stricter guidelines Archives

AppWizard

November 23, 2024

Google’s working on a mysterious new Play Store app filter (APK teardown)

The Google Play Store is introducing a new filter that allows users to "filter apps that link to external apps." This feature, revealed through an APK teardown, suggests a shift in strategy focusing on app behavior rather than content. The purpose of the filter is unclear, raising questions about its implications for security and app interactions. The optional nature of the filter prompts speculation about whether it is a security measure and what "external" links encompass. The tech community is awaiting further clarification from Google regarding this development and its potential impact on user experience and app visibility.

AppWizard

October 18, 2024

Android phones are about to get a big security upgrade to protect your photos

Google Play is enhancing user privacy with the introduction of the Photo Picker API, which debuted with Android 13. This feature allows users to selectively share images with applications instead of granting full access to their photo and video libraries. Google plans to enforce stricter guidelines for developers to ensure that only apps that genuinely need full gallery access can obtain it. The Photo Picker API currently lacks a search function and does not display local albums, making it challenging to locate older images. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the Pixel 9 transmitting data to Google without explicit user consent, including location and network status updates every 15 minutes. Google has stated that user security and privacy are top priorities for Pixel.

AppWizard

July 19, 2024

Google suddenly says it will purge the worst Android apps in the Play Store

Starting August 31, 2024, Google Play Store will implement stricter guidelines to ensure that only high-quality apps are available for Android users. Google will crack down on low-quality apps that crash frequently, lack basic utility, fail to deliver engaging content, lack app-specific functionalities, are static in nature, have minimal content, serve no purpose, fail to install properly, or do not load successfully. Google's efforts aim to enhance the overall user experience on Google Play.