Google to revamp Play Store app ratings: What you need to know

An app’s rating for you on the Google Play Store may different from your friends in other countries.

Currently, apps and games on the Play Store have aggregated review scores. Google added up all the scores from users around the world and averaged them to create the final score. This is reflected by the star rating on Google Play.

Google to revamp Play Store app ratings

However, that system will change this year. In November 2021, Play Store ratings will be localized around the world. Google will aggregate scores from users in a country and generate a localized score. As a result, an app’s rating in Brazil may be very different from its rating in Korea.

Google explained this upcoming change in a blog post. The reasons for this change are:

  • Ratings from one region unfairly impact another. For example, when a bug affects only one country but negatively affects the app’s ratings everywhere else.
  • Cultural issues can also affect Play Store ratings. For example, a game designed to cater to people who speak Japanese and understand Japanese culture may not be well received by users from other countries. But that game’s rating was lowered by negative reviews from users from other countries.

In the future, Google will have even bigger changes. Specifically, next year, form factor will affect Play Store ratings.

Localized ranking will start happening this year. Around next year, Google will incorporate at least one more variable: the form factor. This means that app reviews from tablet users will aggregate differently than reviews from phone users.

But as of now, Google has not given a firm rollout date for the introduction of form factor variables for Play Store ratings.

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Google Play Store lets you share apps with others: How to use it?

Google’s Share Nearby debuted last year, allowing Android users to share files and other details with Android devices nearby. But this feature isn’t really an important addition to the operating system. Now, a new trick is being rolled out that allows users to transfer apps to others.

The “Share” tab is now appearing on Google Play Store builds. This option was first introduced in December 2020 and allows users to send an APK copy of the app to others via Share Nearby.

Importantly, not all apps are supported by this feature. The feature is quite situational, but it does have its uses. For example, that could be a boon for people who want to share a big, free game but don’t have fast or free Wi-Fi access.

How to use app sharing feature in the Google Play Store

The feature will be available to people running Google Play Store version 24.0 or higher. However, not all devices receive this feature at the same time.

How to enable app sharing in the Google Play StoreHere is how to get started with app sharing on the Google Play Store:

  • Open the Play Store. Navigate to My apps & games in the app menu.
    Select the Share tab.
  • To share apps with others, tap the Send button. To receive apps, tap Receive.
  • On the Send apps screen, tap Continue. Nearby Share also requires that you switch on your device’s location.
  • Select as many apps as you wish on the next screen by selecting their checkboxes.
  • When complete, hit the green triangle in the top-right.
  • Before the transfer can begin, you’ll need to search for and select a recipient. At this point, ask the intended recipient to complete steps 1 through 3 as required.
  • Once the connection is established, both users will need to double-check that the four-digit pairing code matches. If so, the recipient can hit Receive.
  • The download will then begin, and the recipient can hit Install alongside individual apps, or Install all.
  • Interestingly, once the two devices establish a connection via Nearby Share, both users can act as sender or recipient. A “Send apps” button allows the recipient to do just that, while the sender will see a “Send more apps” option instead.

Let’s check your Google Play Store and try app sharing feature now!


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Google will early allow gambling apps to Google Play Store in the US

Real-money betting apps and ads will accept to Google Play Store in the US. This new changes start deployment on March 1. Google will be allow online sports betting, lotteries betting, casino games and daily fantasy sports apps in certain states. Google’s support website provide a full list of what types of gambling apps are allowed. Currently, these apps are only appeared in 4 countries: the United Kingdom, France, Brazil and Ireland.

Google will early allow gambling apps to Google Play Store in the US

The change won’t be opening the opportunity for just anyone to release a slot gambling apps. Currently, Google requests app makers to go through an app process to get their gambling apps on the Play Store, and these new policies won’t be removing that requirement. To be eligible, developers must complete a gambling app form. In addition, app makers also comply with country and state laws where the app is being used and have a valid gambling license.

Gambling apps must ensure they prevent minors from being able to use the app. It also must be rated adult only and display information about responsible gambling. Above all, these apps can’t use Google Play in-app billing or be a paid app on Google Play Store. Of course, each state or country will have its own limitations on what kind of online gambling apps is legal.

In addition, gambling and betting apps are also available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, France, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Spain and the UK.

 

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Google Launches Compare Apps Feature In new Play Store Experiment

As one of the most important apps on a smartphone, Google always makes tweaks to the Play Store. It is experimenting with a new change that compares similar apps head-to-head. Google makes this to help greatly improve usability and discoverability for developers. This is also let users decide which best fits their needs.

The Compare Apps shows up on specific app listings near the bottom of the page. When it appears, it will display popular apps that are similar to the current list. However, it is limited to a few popular media player. The comparison based completely on things like to ease of use and whether they support features like offline casting and playback.

Google Play Store Launches Compare Apps Feature

With so many apps in the Google Play Store, it can be hard for the best ones to rise to the top. Google usually asks short questions to people who leave app review. Comparing some of the options side by side so users can see their choices seems like a smart addition. It’s likely the data displayed is based partly on this kind of user feedback.

Google Play Store Launches Compare Apps Feature

It’s been spotted in the wild on the version 22.4.28 of Google Play Store. Like many other tests Google does, there’s no telling when or if this is more widely implemented. And of course there may be some server-side components that will determine if the new app comparison is visible. Hopefully it hits the mainstream sooner rather than later — compared to the current Play Store app listing page. Users definitely like this one better.

 

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Indian Startups Want To Build National Alternative To Google Play Store

Indian startups have banded together to challenge Google’s monopoly over the Android app ecosystem by Google Play. And build an Indian app store.

Indian businesses want to build a national altenative to Google Play.

They was prompted by Google’s recent annoucement to force app developers on its store to use its payments system. That takes a 30% cut on transactions including in-app purchases. Founders Paytm, MakeMyTrip and PolicyBazaar discussed Google’s policy and the concerns on dependence on Google.

Executives of startup and firm in India attended the call on september 29. They agreed that a Google’s 30% cut was “simply unfeasible”. And it will hurt Indian businesses. It said the meeting discussed Google’s “monopolistic” hold on India. And what the executives alleged Google were unfair and inconsistent enforcement of Play Store guidelines in India.

google play store

Indian businesses took the hit from Google’s allegedly opaque policy enforcement.

Google reiterated Play Store’s gambling policy. And even they pulled Paytm’s app from the store for some time in the last month. Google is a direct competitor to Paytm in the mobile payments market. They also sent notices to OTT platform Hotstar and food delivery startups Swiggy and Zomato.

Paytm app was pulled for adding a fantasy cricket tournament that the company recently included in the app. The app was back in Play store after a few hours. But the ban sent shock waves through the Indian startup ecosystem.

Doosra has also been took the hit from Google’s allegedly opaque policy enforcement. It was pulled from the Play store just a week after its launch Sept. 15. It took Doosra team 48 hours to convince the Google Play store team to bring back the app.

The move of Indian startups came a day after a group of apps including Epic Games, Deezer, Spotify and Tile, banded together to form the ‘Coalition for App Fairness’. This group claims to fight against Apple’s control over its app store and in a minor way, Google as well.


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