Google Play
 |
|
|
Screenshot
 Google Play website |
|
| URL | play.google.com |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Registration | Required |
| Available language(s) | 131 languages[citation needed] |
| Owner | |
| Launched | March 6, 2012 |
| Current status | Online |
Google Play is a digital content service from Google which includes an online store for music, movies, books, and Android apps and games, as well as a cloud media player. The service is accessible from the web, the Android app (Play Store), and Google TV.[1] Purchased content is available across all of these platforms/devices.[2] Google Play was introduced in March 2012 when Google rebranded its predecessor Android Market and Google Music services.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Products
[edit] Apps and Games
Free apps are available worldwide,[4] while paid applications are available in 129 countries.[5] Applications can be installed from the device or the Google Play website.[6] According to Google there are over 450,000 apps available as of March 2012.[7] Google Play can update the apps the user selects automatically, or users can update then on a per-case basis or update all apps at once.[7]
Google Play filters the list of applications to those compatible with the user's device. In addition, users may face further restrictions to choice of apps where developers have tied-in their applications to particular carriers or countries for business reasons. [8] Carriers can also ban certain applications, for example tethering apps.[9]
As of May 2011, users in 131 countries can purchase paid applications from Android Market.[10] Some carriers offer direct carrier billing for Android Market app purchases.[11] Purchases of unwanted applications can be refunded within 15 minutes of the time of download.[12] There is no requirement that Android applications be acquired from Android Market. Users may download Android applications from a developer's website or through a third party alternative to Android Market.[13]
Developers in 29 countries may distribute applications on Google Play.[14] However developers pay $25 for registration to distribute on the Android Market.[15] Application developers receive 70% of the application price, with the remaining 30% distributed among carriers and payment processors. Google itself does not take a percentage.[16] Revenue earned from the Android Market is paid to developers via Google Checkout merchant accounts, or via Google AdSense accounts in some countries.[17]
On 17 March 2009, about 2,300 applications were available in the Market, according to T-Mobile chief technical officer Cole Brodman.[18] On 10 May 2011, during the Google I/O, Google announced that Android Market had 200,000 apps listed and 4.5 billion apps installed.[19]
| Year | Month | Applications available | Downloads to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | March | 2,300[18] | |
| December | 16,000[20] | ||
| 2010 | March | 30,000[21] | |
| April | 38,000[22] | ||
| August | 80,000[23][24] | 1 billion | |
| October | 100,000[25] | ||
| 2011 | May | 200,000[19] | 3 billion[26] |
| July | 250,000[27] | 6 billion | |
| October | 319,000[28] | ||
| December | 380,297[29] | 10 billion[30] | |
| 2012 | January | 400,000[31] | |
| February |
[edit] Movies
According to Google there are "thousands" of movies available on Google Play Movies,[7] some in HD, including comedy, drama, animation, action and documentary.[7] Movies can be rented and watched on the Google Play website or via an app on an Android device.[7] Alternatively, users can download movies for offline viewing and view them later using the Google Play Movie app.[7]
Movies are available in US, UK, Canada, and Japan.[33][33]
[edit] Music
On 16 November 2011 Google introduced Google Music with a music store, Google+ integration, artist hubs, and purchasing reflected on T-Mobile phone bills.[34] The three major label partnerships announced were with Universal Music Group, EMI, and Sony Music Entertainment, along with other smaller labels. To celebrate the launch, several artists released free songs and exclusive albums through the store. The Rolling Stones debuted the live recording Brussels Affair (Live, 1973) and Pearl Jam made available a live concert recorded in Toronto on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks as 9.11.2011 Toronto, Canada.[35]
A cloud media player was first hinted at at the Google 2010 I/O Conference, where Google Senior Vice-President of Social Vic Gundotra showed a "Music" section of the Android Market that would allow users to download music through the market.[36] The music streaming service that was announced by Google on 10 May 2011 at their I/O conference as Music Beta and released as Google Music before the rebrand to Google Play. The service supports streaming music to desktop browsers, Android phones and tablets, and any other device that can use the Adobe Flash platform.[37] At launch, the service was available through invitation to US residents only.[38] In November 2011, however, it is open to the public, but still only for US residents.[39]
According to Google there are "hundreds" of free songs in Google Play and "millions" available for purchase.[7] Users can also upload up to 20,000 of their songs to the service, for free.[7] Songs in Google Music are priced at US$1.29, $0.99, $0.69, and free.[34] Users also get personalized recommendation based on what they listen the most.[7] Music can be played on the Google Play website, or any Android device.[7] Music can also be stored for offline playback.[7]
