Phandroid
Google Play’s refund window extended to 2 hours for paid apps and games [YES!]
If you’ve been in this “Android thing” for awhile now, you’d remember once upon a time when Google gave users a full full 24 hours with paid apps/games before getting a full refund. It’s almost insane to think we really had that long to play with an app or game before committing to buy and it was arguably overkill. Back in 2010, Google made the controversial move to reduce that refund window to a mere 15 minutes which pissed a lot of users off, but in actuality, it was still 15 minutes more than what the other guys were offering.
Recently, reports of an unofficially extended 2 hour window began to surface online and today, it seems Google is finally making it official. You wont find a press release, but the new changes are now laid out in writing on their Google Play support page — clear as day. Google now says users can now, “Return an app or game within two hours of purchase.”
We’ll have to wait and see how developers react to the new move, but this is clear win for users who have often felt like 15 minutes with a game or app was too little time to get a feel of what they were purchasing. We also can’t help but feel with 2 hours to play around and explore, this could mean less 1-star reviews from Android users feeling like they’ve been duped. Sounds like a win-win.
Will Google really ban Android Forums from the Google Play Store?
Google has been cracking down on Android spam lately, but they’ve been doing a miserable job, and the latest debacle puts yours truly – more specifically Android Forums - directly under Google’s shoe as they stomp recklessly through the Google Play Store like robotic bounty hunters seeking payouts at all costs.
The automated email, titled “14-day Notification: Violation of the Android branding guidelines”, explains that if we do not comply in 2 weeks, our app will be removed from the Google Play Store. The violation? Using the word Android. The demand? Rename our app. Copied directly from the E-Mail:
Edit the title of your app by removing “Android” as the prominent brand name. Instead, use “(title of app) for Android” as an alternative. Here’s an example:
- Incorrect: “Android MediaPlayer”
- Correct: “MediaPlayer for Android”
So tell us, Google, who are we?
- Forums for Android?
- Android Forums for Android?
- AndroidForums.com?
We have been called Android Forums since November 5th, 2007 and although many people have imitated our name, imitated our website, and even call themselves “Android Forums”- it’s hard to argue with a 7 year history as the original Android Forums at AndroidForums.com.
Search the Google Play Store for “Android Forums” and you’ll find a lot of sites calling themselves Android this or Android that- but none of them are actually THE AndroidForums.com with a 7 year track record of being named “Android Forums”, years before the Google Play Store even existed.
Will all of our fellow Android blogs suffer the same fate?
- Android Authority becomes Authority for Android
- Android Central becomes Central for Android
- Android Community becomes Community for Android
- Android Police becomes Police for Android
- Android And Me becomes And Me for Android
- And the list goes on….
The situation becomes even more bleak when you search the Google Play Store for “Android News”: you find a plethora of spam apps named “Android News” yet we’re the ones being singled out. And we’ve been singled out before.
Phandroid gets banned from the Play Store
You may recall that the Phandroid News for Android app was once called Android News by Phandroid. We gave it that name because we were NOWHERE to be found in relevant searches for android news, android blogs, or android anything on the Google Play Store. Some could say we were trying to “game the system” or “over-SEO” our app – and I’d have a hard time disagreeing with much more than the tone of that categorization. Apparently Google felt the same: issuing Phandroid a removal notice of its own.
However, Android News by Phandroid wasn’t given a warning, it was simply pulled from the store:
REASON FOR REMOVAL: Violation of section 6.3 of the Developer Distribution Agreement.
The details within the email were alarming, frustrating, and stressful:
- Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account
- Possible termination of related Google accounts
- Google may recover the proceeds of any past sales
At this time, we were given no specific reason for our removal and no suggested actions to bring our app in compliance. We were 100% happy to comply and wanted to make sure we played by Google’s rules, we just needed to know how! So I responded to Google asking for exactly that: some help understanding how I can best comply.
Here is the response I got back:
Thank you for your note.We have reviewed your appeal and will not be reinstating your app. This decision is final and we will not be responding to any additional emails regarding this removal.
If your account is still in good standing and the nature of your app allows for republishing you may consider releasing a new, policy compliant version of your app to Google Play under a new package name. We are unable to comment further on the specific policy basis for this removal or provide guidance on bringing future versions of your app into policy compliance.
