Tag: Google Play Store

  • Google To Suspend Political Ads In South Korea Ahead Of Elections

    The company also plans to provide various election-related information panels via YouTube search results related to the election to connect users to credible sources for further information. 

  • Amazon Introduces New App Allowing Users To Scan Their Palm For Payments |

    New Delhi: Amazon has introduced an app named Amazon One which aims to simplify the process for customers to enroll in their palm recognition service. Rather than visiting a physical store, individuals can now sign up conveniently from home, the workplace, or while on the move using the app.

    Currently accessible through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, the app’s initial rollout is exclusive to the United States, encompassing over 500 Whole Foods Market stores, Amazon outlets, and more than 150 third-party locations. (Also Read: PhonePe Launches UPI Payments For Users In UAE; Check Details Here)

    Here’s how the Amazon one app works:

    1. Download the App: Users can download the Amazon One app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. (Also Read: Beware Of Calls Impersonating DoT, Threatening To Disconnect Mobile Numbers; WhatsApp Calls Starting With +92)

    2. Capture Palm Image: Using the app, users take a photo of their palm from home.

    3. Create Online Profile: Users create an online profile within the app and add a payment method.

    4. Enroll Palm: Amazon verifies the palm image and enrolls it in the system.

    5. Usage: Enrolled palms can be used for payments, entry, age verification, and loyalty rewards at various locations.

    The company clarifies that all palm images captured through the new app are encrypted and transmitted to a secure Amazon One domain in the AWS cloud. These images cannot be saved or downloaded onto a mobile device. Amazon reports that Amazon One has been utilized over 8 million times.

    Besides introducing the app, Amazon has also broadened its palm scanning technology for enterprise identity purposes, allowing companies to verify employees as they arrive at the office.

  • WhatsApp Android To Introduce Feature For High-Quality Media Sharing |

    New Delhi: Meta-owned instant messaging app, WhatsApp, is known for its continuous upgrade in terms of features. This time, it is reportedly introducing a new feature to its Android app, making it easier for users to send high-quality images and videos. This feature aims to streamline the process by allowing users to specify their preferred media quality setting.

    Introduction Of New Feature

    According to reports from WhatsApp update tracker WABetaInfo, the new feature has been identified in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.7.17 build. This beta version started rolling out to testers on Monday through the Google Play Beta Program. (Also Read: Discounts On Apple iPhone 15, 14, 13 Available On Flipkart: Check Current Prices)

    Media Upload Quality

    The feature introduces a setting option called ‘Media upload quality’ within the Storage and data menu. Users can choose between Standard quality and HD quality for their media uploads. Once a preference is selected, all future media uploads will adhere to this setting. (Also Read: Delhi Man’s Rs 340 Cab Booking Turns Into Rs 648 Nightmare: Here’s What Happened NEXT)

    What New It Brings And How Different From Previous One?

    Previously, users had to manually select their desired media quality with each photo or video upload. However, this upcoming update eliminates the need for repetitive selection by allowing users to set their preferences in the settings.

    Option To Change Quality On Preview Screen

    WhatsApp initially introduced the HD Photo Sharing feature in August 2023, followed by support for high-resolution videos. While users currently have the option to change quality on the preview screen, the new feature defaults to the preference set in the settings.

    Platform Availability

    While the feature has been reported for Android, its availability on iOS or the desktop app remains unconfirmed. Additionally, it’s important to note that none of the current options allow users to send media in its original resolution, especially for large files. To achieve this, users must share media as a document.

  • Google Agrees To Reinstate Delisted Indian Apps On Play Store After Govt Intervention |

    New Delhi: Google has agreed to reinstate all the delisted apps of Indian companies on its Play Store after government intervention facilitated dialogue to resolve a dispute over service fee payments.

    Telecom and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who brought Google and the startups to the negotiating table, stated that the US tech giant has been supporting India’s technology development journey.

    “Google and the startup community have met with us, and we have had very constructive discussions… Google has agreed to list all the apps,” he said. On Friday, Google removed apps from a dozen developers, including popular ones by Matrimony.Com and the job search app Naukri, for non-compliance with its in-app payment guidelines.

    As the government strongly objected to the removal, calling it unacceptable, Google began restoring some apps on Saturday, provided they agreed to comply with its guideline to pay a fee of 11-25 percent on in-app payments or conduct financial transactions outside of the app. (Also Read: Lava Blaze Curve 5G With Curved Display Launched In India At Rs 17,999; Check Price, Specs)

    Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Information and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar held multiple rounds of discussions with Google and the app owners on Monday in an attempt to find a solution to the crisis, which some labeled as a dark day for the internet.

