Google introduces age-based rating system for apps
Google just introduced a few changes to the Play Store that should lead to a better user experience. The biggest news is the addition of a team of reviewers that will manually approve every app before it’s published to the Play Store. But there’s an important user-facing change as well: age-based ratings.
Just like movies and videogames, apps in the Play Store will feature a rating designed to show what age group they are suitable for, ranging from everyone to adults-only. In order to accommodate the different rating systems from around the world, as well as the different interpretations of “appropriate,” Google will use the standards of age-rating organizations like the North American Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) or the European Pan-European Game Information (PEGI). In countries without an established standard, apps will feature a generic age rating.
Developers of existing apps will be asked to fill out questionnaires in order to determine what category their apps belong to. This process is, according to Google, “quick, automated, and free.” Our Gary Sims, who is a part time dev, received his email minutes ago, and you can read it by clicking on the press release button at the end of this post.
Apps that are not self-rated will show an “Unrated” tag, and they may not be shown to all users. Starting from May, filling out the questionnaire will be mandatory for all new apps and new updates to existing apps.
This is yet another move by Google to make the Play Store safer for users of all ages, following the highlighting of free apps that offer in-app purchases. The Play Store is now in line with Apple’s App Store, which has featured age-based ratings for a while.
It’s worth nothing that Google seems to be trying to better cater to children – YouTube Kids, introduced last month, offers a special version of the massively popular video service just for kids, and Google said more apps in the same vein are in the pipeline. Content designed for children is one of the fastest categories on YouTube and it’s safe to say that the same holds true for apps in the Play Store.
Hello Google Play Developer,
To help consumers make more informed choices about their purchases on Google Play, we’re introducing a new age-based rating system for apps and games consistent with industry best practices. This initiative gives you an easy way to communicate familiar and locally relevant content ratings to your users and helps improve app engagement by targeting the right audience for your content.
Starting now, you can complete a content rating questionnaire for each of your apps and games to receive the objective content ratings. Google Play’s new rating system includes official ratings from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and its participating bodies, including the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), Pan-European Game Information (PEGI), Australian Classification Board, Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) and Classificação Indicativa (ClassInd). Territories not covered by a specific ratings authority will display an age-based, generic rating. The process is quick, automated and free to developers. In the coming weeks, consumers worldwide will begin to see these new Google Play ratings in their local markets.
On your apps’ questionnaires, make sure to provide accurate responses to help your app be discovered by the right audience. Once you’ve successfully received a rating for your app(s), you’ll only need to retake an app’s questionnaire if an update changes the content of the app in a way that impacts its rating. Learn more about rating your apps
To help maintain your apps’ availability on Google Play, sign in to the Google Play Developer Console and complete the new rating questionnaire for each of your apps. Apps without completed rating questionnaires will be marked as “Unrated.” Unrated apps may be blocked in certain territories or for specific users. In addition, all new apps and updates to existing apps will require a completed questionnaire before they can be published on the Play Store. Your compliance and participation with the new app ratings system is required under the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement. In the future, apps that aren’t rated using the new rating system may be removed from the Play Store.
Thanks for your continued support of Google Play,
Google Play Developer Support
GoogleFeud is a Family Feud-like game that is based on Google Autocomplete
Do you think the creators of Family Feud saw this coming? We all know what Google Autocomplete is by now, but just in case you don’t…..As you type in a search term in Google Search, you will notice that Google starts giving you suggestions bases on everyone’s past searches that you can quickly click on rather then type out the entire search phrase.
With GoogleFeud, you get the first half of the search query, and it’s up to you to fill in the rest. Just like Family Feud, there are several answers, but you get more points (dollars) for picking the most popular ones.
There are four categories to choose from: Culture, People, Names, and Questions. There are 10 possible answers for each question that are ranked based on popularity. The most popular is 1 and the least popular is 10. Obviously, you will earn more money for guessing the most popular ones. If you guess something that isn’t on the list, you get a strike, and you guessed it, once you hit three strikes, you’re out.
