When it comes to watching YouTube Kids you'll need to be in one of the countries officially supported by the app.
Read More[Update: Now 4 more nations] YouTube Kids expands to 13 new European countries (including the return of Croatia) was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Samsung's Galaxy S10 announcement yesterday may have covered the phone's general features, but out of necessity, it skipped some details. For example, it turns out Samsung's latest includes Google's Digital Wellbeing for better managing limits on when and how you use your phone. But it isn't the only device picking up the feature, the two-year-old Nokia 6 and 8 have also just snagged it.
If you've followed our coverage, then you're probably familiar with Google's fairly recent digital health-conscious feature, Digital Wellbeing.
Read MoreSamsung Galaxy S10 to ship with Google's Digital Wellbeing, two-year-old Nokia 6 and 8 also pick it up was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Posted by Edward Cunningham, Android Security & Privacy Team
In a previous blog we described how API behavior changes advance the security and privacy protections of Android, and include user experience improvements that prevent apps from accidentally overusing resources like battery and memory.
Since November 2018, all app updates on Google Play have been required to target API level 26 (Android 8.0) or higher. Thanks to the efforts of thousands of app developers, Android users now enjoy more apps using modern APIs than ever before, bringing significant security and privacy benefits. For example, during 2018 over 150,000 apps added support for runtime permissions, giving users granular control over the data they share.
Today we're providing more information about the Google Play requirements for 2019, and announcing some changes that affect apps distributed via other stores.
Google Play requirements for 2019
In order to provide users with the best Android experience possible, the Google Play Console will continue to require that apps target a recent API level:
Existing apps that are not receiving updates are unaffected and can continue to be downloaded from the Play Store. Apps can still use any minSdkVersion, so there is no change to your ability to build apps for older Android versions.
For a list of changes introduced in Android 9 Pie, check out our page on behavior changes for apps targeting API level 28+.
Apps distributed via other stores
Targeting a recent API level is valuable regardless of how an app is distributed. In China, major app stores from Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent will be requiring that apps target API level 26 (Android 8.0) or higher in 2019. We expect many others to introduce similar requirements – an important step to improve the security of the app ecosystem.
Over 95% of spyware we detect outside of the Play Store intentionally targets API level 22 or lower, avoiding runtime permissions even when installed on recent Android versions. To protect users from malware, and support this ecosystem initiative, Google Play Protect will warn users when they attempt to install APKs from any source that do not target a recent API level:
These Play Protect warnings will show only if the app's targetSdkVersion is lower than the device API level. For example, a user with a device running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) will be warned when installing any new APK that targets API level 22 or lower. Users with devices running Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher will be warned when installing any new APK that targets API level 25 or lower.
Prior to August, Play Protect will start showing these warnings on devices with Developer options enabled to give advance notice to developers of apps outside of the Play Store. To ensure compatibility across all Android versions, developers should make sure that new versions of any apps target API level 26+.
Existing apps that have been released (via any distribution channel) and are not receiving updates will be unaffected – users will not be warned when installing them.
Getting started
For advice on how to change your app’s target API level, take a look at the migration guide and this talk from I/O 2018: Migrate your existing app to target Android Oreo and above.
We're extremely grateful to the Android developers worldwide who have already updated their apps to deliver security improvements for their users. We look forward to making great progress together in 2019.
It's been 20 years since Pokémon Snap, the N64 game in which players roamed the Pokémon Island taking pictures of its inhabitants. Two decades later, humans now roam the Earth taking pictures for the Gram. With the similarly-named GO Snapshot feature, a much-requested photo mode for Pokémon GO, Niantic seems to hark back to the past.
An Instagram handle (garnetonthego) dedicated to Pokémon photography.
Read More[Update: Now live] Pokémon GO gains AR-based snapshot mode that lets you pose with Pikachu was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Drool's action rhythm game Thumper was initially released on PC and consoles back in 2016. At the start of 2018, a mobile port was released on iOS under the new moniker Thumper: Pocket Edition. Well, it would appear that this mobile iOS port has finally made its way to Android with today's official release of Thumper: Pocket Edition on the Google Play Store.
Thumper's gameplay is described as "rhythm violence," and I'd say that isn't too far off the mark.
Read MoreThumper: Pocket Edition is a gorgeous rhythm game that's finally available on the Play Store was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Nike recently launched the futuristic self-lacing Adapt BB sneakers, with the Android app going live just last week. Our comments section was full of people discussing dystopian futures with rebellious footwear, and they didn't have to wait long — the shoes seem to be bricking during the initial software update itself.
This issue seems Android-specific — the Adapt BB updates just fine through the iPhone, so you'll need to have an embarrassing conversation with a friend where you admit your "droid" can't update your shoes.
Read MoreNike's self-lacing kicks turn to bricks when updated over Android was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Welcome to the latest entry in our Bonus Round series, wherein we tell you all about the new Android games of the day that we couldn't get to during our regular news rounds. Consider this a quick update for the dedicated gamers who can't wait for our weekly roundups, and don't want to wade through a whole day's worth of news just to get their pixelated fix. Today we've got a delightful 2D Metroidvania title, a unique chatroom adventure game, a gorgeous puzzle game that the entire family can enjoy, a unique sensory deprivation game, a casual arcade game where you get to put your wrestling skills to the test, and a new pinball collection game from Zen Studios. Without further ado:
JackQuest: The Tale of the Sword is a 2D pixel-based puzzle-platformer, better known as a Metroidvania.
Read More[Bonus Round] JackQuest, STAY, Snakebird Primer, SenSense, Matman, and Williams Pinball was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
We're coming up on MWC, but things are getting started a bit early today with Xiaomi's and Samsung's announcements. Before we get into the Galaxy S10 mess, here's a massive list of app sales for you to peruse. Yes, I missed Monday since I was taking some time off before the crazy this weekend, so our roundup today is making up for it. Have fun.
59 temporarily free and 111 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