    On Tuesday, Vaishnaw announced that Google has agreed to restore the status from Friday morning, i.e., pre-delisting. “We believe Google and the startup community will be able to come to a long-term solution in the coming months,” he said, indicating that the two sides will now sit down and resolve the issue of the levy of service charges.

    India is the world’s largest consumer internet market for tech giants like Meta and Google. With the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government effectively using its geopolitical clout, they cannot afford to ignore the Indian market or act aggressively towards it.

    A day after Google delisted the apps, Vaishnaw revealed the government’s stance in an interview with PTI when he said the removal was unacceptable and that “startups will get the protection they need.”

    The government subsequently called for a meeting on Monday to resolve the issue. At the heart of the problem is Google’s in-app fee. While Google claims the fees help develop and promote the Android and Play Store ecosystem, startups argue that the tech giant is forcing them to use its payment system and pay a fee, failing which they are being offloaded by the Play Store. (Also Read: Apple Launches Refreshed MacBook Air Models With M3 Chipset In India; Check Price, Features)

    The Competition Commission of India had previously ordered Google not to mandatorily enforce an earlier system of charging 15-30 percent. Google then imposed a fee of 11-26 percent on in-app payments. It removed the apps that weren’t paying the fee after the Supreme Court did not provide interim relief to the companies behind these apps in their battle against the search giant’s platform fees.

    While removing the apps, Google stated on Friday that some Indian companies had chosen not to pay for the “immense value they receive on Google Play.”Among the worst affected by the removals is Matrimony.Com, which has seen more than 140 of its apps being dropped from the Play Store. Other removed apps included Balaji Telefilms’ Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, and Truly Madly.

    Info Edge saw its job search app Naukri and real estate search app 99acres removed, but they were back the next day when it moved to Google’s consumption model, where any payment made is conducted outside of the app.

    Google had briefly removed the popular payments app Paytm from its Play Store in 2020, citing policy violations. This led to widespread industry outcry, with startups joining hands to mount legal challenges against the tech giant. They even joined forces to launch their own app store.

  • Google Play Store: 8 out of 10 Indian Companies Return After Compliance With New Policy |

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  • Google Responds To Criticism By Reinstating Shaadi.com, Naukri, And Other Apps On Play Store

    Google had delisted more than a dozen apps by major Indian digital companies including Matrimony, and Shaadi.com from Play Store.

  • Google Removes Some India Matrimony Apps, Executive Calls Move ‘Dark Day’ |

    New Delhi: Google began removing the apps of 10 companies in India on Friday, including some popular matrimony apps such as Bharat Matrimony, in a dispute over service fee payments, potentially sparking a showdown with startup firms.

    The dispute centres on efforts by some Indian startups to stop Google from imposing a fee of 11 percent to 26 percent on in-app payments, after the country’s antitrust authorities ordered it to dismantle an earlier system of charging 15 percent to 30 percent. (Also Read: BIG Bonanza To Farmers Ahead Of Kharif Season! Centre Clears Rs 24,400 Crore Fertiliser Subsidy)

    But Google effectively received a go-ahead to charge the fee or remove apps after two court decisions in January and February, one by the Supreme Court, not to give any relief to startups. (Also Read: Bill Gates And PM Modi Meeting: Did You Know Their Topic Of Discussion? Check Here)

    Matrimony.com dating apps Bharat Matrimony, Christian Matrimony, Muslim Matrimony and Jodii were deleted on Friday, company founder Murugavel Janakiraman said, describing the move as a “dark day of Indian Internet”.

    “Our apps are getting deleted one by one”.

    The unit of Alphabet Inc has sent notices of Play Store violations to Indian companies Matrimony.com, which runs the app BharatMatrimony, and Info Edge, which runs a similar app, Jeevansathi.

    Both companies are reviewing the notice and will consider the next steps, their executives told Reuters. Shares of Matrimony.com fell as much as 2.7 percent after the Reuters report, before paring losses, while Info Edge dropped 1.5 percent.

    Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani said it had cleared all pending Google invoices in a timely manner and was compliant with its policies.

    In a blog post, Google said 10 Indian companies had chosen for an extended period of time not to pay for the “immense value they receive on Google Play”. It did not identify the firms.

    “For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Play’s right to charge,” the company said on Friday, adding that the Supreme Court on Feb. 9 also “refused to interfere” with its right to do so.

    Google’s app removal could anger the Indian startup community which has been protesting many of the U.S. giant’s practices for years. The firm, which denies any wrongdoing, dominates the Indian market as 94 percent share of phones are based on its Android platform.

    Google says its fee supports investments in the app store and the Android mobile operating system, ensuring free distribution, and covering developer tools and analytic services.

    Just 3 percent of the more than 200,000 Indian developers who use the Google Play platform are required to pay any service fee, it added.