An example question would be “do all celebrities have” and all you have to do is fill in the blank(s). If you guessed “nannies”, you would have picked the most popular search term. And if you guessed “a rolex”, it would be a strike.
All I can say is I probably won’t get much work done today!!
source: GoogleFued
via: TechCrunch
Come comment on this article: GoogleFeud is a Family Feud-like game that is based on Google Autocomplete
All the Android 5.1 OTA download links
Android 5.1 not hit your device yet? No worries, since below you’ll find all the download links to the OTA files in order to manually update your Android device.
Android 5.1 Lollipop OTA update links
Nexus 6
Nexus 5
Nexus 10
Nexus 7 (2012, Wifi-only)
The OTA will be bound to hit your device shortly, so if you’re not comfortable with sideloading and flashing files then hold tight and wait for the notification on your device.
The post All the Android 5.1 OTA download links appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google updates the Chromecast to Play and Pause content via your TV Remote
It’s great being able to stream the latest episode of House of Cards on your TV via your Chromecast isn’t it? Although it can be really frustrating having to grab your smartphone when you want to pause the program in a hurry, sometimes it’s just quicker pressing a physical button on the TV remote. Thankfully, Google has updated the Chromecast to allow you to pause and unpause videos with the infra-red remote that came with your TV.
How does it work? Well, it’s all down to Chromecast using HDMI-CEC, which allows your TV to communicate with attached devices such as your Blu-Ray Player. If your Chromecast is running the latest firmware (27946) and you have a compatible TV, you should be able to play and pause content from a variety of sources ranging from YouTube, WatchESPN, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Google Play Music, TuneIn Radio, AllCast and Chrome web videos.
It should be noted that not all TV’s will be compatible with this function, for example, my LG set doesn’t offer HDMI-CEC compatibility, so your mileage may vary depending on which television set you own. You may also find that some television manufacturers may have given the HDMI-CEC function a different name, Sony calls it BRAVIA Link, LG call it SimpLink while Samsung has named it Anynet+. Confusing I know. If you aren’t sure, the easiest way to find out if your TV set is compatible is to just give it a whirl.
Source: Janko Roettgers
Come comment on this article: Google updates the Chromecast to Play and Pause content via your TV Remote
Chromecast will now take orders from your TV remote
Google’s Chromecast is capable of all sorts of tricks, but some of them have remained untapped until now. Take HDMI-CEC, which has been built into the video stick since the outset, but has only just been made compatible with input from connected devices. This means that your TV remote can now deliver IR orders to the Chromecast: your remote can pause and resume whatever’s being beamed from the stick. The stick has been using the same tech to turn on your TV and switch inputs when you broadcast video to the dongle since its arrival, but this is the first time user input has been included. The standard isn’t quite as widespread as traditional HDMI, however, so be warned that the feature may not be compatible with your particular TV. Likewise, Chromecast users report that the functionality is working with HBO Go, WatchESPN, Allcast, BBC iPlayer, Google Play Music, and TuneIn Radio, although Hulu remains conspicuously absent.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Google
Source: Janko Roettgers (Medium)
Google Now open API on its way
Do you use Google Now? Do you wish that your apps were Google Now aware? Earlier this year Google announced a list of companies it partnered with to grow Google Now outside of core Google apps. The list of companies involved is huge but it is not inclusive. If you use Pandora or Lyft it’s great. What if Lyft isn’t available in your area? What if you’re a Spotify customer? Today an announcement at SXSW by Aparna Chennapragada, Director of Product Management for Google Now, was made making full third party Google Now integration a reality. The pilot program is expanding and will include a full open API that app developers can use to tie into Google Now directly.
One of the biggest gains with this announcement has to do with the Android notification shade. More information displaying as Google Now cards means more space opened up in the notification area. The per app cards will be shown based on app usage patterns along with Google’s own special Now sauce. As of now, no major timeline for the API’s release has been scheduled. It is, however, on its way.