The service allows the user to automatically create a playlist of "songs that go well together"[40] using a feature known as Instant Mix.[40][better source needed] Music imported from iTunes will retain its playlists.[41][better source needed]
[edit] Books
According to Google there are over 3 million ebooks on Google Play,[42] "nearly 3 million" are free and there are "hundreds of thousands" available for purchase.[42] Books can be read online at the Google Play website, or offline, via the Android app.[7]
Google Play's books are available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.[33]
[edit] Play Store App
 Play Store icon |
|
 Play Store app on the Galaxy Nexus |
|
| Original author(s) | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | |
| Stable release | 3.4.7[43][44][45][46] |
| Operating system | Android |
The Play Store Android App allows users to download movies, applications, music and books. According to Google, users with the old Android Market on an Android device will have the application automatically update itself.[47]
[edit] History
 |
This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (March 2012) |
Google announced the Android Market on August 28, 2008, and made it available to users on 22 October 2008. They introduced support for paid applications on 13 February 2009 for US and UK developers,[48] with additional support for 29 countries on 30 September 2010.[49]
In December 2010 Google added content filtering to Android Market and reduced the purchase refund window from 24–48 hours to 15 minutes.[50]
In February 2011 Google introduced a web client that provides access to Android Market via PC. Apps requested through the Android Market web page are downloaded and installed on a registered Android device.[51]
In May 2011 Google added new app lists to Android Market, including "Top Grossing" apps, "Top Developers", "Trending" apps, and "Editors Recommendations". Google's Eric Chu said the goal of this change was to expose users to as many apps as possible.[52]
In July 2011 Google introduced a redesigned interface with a focus on featured content, more search filters, and (in the US) book sales and movie rentals.[53]
In September 2011 the Motorola Xoom tablet received an update that brought the redesigned Android Market to an Android 3.x Honeycomb based device.[54]
In November 2011 Google added a music store to the Android Market.[55]
In March the maximum allowed size of the app APK file was also increased from 50MB to allow two additional files for a maximum of 50MB for the APK and 2 addidional files of 2GB each, totalling 4050MB/4.05GB.[56] On March 6th, 2012, the Android Market was re-branded as Google Play.[57]
[edit] Device compatibility
The Google Play application is not open source. Only Android devices that comply with Google's compatibility requirements may install and access Google's closed-source Google Play app, subject to entering into a free-of-charge[58] licensing agreement with Google.[59] In the past, these requirements had included 3G or 4G cellular data connectivity,[60] ruling out Android-powered devices comparable to Apple's iPod touch, but this requirement had been loosened by the 2011 release of the Samsung Galaxy Player.
Android Market applications are self-contained Android Package files. The Android Market does not install applications; it asks the devices's PackageManagerService to install them. The package manager is visible if the user downloads an APK file direct to their device. Applications are installed to the phone's internal storage, and under certain conditions may be installed to the devices's external storage card.[61]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Features - Google TV
- ^ "About Google Play - Google Play Help". Support.google.com. http://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&p=play_faq&answer=2490014. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/introducing-google-play-all-your.html
- ^ About Google Play, Support.google.com, https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&p=play_faq&answer=2490014, retrieved 2012-03-08
- ^ "Paid App Availability - Google Play Help". Support.google.com. https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=143779. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ "Google Play". Play.google.com. http://play.google.com/about/apps/. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Google Play". Play.google.com. https://play.google.com/about/features/. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ "Android Compatibility". Android Developers. http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/compatibility.html. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ O'Brien, Terrence (2 May 2011). "Carriers crack down on Android tethering apps, rain on our mobile hotspot parade". Engadget. AOL Inc. http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/carriers-crack-down-on-android-tethering-apps-rain-on-our-mobil/. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ "Paid App Availability". Android Market Help. http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=143779.
- ^ Chu, Eric (13 April 2011). "Android Developers Blog: New Carrier Billing Options on Android Market". android-developers.blogspot.com. http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-carrier-billing-options-on-android.html. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ "Returning apps". Android Market. Google. https://support.google.com/androidmarket/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=134336&topic=1046718&ctx=topic. Retrieved January 09, 2012.
