Google Play

Music: 01/05/1106 (Store: July 25, 2013 Music: July 24, 2013 )

Sites: available cross-platform

Google Play is a cloud- based platform of the company Google, which offers games, music, books, movies and applications for supported devices. On March 7, 2012 Google called the former according to the Android Market and united so that Google Music, Google Movies, and Google Books.

• 2.1 functionalities 2.1.1 Direct marketing for musicians

Google Play Store

The Google Play Store is a software or app store, which is usually delivered on smartphones and tablet computers using the Android operating system. With Google Play programs, games and e-books can be downloaded.

As with the competitor, the Apple App Store or the Windows Phone Store from Microsoft, which offered programs come almost exclusively by outside companies and independent programmers. The selling price can be determined by the developer free. This property offers a large selection of both free as well as paid programs, the proportion of free applications predominates.

History

Google Play was announced on 28 August 2008 as Android Market and made available for use on 22 October 2008.

Since 3 April 2009, the German version of the Android Market also supported the payment function for paid applications. Previously this was only possible for users from the United States and Great Britain. Thus German and Austrian users can obtain paid applications via the software portal.

Since 13 May 2009 German and Austrian developers to offer paid applications in the Software Portal.

On 6 March 2012, the Android Market was renamed Google Play.

Since 14 June 2012, e-books under the link here "Books on Google Play " are available on Google Play store in Germany. The search engine company had begun as part of the Google Books project in 2004 to digitize books from more than 35,000 publishers in more than 100 countries and more than 400 languages. By 2015, so the above objective, more than 15 million books to be stored online.

In August 2012, Google has under the name Google Play movies in Germany downloading movies released after it was previously only available in the U.S. and some other countries. Films can be rented or bought also partially permanently and are available in both SD and HD quality. With Google Play Movies continues to catch up on the Apple iTunes store, which is currently, however, offers a greater selection and in contrast to Play Store, inter alia, also has TV shows on offer.

Beginning of 2013 were more than 800,000 content available. Google Play overtook the Apple App Store. In April 2013, the number of available apps dropped to 700,000, after Google removed more than 60,000 applications from the portal.

Availability

The Google Play program is preinstalled on most Android devices. According to Google's policy is not compatible devices (such as various low-price tablets ) but the access is denied.

After the start appears when the Internet connection is a Home with various application recommendations. Since February 2, 2011, it is also possible to access from the PC to the store on a web browser. By default, installation programs will be sent to the Android device and installed there. This requires an existing Google Account.

Since version 3.3.11 the former Android Market can automatically import all available application updates as needed. So that not to the detriment of a mobile data plan, the program can be set so that updates are only downloaded when connected to a Wi-Fi wireless network.

Number of Apps

End of January 2012 were in what was then the Android Market more than 360,000 applications available that have been downloaded over 10 billion times. The number of all previously uploaded applications is much higher, since apps are constantly being removed from the market. The turnover is approximately five million U.S. dollars per month. Slightly more than 15 percent of the applications in the Google Play Store are games. The offering paid applications in Google Play Store developers is reserved for residents in selected countries (including Germany and Austria ). Free software makes up about 65 percent of the software of the store. In May 2013 48 billion Android apps in the Google Play Store have been downloaded worldwide.

Pay concept

A long time it was only possible with the offered by Google itself payment system Google Wallet to purchase paid applications in the Android Market. Within this system, there is the option to pay by credit or debit card. In Germany can pay mobile customers of T -Mobile, Vodafone and O2 also, in the U.S. customers of T -Mobile and AT & T also on their phone bill. Some developers offer their applications also (or only ) for download directly from your own website; so eliminates the hurdles given by Google Wallet, and it can alternative payment methods may be used.

For a long time, the eBay subsidiary PayPal is in talks with Google to purchase software from the Google Play Store via this payment system.

In May 2012, the telecommunications company Telefónica Germany announced that downloaded from Google Play apps and computer games on the phone bill of the mobile subsidiary O2 can be paid.

Since July 2013, it is also possible to pay with gift cards worth 15, 25 or 50 €, which are available at various outlets in the Google Play Store.

Developer Program

Registration for developers in the Google Play costs a one-time registration fee of 25 U.S. dollars. On the substantive review of each application waived Google, instead, merely a verification of the identity of the developer and since February 2012 on existing malware takes place before the corresponding application is released. Google demanded by the developers, as Apple and Microsoft, a transaction fee equal to 30 percent of the sales price. In addition, Google's Android Developers Platform available. In addition to tutorials, code samples, technical articles and tips and tricks are available for the developers there opportunity to interact with each other via chat or forum.

Controversy

The Google Play can only be used with a Google account. Some developers offer to download their applications directly from their own web site or in a portal and directly install it. The number of apps so offered, however, compared with Google Play, low.

Google has the opportunity, software to remove and install without prompting the user. If Google drops a paid software, the customer shall receive back the purchase price. In June 2010, Google has for the first time applications on the devices of users deleted by a remote access as a security expert wanted to demonstrate how easy malware on Android smartphones can be disseminated. Even with devices such as the Apple iPhone or the Amazon Kindle is the possibility of a remote access to delete data on the terminal. However, it is not known that Apple and Amazon also have an installation option like Google.