The post Google Now open API on its way appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google I/O 2015 registration opens tomorrow at 12:00PM EDT
What does Google have prepared for the for the future? There is only one event to find that out. At Google I/O, the company unveils its plans for existing and future products. You really never know what to expect there. Registration for this year’s event opens tomorrow, March 17, at 12:00PM EDT. Anyone can register because Google selects the applicants that have the option to purchase one ticket. Applicants selected by Google who purchase tickets are able to attend I/O 2015.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google I/O 2015 registration opens tomorrow at 12:00PM EDT
VPN featured found hidden in Android 5.1
Pocketables‘ John Frent discovered a new system application called “Google Connectivity Services” when he looked around Android 5.1 on his Google Nexus 6. The app appears to be a VPN service that is in the works.
To find it, go to Settings > Apps > All and scroll down to Google Connectivity Services. In order to start the app, the activity com.google.android.apps.gcs/com.google.android.apps.gcs.WifiAssistantOptInActivity must be launched. Frent was able to do this by using an app known as QuickShortcutMaker, which allowed him to create a shortcut to Google Connectivity Services on his home screen. When he launched the app, it read, “To help protect you on open Wi-Fi networks, your data will be transmitted securely through a Google VPN.”
The “Learn more” button takes you to a Google support page. “Got it” takes you to the VPN connection request screen.
Beyond this point, Frent was unable to get the service to work on an open WiFi network, a secured WiFi network, or LTE. He also states that he is unsure Google will launch this feature. After all, it has only just been discovered.
As he says, Google may be using it in its planned wireless service built with the help of T-Mobile and Sprint’s networks.
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Google’s Niantic Labs announces its next AR game, Endgame: Proving Ground
Google’s Niantic Labs, known for its widely-popular augmented reality game Ingress, first announced its partnership last year with author James Frey, creator of the Endgame universe. We’re now seeing something big come out of that partnership, as Niantic Labs has just unveiled plans for its next location-based mobile game, entitled Endgame: Proving Ground. The game will give players the chance to compete in the alternate-reality battle for humanity in the popular Endgame universe.
In the game, you’ll join one of the 12 Lines of humanity and participate in the interactive story extending throughout real-world locations around the globe. You’ll play as a champion and compete in virtual PvP (player-vs-player) battles using your mobile device near “Key Sites” scattered throughout the world.
Niantic Labs has released a few early screenshots for Endgame: Proving Ground, which can be found in the gallery below.
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You can begin exploring around the interactive hub found at AncientSocieties.com, where the storyline is already beginning to develop. There, you will meet a woman named Stella that will act as your guide through the Endgame universe, leading you to YouTube videos and interactive puzzles. And starting today, you can begin to earn points and achievements and work your way up on the global leaderboard. The higher your position on the leaderboard, the more bonuses you’ll receive when Proving Ground officially launches.
Endgame: Proving Ground will be available later this year as a closed beta. For more information on the game and to start exploring, head on over to AncientSocieties.com.
YouTube for Artists offers tools to launch your online music career
YouTube can be a powerful tool for emerging musicians, offering a direct line to fans and always teasing the possibility of a surprise, viral hit. YouTube for Artists is a new initiative aimed at making it easier for artists to connect with their audiences, manage their videos and review data — who’s watching what, where do your fans live, what do they like? The initiative’s homepage breaks down ways to advertise shows or merchandise in music videos, offers ideas for collaboration, and has tips for becoming a revenue-generating YouTube Partner.
The Partner program includes participation in YouTube’s Music Key beta. This subscription service launched in beta form in November, and it provides ad-free playback, Spotify-like playlists, offline and background music options, and access to the full Google Play music library.
The more musicians and artists that use YouTube to promote their work, the better that is for YouTube’s future plans. Music Key needs musicians to function as promised, and YouTube for Artists is similar to analytics services offered by Spotify, for example. YouTube already extends this type of support structure to video bloggers and personalities, and it looks like music is the next big bet.
Filed under: Internet, HD, Google
Source: YouTube
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