- ^ Ganapati, Priya (2010-06-11). "Independent App Stores Take On Google's Android Market | Gadget Lab". Wired.com. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/independent-app-stores-take-on-googles-android-market/. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ "Supported locations for merchants". Android Market Help. http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=150324.
- ^ "Developer Registration - Google Play for Developer Help". Support.google.com. http://support.google.com/androidmarket/developer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=113468&ctx=cb&src=cb&cbid=-8w6cs0nksvn. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ Chu, Eric (22 October 2008). "Android Developers Blog: Android Market: Now available for users". Android Developers Blog. http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2008/10/android-market-now-available-for-users.html. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "Processing orders and receiving payouts". Android Market for Developer Help. https://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/developer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=137997. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ a b Lawson, Stephen (17 March 2009). "Market Needs More Filters, T-Mobile Says". PC World. http://www.pcworld.com/article/161410/android_market_needs_more_filters_tmobile_says.html.
- ^ a b Barra, Hugo (10 May 2011). "Android: momentum, mobile and more at Google I/O". The Official Google Blog. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/android-momentum-mobile-and-more-at.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Google: Actually, We Count Only 16,000 Apps In Android Market". TechCrunch. 16 December 2009. http://techcrunch.com/2009/12/16/google-android-market/. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Chan, Casey (18 March 2010). "Android Market has 30,000 apps, sort of". Android Central. http://www.androidcentral.com/android-market-has-30000-apps. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Nickinson, Phil (15 April 2010). "Android Market now has 38,000 apps". Android Central. http://www.androidcentral.com/android-market-now-has-38000-apps. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Hildenbrand, Jerry (9 September 2010). "Android Market has more than 80,000 apps, Android's Rubin says". Android Central. http://www.androidcentral.com/googles-andy-rubin-says-over-80k-apps-now-android-market.
- ^ "Android Market Hits 1 Billion Downloads & 100,000 apps". 15 July 2009. http://www.fonehome.co.uk/2010/07/16/android-market-hits-1-billion-downloads-100000-apps/. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Gibb, Kyle (26 October 2010). "Android Market passes 100,000 apps". Android Central. http://www.androidcentral.com/android-market-surpasses-100000-apps. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Rao, Leena (14 April 2011). "Google: 3 Billion Android Apps Installed; Downloads Up 50 Percent From Last Quarter". Techcrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/14/google-3-billion-android-apps-installed-up-50-percent-from-last-quarter/. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Nickinson, Phil (14 July 2011). "Android Market now has more than a quarter-million applications". Android Central. http://www.androidcentral.com/android-market-now-has-more-quarter-million-applications. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Android Market reaches 500,000 app mark". www.t3.com. 2011-10-23. http://www.t3.com/news/android-market-reaches-500000-app-mark. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
- ^ "Google Android Market". Distimo. 17 October 2011. http://www.distimo.com/appstores/app-store/19-Google_Android_Market. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ Bonnington, Christina (8 December 2011). "Google’s 10 Billion Android App Downloads: By the Numbers". wired.com. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/10-billion-apps-detailed/. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ "Android Market Tops 400,000 Apps". PCWorld. 04 January 2012. http://www.pcworld.com/article/247247/android_market_tops_400000_apps.html. Retrieved 04 January 2012.
- ^ "Google+ post Andy Rubin". Google. 27 February 2012. https://plus.google.com/u/0/112599748506977857728/posts/Btey7rJBaLF. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "About Google Play - Google Play Help". Support.google.com. https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&p=play_faq&answer=2490014. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ a b Sociable Blog 2011
- ^ Hyden 2011
- ^ Siegler 2010
- ^ Slattery 2011
- ^ Chansanchai 2011
- ^ The Verge 2011
- ^ a b Barra 2011
- ^ Diaz 2011
- ^ a b "Features of a book on Google Play - Google Play Help". Support.google.com. https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&p=books_features&answer=1062949. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ Google Play Store update to v3.4.7 rolling out now [Download] | Android Community
- ^ Google Play Store 3.4.7 Fixes Problems on Motorola Devices
- ^ Download: New Google Play Store Version 3.4.7 – Droid Life
- ^ Google Play Store Version 3.4.7 fixes link on Moto phones | Android Central
- ^ "Updating Android Market/Google Play - Google Play Help". Support.google.com. https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=190860. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ Chu, Eric (13 February 2009). "Android Market Update Support". http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/02/android-market-update-support-for.html.
