Google Play Store It is the official store of the Mountain View company of Google. And it is closely related to Android, although it goes far beyond the operating system for mobile devices. In addition, it has some really interesting origins and has gone through a really interesting development. So let's delve into what is the Google Play Store, where it comes from and some numbers and curious facts about it.
La Google Play Store it is a distribution platform, mainly digital. A app store -although not only that- for mobile devices Android, which in addition to apps sells video games in digital format, music, magazines and books, as well as movies and mobile devices, computers, smartphones and others. It has its origin in Android Market, which was only an application and game store for Android devices, but at the beginning of 2012 is when it became Google Play.
From Android Market to Google Play Store: Why did it change its name?
Before March 2012, Google offered operating system users the Android Market. There, as we mentioned, only applications and games were available. However, from that date it was introduced Google Music as an alternative to iTunes and Spotify, and the Mountain View company renamed the service to Google Play. Later, and progressively, other complementary services have been introduced. It was in July 2013 when the Google Play Store managed to exceed one million published applications, as well as 50.000 million downloads.
Contents offered by Google Play Store
We can find a great variety of different content in the Google store to enrich our devices, which are classified as follows:
- Games: games provide us with entertainment and through them have a good time in our free time. Within this category we find several tabs, such as the latest news, games that occupy little, the most popular and a selection of publishers. In addition, they are divided into different categories, such as action, sports or simulation, among many others.
- Apps- Applications are the strong point of the Google store. It is very difficult to know exactly how many are available for download, but the truth is that you will always find one that suits your needs. As with games, we can find them divided into the most popular and their different categories, such as video editing, useful tools for our device or customization, including many more.
- Movies: It has not been around for many years, but the success it has achieved in this time has been fabulous. We can find billboard news, which is constantly updated, and its different genres, as if we were on a streaming platform. You can rent the titles, the cheapest option, or buy them directly. To use this service in the European Union we must be at least 18 years old.
- Books: a very useful content for lovers of reading. You can download titles for free, although the best options are paid. On the other hand, you have both eBooks and Audiobooks available, and you will always have the genres at hand to decide on one or the other easily.
Steps to follow to download an application
- On your phone, find and press the Google Play Store icon to open the application
- In the search bar, write the name of the application you want to download and press the button Search. As you type the characters, search suggestions will be displayed with different options. If you find the application you are looking for in the suggestions, click on it and it will automatically take you to the page to download it.
- When you click on the Search button, a list will appear with all the results compatible with your search, such as games, music or books. Find the application you want to download and click on it.
- Once you have selected the application, a screen will appear where you can consult the description and reviews of the users who have downloaded the application. Then press the button Install o Shop if it is a paid app. In this case, you must add a compatible payment method for this, such as credit cards, cards and redeemable codes, in addition to being able to do so through your mobile bill.
- The next step will be to accept the terms and permissions of the application. Push the button Accept and the download will start automatically.
- When installation is complete, press the button Open and you can start using the application.
Additional Services
In addition to being able to download applications, buy books, music or movies like any amateur user does, you can also take your Google Play Store experience to the next level through other options.
Google Play Instant
With Google Play Instant, users can test an app or game without having to install it first. This service allows us to start applications and games on devices that run Android 5.0 or later versions without them being installed on our device, as a kind of preliminary test to know their use. All the possibilities offered by Google Play Instant are available in the Google Play Store, Google Play Games and anywhere where links from the Californian company are shared.
Google Play Pass
It is a subscription service that arrived in our country in July 2020. This service gives us access to a lot of games and applications from the official Android application store. Its price is 4,99 euros per month, and you can share it with your family and loved ones to take advantage of the offer. You can also make the payment annually by 29,99 euros. Its main objective is that you have access to a collection of games and applications in their full version. This means that you can take advantage of those applications that are paid, in addition to getting rid of the annoying advertising that some include.
Early access
Many Android users want to be the first to try the latest news from Google Play apps and games. Applications and games with early access are those that have not yet been published in the store. On the other hand, the applications beta They are more recent and experimental versions of applications that have already been published and that are in a trial period before being updated for all users. Of course, you have to know that these two possibilities may be less stable than most, and may even block or prevent the correct functioning of some functions.
There is not only the Google Play Store for Android users
And although the Google Play Store is the official source of apps for Android, you can also install APK files from other sources, and over the years there have been those who have raised alternatives to Play Store not only for users who do not have the Google Play services but for everyone. Also because there are some applications that do not pass Google's 'filters', and because some developers prefer parallel distribution to the official Google store.