You’re kidding me, right Google? All I want to do is comply, but instead I’m banned for asking and you refused to answer any more questions. My only recourse is to update my app with guesses regarding the violation, re-upload the app, and pray it’s approved. But if it’s not, I won’t know why, and if I try too many times, my app, developer account, and entire existence with all Google products may be terminated immediately.
Luckily we were able to leverage some existing relationships, find someone who could help identify the problem, and our app was unlocked and provided another opportunity for revision. Not wanting to risk a lifetime ban, we simply updated our app name to Phandroid News for Android and that ended up being the proper solution. It seems obvious now, but at the time, we considered that among otherhe possibilities.
But that shouldn’t be the solution in this case. Android Forums is properly named. The website is called Android Forums. The domain is AndroidForums.com. This has been true for 7 years and this is the first we’re hearing about any “violation”. While changing the app name to AndroidForums.com would seem to bypass their complaints, it also seems like an incredibly moronic solution.
I have to think our app was flagged automatically, suspension approved by a human who made it in error (not understanding the details of our app, our site, or the Android community).
So why am I sharing this with you?
Why not leverage my same contacts to reach out, find a solution, and absolve Android Forums from its Google denounced wrongdoing?
Because people need to know. Google decision makers, especially, need to know. In many ways, Android was built on the backs of developers, and this haphazard system of flagging, suspending, and banning apps, developers, and accounts needs to have more substance. There needs to be better communication. There are developers whose livelihood depends on well crafted Android apps, whose good-willed intentions are only to comply with Android’s guidelines, yet get automated e-mails that effectively terminate their source of income with no way to seek information or answers.
There are far more developers who ARE in violation of Google’s terms, who ARE spamming the Play Store, whose intentions ARE misguided; unfortunately, hoards of these apps still sit on the Play Store, outranking us and confusing consumers while the legitimate apps and developers continue to be punished with little to no recourse.
In Google’s defense
With millions of apps and developers, monitoring the Google Play Store is no easy task, but the current practices are abhorrent and desperately (and immediately) need to be improved.
Google should get some credit for having improved this process between June (when Phandroid was suspended) and September (when Android Forums was suspended) in two key ways:
- 14-day warning rather than immediate ban
- More specific explanation of the violation
Has Google’s communication improved? I’m not sure… I’m afraid to respond to the e-mail, wondering if it will lead to another instant ban for the app and perhaps worse. Hopefully this “open article” of sorts will be seen by Google brass who can address this issue in the following ways:
- Agree the suspension was made in error
- Identify how in the heck we would otherwise, given our site name, make this change
- Explain why thousands of our competitors – both legitimate and spam-ridden – aren’t being targeted
- Find ways to improve this necessary process and then implement them
We’re on the clock: 12 days left. Thanks to all the Phandroid readers and Android Forums members for your continued support. Since 2007!
Browse the web securely with 3 years of VPN Unlimited for just $19
The internet can be a scary place. People can track your location, hack your personal accounts, and even steal your identity. Sometimes you might want to browse the web with a little more privacy. A VPN (virtual private network) allows you to use the internet through an encrypted network. This means all of your private data is hidden from prying eyes.
Over at AndroidArea we have a sweet deal on VPN Unlimited. For just $19 (usually $65) you can get a 3-year plan of this handy service. What exactly does $19 get you? So much:
- Secure Public WiFi Connection – No matter where you are or what network you’re using, when you connect to VPN Unlimited server, your data and activities are 100% safe
- Protect Online Activities – Hackers are no longer a problem because your internet activity and all data remains hidden and encrypted
- Unlimited Traffic Bandwidth – VPN Unlimited doesn’t limit your traffic bandwidth, so there’s no need to worry about your data usage
- Unlimited Connection Speed – VPN Unlimited provides you with a high-speed connection
- Connect to Territory-Restricted Web Resources – Connect to a VPN Unlimited server in the country of your choice and get access to all local web sites, meaning you can be in China and access US websites no problem
- Select the server in the country you want – VPN Unlimited provides a growing selection of servers in the most popular countries with the most demanded web resources
- Prevent Interceptions of Data – Encrypts your data right on your electronic device, using the powerful encrypting algorithms
- Access VPN Service From Any Device – Pay once and use VPN Unlimited on apps for iPhone, iPod and iPad as well as Macs, PCs, and even Linux
VPN Unlimited is for more than just Android. This deal will also give you access to Mac, PC, Linux, and iOS apps. VPN Unlimited can be activated on 5 devices at once. If you’re interested in browsing the web with privacy for 3 years and just $20 this is an awesome deal. Snag it from AndroidArea right now!
