAM Market

The YAAM market isn’t the most unique alternate store, but instead offers a solid simple way of getting applications on your device. Apps are grouped in to either ‘Free’ or ‘Paid’ with a further filter separating Apps, Games and Updates. We’ve not used YAAM in a while, but last time we did there was only a limited selection of Android applications available.

Download the YAAM Android market here.

18. Taobao App Market

Taobao are very new to the Android app market world, but with their huge audience and their own payment system (Alipay) they could easily become one of the largest alternative Android app markets available.

Visit Taobao App Market here.

19. N-Duo Market

N-Duo market is another new comer but unlike the multinational, billion dollar set up that is the Taobao App Market this is a start-up.

As such the selection isn’t huge, but they do have a great designer and easy to use sections which include Android apps specifically for Android tablets.

Visti N-Duo market here.

20. Google Chrome!

Ok perhaps you have tried all the above alternative Android app stores but you still can only find the app you are looking fro in the official Google Android Play store, then what?

We’ll you could always download APK Downloader which is a Google Chrome extension which will allow you to download Android apps to your PC directly from the official Android market then install the apps on your Android phone or tablet manually!

I hope you found this list of ways how to download Android apps useful, please feel free to report any errors, broken links or even your own personal favorite alternative Android app stores in the comments below.

Source: Gizchina

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