Alternatives

In addition to the Google Play Store, developers and end users open a number of other markets and platforms for Android software. Since Android is an open platform, Google allows anyone to get into this business without having to pay any license or a non- disclosure agreement to accept.

• F- Droid - A AppStore, which is operated as a non -profit project by a community volunteer supporters and made ​​available through the only free, free software apps (Open Source). Anyone can upload their self - created apps here, but only apps are added to the repository that meet certain criteria. For example, it checks whether the app contains advertising or the end user is tracking.
• SlideME provides a platform for developers and users of Android. Developers can publish their application on SlideME free or a fee, users can purchase this application on SlideME. In addition, there is a possibility to hire a developer. In this Market Payments can be made via PayPal, Amazon or credit card. To download the apps, you have to install on your Android phone an app called "SAM" ( SlideME Application Manager ). The SlideME Market comprises approximately 2000 applications.
• Sms.at SmartZone offers its own Android Store to download apps, ringtones, games and Live Wallpapers.
• AndAppStore also offers its own application, you can download the apps. The market comprises approximately 1000 applications paid apps can be paid via PayPal.
• OnlyAndroid also offers its own application that can be downloaded directly via the Internet using the apps. Here you can also search by program, write reviews, etc.
• Pdassi also offers its own application that can be downloaded with the apps.
• Handango also offers its own application, with this mainly ringtones are available for download.
• GetJar also contains its own applications. The GetJar Market comprises approximately 16,600 applications.
• AndroidHIT is an App Store. Paid apps can be purchased directly through PayPal. Developers get a higher commission (up to 75 %). The app " AndroidHIT Apps " allows you to download applications on Android devices.
• AndroidPIT operates its own store and also offers other companies this store for their Android devices. These include companies such as 1 & 1, Telefunken, Pearl, Point of View and Interpad.
• The Amazon Appstore is a service provided by the online retailer Amazon Android Store and currently comprises about 9,000 Apps (May 2011). Every day is offered free of charge at a actually paid app. The access was limited for a long time to customers from the U.S., now the AppStore but is also available for German customers and can be downloaded and used on the website of Amazon.de, and from the Amazon shopping app from.
• Playandroid operates its own social game store. Here are just games for Android are available for sale.
• AppBrain.com
• Apps.merq.org currently offers more than 1,400 free apps German. Allows developers to publish apps for free.

Google Play Music

Google Play Music (before Google Music, Music Beta by Google originally ) is an online music streaming service and music online shop, which was officially launched on November 16, 2011 in the United States. The publication in some European countries took place on November 12, 2012.

Functionalities

The service supports online music streaming on PCs, Android smart phones and tablet computers, including the devices of the direct competitor Apple. Google Music Play allows you to store up to 20,000 digital music tracks via cloud computing. For this purpose, the information provided by Google Music Manager software will be used. In addition to storing its own, already existing tunes comes through integration into the Google Play Store an online store is available, in which digital recordings acquired and can be stored for free on the Google -play servers. There is also the technical ability to store music on a device to play this offline and reuse by Android App on mobile devices.

Direct sales for Musicians

A special feature of Google Play Music is that musicians without recording contracts have the opportunity to sell their music on the platform. Artists can create their own page within Google Play Music, set the sales prices and offer their pieces for the download. 70 percent of the sale proceeds on artists, Google retains 30 percent as commission.

History

Google Play Music was first on Google's developer conference I / O 2010 Senior Vice-President of Social, Vic Gundotra, mentioned, in the implemented in the Android Market web-based music market was presented.

On 11 May 2011, officially unveiled at the I / O conference Google Play Music as Music Beta by Google and went to the United States with limited functionality in the beta phase.

On 16 November 2011, the beta phase was completed in the U.S. and officially started the project by Google as Google Music. Function expansion compared to the beta version were the connection to the then Android Market, integration with Google , as well as the implementation of the T- mobile payment system.

The use of Google Play Music in Europe was possible only until 11 November 2012 by logging in from a U.S. proxy server with their Google Account. Upon further use, however this is obsolete. Access to the integrated music area of the Google Play one has not, however, for the time being. The Android app from Google Play Music is easy to install via various unofficial internet resources on smartphones and use.

On May 15, 2013 Google announced on the Google I / O 2013 Google Play Music All Access. As with other streaming services such as Spotify or Rdio, the user can listen to unlimited music from the complete catalog of Play Music. At the beginning the service was offered only in the U.S., is currently available but also in some European countries, including in December 2013, Germany. In Germany the service is running under the name Google Play Music All- Inclusive.

Cooperations

To permit commercial marketing of music about the new, proprietary platform and Google Play Music to establish itself in the market, Google went a contractual partnerships with three major labels (Universal Music, EMI and Sony Music ) and some independent labels. By connecting the online payment system of T -Mobile allows Google Play Music in the United States to purchase songs through invoicing via phone bill.

As part of the start of the Google Music site several artists posted there free songs and exclusive albums. For example, The Rolling Stones made ​​their debut with exclusive live recordings.

Google Play Games

At the Google I / O 2013, the service Play Games was presented. He supports the synchronization of points stands between games on the operating systems Android, Apple iOS and web-based applications. Developers get a ready interface, based on which they can implement leaderboards and Achievements with so-called Google Play Games. If enabled, information from Play Games are synchronized with a profile on Google , so games and Scores can be shared with friends.