Everything you need to know about the Moto G (2nd Gen)
The Moto G might not be the flashiest new device unveiled by Motorola last week, but it holds an important place in the company’s product line. Priced to sell, the Moto G offers something almost no other Android phone can: solid hardware from a trusted manufacturer for below $200 off-contract. Along with the Moto X, Motorola has updated the Moto G for 2014. Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s new?
Motorola has updated their Moto G for 2014 in several ways, but the most obvious is a larger screen. Whereas the first generation Moto G has a display measuring 4.5 inches, the latest model sports a 5-inch 720p screen. Naturally, the increase in display size makes for a slightly larger handset with a bit more heft to it. Many other aspects of the phone have remained the same, including an identical Snapdragon 400 SoC and Adreno 305 graphics as well as 2070mAh battery. One spec that did see a bump was the Moto G’s camera, which increased from 5MP to 8MP.
What hasn’t changed, however, is the price. Buyers can still grab the Moto G for the appealing off-contract price of $179.99. We repeat: this is the price of the phone outright without the aid of carrier subsidies or other discounts.
Specs
We’ve already briefly discussed the updated specs of the Moto G above. Below, find a complete rundown of the low-cost handsets technical details.
- Android 4.4.4 (KitKat)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 305 450MHz GPU
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB & 16GB versions
- Supports up to 32GB microSD
- Dimensions: Height: 141.5mm Width: 70.7mm
- Weight: 149 grams
- 5.0” 720p IPS HD display at 720×1280 (294 ppi)
- Gorilla Glass 3
- 2070 mAh battery (mixed usage up to 24 hours)
- Rear Camera: 8 MP (4:3) 6 MP (16:9) (LED flash, 4x digital zoom, HDR, panorama, burst mode, slow motion)
- Front Camera: 2 MP + 720p HD video
- Water repellency
- Micro USB, 3.5mm headset jack
- FM Radio
- Dual SIM with Intelligent Calling
Moto G carrier compatibility
The Moto G is currently available in two variants, a global GSM model and a US GSM model. The latter is compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile’s GSM and HSPA+ networks, though all variants of the phone lacks support for LTE. Motorola released a 4G LTE version of the original Moto G several months after the device initially launched. The company did not comment on potential availability of an LTE-ready version of the 2014 Moto G.
Likewise, Motorola did not announce a CDMA-compatible version of the second generation Moto G, so Sprint and Verizon customers are out of luck for the time being.
US GSM Model:
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 1700 (AWS), 1900 MHz)
Global GSM Model:
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
Unboxing, Hands-on, & more
We’ve already had our chance to check out the new Moto G firsthand, and we came away impressed with what Motorola was able to accomplish for the price. See our initial hands-on and unboxing videos below. We were able to get a decent feel for the handset, and Moto has gone above and beyond what we saw with the first generation. We’ll have a full review in the coming days; stay tuned.
Motorola Shells & Accessories
Unlike the Moto X, the Moto G is not privy to the straight-from-the-factory customization options available by way of Moto Maker. Like the last generation of Moto G handsets, however, Motorola is making available a variety of interchangeable back covers, including new folio covers that feature added screen protection. These backs start at $14.95 for the standard colored shell while the flip shell model sells for $29.99.
Availability
The Moto G is available now for $179.99 off-contract. It can be purchased direct from Motorola’s site. We might expect Motorola to launch both CDMA-compatible and 4G LTE-ready versions of the handset somewhere down the road. It took a few months for these secondary editions of the first generation Moto G to launch, and we have no reason to believe the same won’t be true in this case.
Will you buy the Moto G 2014?
The Moto G has quietly become Motorola’s top-selling smartphone of all time thanks in no small part to its ridiculously affordable pricing and global-ready carrier compatibility. The Moto G launched alongside the Moto 360 smartwatch on Friday, September 5th, but didn’t receive quite the same attention. While the Moto 360 quickly went on backorder, the Moto G is ready for the taking. With solid specs and a tempting price tag, is this your next Android phone?
0 comments:
Post a Comment