apps – Tech News

Google will let ‘experienced users’ keep sideloading Android apps

Google says that it’s softening its plan to require every Android developer — even outside of the Play Store — to verify their identity, a move which critics warned could kill sideloading for good. The company now says it’s developing a workflow to allow “experienced users” to install apps from unverified developers. Google is also working on a new developer account type for students and hobbyists, which won’t have to go through “full verification requirements,” but will only allow app installs on “a limited number of devices.”
https://www.theverge.com/news/819835/google-android-sideloading-experienced-users-developer-verification

You Can Now Add Spotify, Zillow to ChatGPT, But Don’t Call It an App Store

ChatGPT can now run third-party apps, including Spotify, for an experience that OpenAI says is closer to an operating system than an app store. “The magic of this new generation of apps in ChatGPT is how they blend familiar interactive elements–like maps, playlists, and presentations–with new ways of interacting through conversation,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/you-can-now-add-spotify-zillow-to-chatgpt-but-dont-call-it-an-app-store

Google to Block Sideloading of Apps From Unverified Developers

Starting next year, app installs on certified Android devices will be possible only if the developer has been verified by Google. The company compares the move to an "ID check at the airport," and says it is intended to tackle malicious actors who impersonate developers and their brand image to trick users into downloading fake apps.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-to-block-sideloading-of-apps-from-unverified-developers

Let’s talk about dating apps — and why they seem to be getting worse

This phenomenon, known as “swiping fatigue,” is the feeling of exhaustion that comes from what seems like endless swiping and disappointing attempts to find real connections. Since 2020, downloads for dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble have been on the decline due to tired and dissatisfied users.
https://qz.com/dating-apps-tinder-bumble-technology-business-algorithm-1851752577

Apple Joins the Event Planner Game With Apple Invites

"With Apple Invites, an event comes to life from the moment the invitation is created, and users can share lasting memories even after they get together," says Brent Chiu-Watson, Apple’s senior director of Worldwide Product Marketing for Apps and iCloud. "Apple Invites brings together capabilities our users already know and love across iPhone, iCloud, and Apple Music, making it easy to plan special events."
https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-joins-the-event-planner-game-with-apple-invites

First porn app ‘approved’ for the iPhone in Europe. Apple isn’t happy.

"We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety," Apple said in a statement to The Verge.
https://mashable.com/article/first-porn-app-apple-app-store

Google Announces Play Store Tweaks to Entice More of Your Attention and Money

Android developers will get a few more ways to seek your attention and then virtually tug at your sleeve as you browse Google’s Play Store for new Android apps. The most eye-catching change among those Google announced today will be full-screen playback of app portrait videos. In a blog post, Paul Feng, Google Play VP of product management, notes the non-trivial upsides among app developers who tested this format: “+7% increase in total watch time, a +9% increase in video completion count, and a +5% increase in conversions."
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-announces-play-store-tweaks-to-entice-more-of-your-attention-and