Virus Shield , a virus to your money | Top Android Paid app a Scam

Before it was flagged and removed, one of the most successful apps on Google Play for over a week was an "antivirus" app that did nothing other than change an image.

Google Play Store updated for the second time in 2weeks brings minor but many changes (PlayStore 4.3.10)

Google is rolling out an update to the Android Play Store with version 4.3.10. The new update follows version 4.2.9 which was discovered on July 25th, only a week and a half ago, and brought several very minor changes. Unlike the previous update, 4.3.10 is more significant in user-facing features

Recently updated section 

The most significant and immediately obvious addition to the new Play Store is the Recently updated section. If you have a lot of apps installed like I do (218 and counting), you probably have some trouble navigating the mile-long list, especially when hunting down that one app that just updated and is now somewhere midway down the list. Or here's another scenario: several apps just got updated, but since you've cleared your notifications, you now have no idea which ones. This new temporary sticky area is perfect 

Combined update notifications

Because the new section above will conveniently let you know what has been updated recently, it only makes sense that the new Play Store 4.3.10 combines all the update notifications into one instead of displaying a list that could potentially get out of control, especially if you haven't updated in a while. Fantastic.

Book sales now show full list prices

Now can we finally have the same for apps? Amazon 

does it, why can't the Play Store?   Left: 4.3.10; Right: 4.2.9

The Buy and Rent buttons have swapped positions

- now the Buy button is on top and Rent is on the bottom:   Left: 4.3.10; Right: 4.2.9

The Wallet logo is gone next to Rent/Buy buttons. Innnneresting. Is Google distancing Play from Wallet or just uncluttering the UI?   Left: 4.3.10; Right: 4.2.9

The update notification now starts with "Touch to update." Unfortunately, there is no other change in functionality - the notification isn't expandable, doesn't have action buttons, and doesn't save any taps as it still simply drops you into My Apps.

The Play Store may now offer to install Google Play Games if you're installing a Play Games-enabled game. I haven't been able to get this UI, internally called PlayGamesInstallView, to pop up - does anyone else have better luck?

The Settings screen now lists the active account and lets you tap it to bring up the account switcher:

In My wishlist, the context Remove from wishlist button has moved from the top to the bottom of the menu (thanks, jazzruby!). All Reviews now behaves like a button rather than a section header, meaning the whole row is no longer tappable compared to something like Users Also Viewed with the See More button 

VIA ANDROID POLICE

BlackBerry joins hands with Samsung, will offer BBM on Samsung Apps earlier than Google Play

World's No 1 smartphone maker, Samsung has now joined hands with BlackBerry to bring the later's BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service for its Galaxy range of devices. Notably, BlackBerry is expected to launch the BBM service on Android and iOS platforms this year itself . However, by this move, Samsung is perhaps hoping to give some early mover advantage to its Galaxy range of devices. It’s a hint at what BlackBerry wants to do with BBM, now that it’s opening access to its proprietary messaging platform.

BBM has long been a staple in terms of one-to-one communication on mobile devices, and recently BlackBerry debuted BBM Groups, which allow for one-to-many broadcasts using the same messaging tools BBM users are used to. Especially in some key developing markets, including Indonesia and Africa, BBM has underpinned not only communication, but local commerce and business as well as a pretty much universal means of communication that’s more reliable, more affordable and potentially more trustworthy than SMS.The tag-team promotional efforts are telling: they show that not only is BlackBerry releasing its messenger for users on iOS and Android, it’s going to be actively involved in promoting that availability, even where it seems to run counter to its own interests. Samsung benefits here by being able to offer users new to its platform a familiar and trusted means of communication, giving them even more reason to continue to migrate away from dedicated BlackBerry devices; what BlackBerry gains isn’t so immediately apparent.

BlackBerry is looking at a dwindling user base, both for its devices and across its services, so what it gains from the deal is access to a growth market. Giving up the BBM platform advantage may cause some to scratch their heads, but it’s not much of an advantage anymore, which is clear from the dwindling BlackBerry market share. At this point, it matters little if the company adds fuel to the fire by expanding availability to iOS and Android devices.

In terms of potential upside, BlackBerry could lock in more users for a platform that could become very valuable in terms of data, advertising and other initiatives like BBM Money. If, in partnering with competitors to reach more users, it makes it easier for a few platform-jumpers, that’s a small price to pay at this stage in the game.

The app will be available from the Google Play store and will be a part of the Samsung messaging hub as well.

Announcing the partnership, Samsung Electronics' Africa vice president and chief operating officer, George Ferreira said: "At Samsung we are all about collaboration, innovation and driving consumer experience based on choice, value and customization to suit every lifestyle. As such, bringing a top tier messaging service such as BBM is another way that we are expanding the catalogue of our messaging services and offering customers an amazing way to stay instantly connected with colleagues, friends and family."

The BBM application for Samsung Galaxy devices will first be made available in Africa and gradually in other parts of the world but Samsung has not cited any particular reason for the same. Samsung has also not said much about the BBM service that is to be made available for Galaxy devices.

At launch, the app will be available for download from the Samsung and Google Play Stores, at no cost.

However, as reported earlier, the BBM Android version is expected to bring chatting facility with multi-person chats and voice note sharing or voice messaging. Along with that the applications will also include BlackBerry Groups, where BBM users would be able to set up groups of up to 30 people and share calendar, photos, files and more with rest of the participants in one go. So all in all the BBM application aims at competing with Whatsapp and other similar apps.

HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S IV Google Play editions get Android 4.3 update

The Google Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are receiving an OTA update that will upgrade them to Android 4.3.

The update arrives merely a week after it was officially announced and started rolling out for the Nexus devices. In fact, many of the Nexus devices are still to receive the update, so you can say the Google Play editions are more or less on par with the Nexus devices in terms of receiving updates.After Samsung and HTC shared their respective Android 4.3 source code for their Google Play edition phones, the OTA update for both devices started rolling out. Samsung build for the Galaxy S4 weighs in at 150.7MB while the HTC One’s is a but heftier at 185.5MB. The Android 4.3 update for both phones delivers Bluetooth Smart, OpenGL ES 3.0 for better 3D graphics, dial pad auto-completion and a few more technical changes like security and network enhancements. Other tweaks include larger app icons, a functional IR blaster on the HTC One and Bluetooth tethering on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

When Google announced the Google Play edition of the S4, they promised quick updated along with a stock Android experience. These are two of the main reasons to get these devices over their standard versions that come with OEM customizations and are bound to receive the 4.3 update much, much later.

The Android 4.3 update was announced last week at an event, alongside the new Nexus 7 tablet and the Chromecast media streaming device. Although not a major update, it brings features such as restricted user profiles (only on tablets), Bluetooth Low Energy profile, virtual surround sound, autocomplete for dialpad, improved keyboard, OpenGL ES 3.0 support and a handful of other things. You can find a list of Android 4.3 features here.

Over and above these features, the Android 4.3 update enables Bluetooth tethering on the Galaxy S4 and the IR port on the One.

HTC One – HTC Dev Center

• Kernel source
• Framework files
• Rehosted OTA courtesy of XDA Senior Member LOCKDOC_UA

Samsung Galaxy S 4

• Open Source Release Center - MH1 Release
• Captured OTA Link courtesy of XDA Senior Member tublah