- ^ Bray, Tim (30 September 2010). "More Countries More Sellers More Buyers". http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-countries-more-sellers-more-buyers.html.
- ^ "Big changes in store for Android Market". ZDNet. 11 December 2010. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/burnette/big-changes-in-store-for-android-market/2151. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ Savov, Vlad (2 February 2011). "Android Market gets a web store with OTA installations, in-app purchases coming soon". Engadget. AOL Inc. http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/android-market-gets-a-web-store/.
- ^ Hachman, Mark (11 May 2011). "Google Revamps Android Market to Give App Recommendations". PC Magazine. http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20110511/tc_zd/264342. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ Montoy-Wilson, Paul (12 July 2011). "A new Android Market for phones, with books and movies - Official Google Mobile Blog". Google Mobile blog. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-android-market-for-phones-with.html. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ Burns, Chris (29 September 2011). "Android Market update released for Honeycomb tablets". SlashGear. http://www.slashgear.com/android-market-update-released-for-honeycomb-tablets-29184161/. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ Rodriguez, Armando (2011-11-16). "Get Started With Google's New Music Store". PCWorld. https://www.pcworld.com/article/244066/get_started_with_googles_new_music_store.html. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ Jeremy Levitt (2012-03-06), Android apps supersized, to 4 GB, iTWire, http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/mobility/53211-android-apps-supersized-to-4gb, retrieved 2012-03-08
- ^ "Official Google Blog: Introducing Google Play: All your entertainment, anywhere you go". Googleblog.blogspot.com. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/introducing-google-play-all-your.html. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions | Android Open Source". Source.android.com. http://source.android.com/faqs.html#how-much-does-compatibility-certification-cost. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ "Android Compatibility". Android Open Source Project. http://source.android.com/compatibility/. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ Sam Churchill. Android Tablets Need 3G/4G for Market Support. dailywireless.org. 10 September 2010. Accessed 9 February 2012.
- ^ "App Install Location | Android Developers". Developer.android.com. 15 March 2011. http://developer.android.com/guide/appendix/install-location.html. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
[edit] References
- Slattery, Brennon (10 May 2011). "Music Beta by Google to Launch Without Licenses". http://www.pcworld.com/article/227507/music_beta_by_google_to_launch_without_licenses.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Chansanchai, Athima (10 May 2011). "Cloud music to your ears from Google". http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/10/6618887-cloud-music-to-your-ears-from-google. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Johnston, Casey (10 May 2011). "Google announces music streaming in beta, movie rentals for Android". http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2011/05/google-releases-movie-rental-service-announces-music-service-in-closed-beta.ars. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Barra, Hugo (10 May 2011). "Android: momentum, mobile and more at Google I/O". Official Google Blog. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/android-momentum-mobile-and-more-at.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Diaz, Sam (10 May 2011). "Google I/O: Music, movies and more Android". http://www.zdnet.com/blog/google/google-io-music-movies-and-more-android/2938. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Siegler, MG (20 May 2010). "Um, Did Google Just Quietly Launch A Web-Based iTunes Competitor? Yep". http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/20/um-did-google-just-quietly-launch-a-web-based-itunes-competitor-yep/. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Rao, Leena (4 June 2010). "Google's iTunes Competitor Will Likely Be Called Google Music". http://techcrunch.com/2010/06/04/googles-itunes-competitor-will-likely-be-called-google-music/. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- Kafka, Peter (9 May 2011). "Google Launching Its Cloud Service Tomorrow, Without Big Music's Approval". http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20110509/google-launching-its-cloud-service-tomorrow-without-big-musics-approval/. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- "Google Music "These Go To Eleven" Live blog". The Verge (website). 16 November 2011. http://live.theverge.com/Event/Google_Music_These_Go_To_Eleven_Liveblog. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- "Google Music Goes Live in US". Sociable Blog. 17 November 2011. http://www.sociableblog.com/2011/11/17/google-music-goes-live-in-us/. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- Hyden, Steven (17 November 2011). "Google Music launches with a bunch of free music from Pearl Jam and the Rolling Stones". A.V. Club. http://www.avclub.com/articles/google-music-launches-with-a-bunch-of-free-music-f,65330/. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
