Google Play Store

A Discord user received a DM from an unknown sender claiming to be a game developer offering a mobile RPG tester role. The sender directed the user to search for 'Kingdom Ascension' (iOS) and 'Throne of the Nine Realms' (Android), but the user could not find the games, suspecting they had been removed from app stores. The user questioned how the sender obtained their Discord username.

Aftercall is a campaign of deceptive Android apps on Google Play that display intrusive pop-up ads after phone calls by exploiting overlay permissions. These apps masquerade as alarm clocks, calendars, and other tools, making it difficult for users to identify and uninstall them. The ads waste advertisers' money and cause significant user frustration.

The European Union fined Google US$1 billion for illegally favoring its own services like Google Flights and Google Hotels in search results and restricting app developers from offering alternatives outside the Google Play store. The decision risks escalating tensions with the United States.

Google will open its Google Play Store to third-party app stores starting July 22, 2025, following a court-ordered injunction from U.S. District Judge James Donato. The injunction, part of a 2023 lawsuit by Epic Games, prohibits Google from favoring its own app store and requires it to carry competing app stores on Android devices in the U.S. through 2029.

Russia’s Max Messenger was removed from the Google Play Store two days after EU sanctions on its parent company. Apple previously removed the app in June due to criticism about enabling Kremlin surveillance.

Epic Games and Google have jointly withdrawn their lawsuit attempt, leading to Google allowing third-party Android app stores in the U.S. starting July 22. A judge previously ruled in October 2024 that Google must host rival app stores within its Google Play store.

A user discovered fake apps on the Google Play Store disguised as AAA games like No Man's Sky, which are actually ad-filled scams that prevent gameplay. These apps use misleading titles and package names, and Google has not removed them despite reports.

The Election Commission is digitizing enumeration forms as the SIR process begins in Karnataka. Voters can use the 'Book a Call with BLO' feature on the ECINet mobile application, available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, for convenience.

Secluso, an open-source private home security camera system with end-to-end encryption, has been rebranded from Privastead. Developers improved the software with a GUI deploy tool for Raspberry Pi, a customized Yocto-based OS, reproducible builds, and updated mobile apps available on iOS and Android. The system now supports UnifiedPush for privacy-preserving notifications.

Cybersecurity researchers discovered 28 fraudulent apps on the Google Play Store that tricked users into joining a subscription with fake data, resulting in financial loss. The apps collectively gained over 7.3 million downloads. One app alone accounted for a significant portion of these downloads.

The author created a minimalist crypto and stock tracking app to simplify finance apps, which they argue are overly complex and noisy. The app focuses on providing a clean portfolio and market overview without trading features, emphasizing security and simplicity. It is available on the Google Play Store.

A developer created 'DeFi Tycoon,' a mobile simulation game to teach DeFi concepts using virtual money, avoiding real financial risks. The game includes realistic features like lending protocols, liquidity provision, price simulations, and time warping to help users learn without losses.

Google Play Store now allows users to search through app reviews, enhancing discoverability and user experience. This update reflects ongoing improvements to the platform's features.