Apple App Store - Google Play Store Update History

Apple has refined its App Store Review Guidelines and other developer-related documents, with changes taking aim against inappropriate advertising, apps that impersonate others, and Safari extensions.

There are a total of five changes. Few of the important changes, adding to part 2.5.18, apps "that contain ads must also include the ability for users to report any inappropriate or age-inappropriate ads."

An addition to 4.1 mentions that anyone submitting apps "which impersonate other apps or services is considered a violation of the Developer Code of Conduct and may result in removal from the Apple Developer Program."

• App Store Review Guidelines

As a reminder, on May 9, 2023, pricing for existing apps and one-time in-app purchases will be updated across App Store storefronts using your current price in the United States as the basis — unless you’ve made relevant updates after March 8, 2023. You can update your base country or region at anytime using App Store Connect or the App Store Connect API.

• Preparing for the enhanced global pricing update on May 9

Starting April 25, 2023, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 14.1 or later.

• App Store Submission requirement starts April 25

The App Store Review Guidelines have been updated to support new features in upcoming OS releases, better protect customers, and help your apps go through the review process as smoothly as possible.

• App Store Review Guideline updates now available

Software features coming later this year offer users with disabilities new tools for navigation, health, communication, and more.

• Apple previews innovative accessibility features combining the power of hardware, software, and machine learning

Apple has updated its App Store rules to make it so subscriptions can auto-renew without your explicit permission, even if the developer has raised the monthly or annual price. Before the rule change, users would have to manually opt-into a subscription renewal if it came with a price bump; now, that won’t necessarily be the case, though you’ll still be notified about the price change before it happens.

• Apple will let subscription apps charge more money without asking the users

Google I/O - Highlights include prepaid app subscriptions, new 'ultra-low' price points (e.g. for emerging markets or tipping), better ways of bundling subscriptions and offers, and more. On the storefront itself, Google Play added in-app events and custom product pages, among other things.

• Privacy and security - Google Play SDK Console for developers is getting a new Google Play SDK Index to help developers
• Custom store listings - Google is releasing its LiveOps feature as a beta for all developers.
• Improved payment and subscription options - The Play Store is letting developers drop prices even lower, with new ultra-low price points that allow apps and games to be sold for as little as $0.05 — or the equivalent in any other market.

As part of the App Store Improvements process, developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

• Clarifying criteria & new timing extension for App Store Improvements process

Google is rolling out a new safety section in the Play Store designed to show users more detail about the data apps collect and how it is used, the company has announced. The section will be gradually rolling out for users over the coming weeks, and app developers have until July 20th to add the information to their listings — so the section may not immediately appear for everyone.

• Google Play Store’s app privacy labels start appearing

For developers, there’s a lot to explore in Android 13, from privacy features like the new notification permission and photo picker, to APIs that help you build great experiences, like themed app icons, quick settings tile placement, and per-app language support, as well as capabilities like Bluetooth LE audio and MIDI 2.0 over USB.

• The Beta for Android 13 is out now: Android 13 Beta 1

Apple warns it will remove apps from the App Store that haven’t been “updated in a significant amount of time” and gives developers just 30 days to update them. While Apple will remove the outdated apps from the App Store, any previously downloaded apps will remain on users’ devices.

• Apple App Store appears to be widely removing outdated apps

From November 1st, all existing apps in the store should aim to target an API level within two years of the latest major Android OS release. If they don’t, Google says it’ll place limits on which users are able to discover or install them.

• Google Play Store cracks down on outdated apps

Google’s tweaking the Play Store to make it better for tablets and folding phones. Google’s post also mentions that the Play Store will start showing people reviews and ratings from devices in the same category — e.g., phone users will see reviews left by other phone users, tablet users will see reviews left by tablet users, and so on, so they can get a better idea of how well the app will work on their type of device.

• Helping Users Discover Quality Apps on Large Screens

Apple will now let developers distribute unlisted apps through the App Store that only users with a direct link can access. While unlisted apps aren’t discoverable by the general public through search results, App Store categories, charts, or recommendations, they’re available to administrators via the Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

• Apple adds unlisted apps to its App Store