Google to Soon Remove Low-Quality Apps from Play Store
- Written by Shipra Sanganeria Cybersecurity & Tech Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Google updated its Spam and Minimum Functionality policy last week to ensure apps in the Play Store meet required functionality standards. According to the company, starting August 31, 2024, apps must offer a “stable, engaging, [and] responsive user experience,” or risk removal from the Play Store.
In announcing the spam policy update, the search engine giant classified the apps targeted for removal into two categories: those with limited functionality and content as well as those that are broken.
For example, apps that fail to install, load, or function properly, including those that crash or are non-responsive, will be removed from the Play Store. Static apps, such as text-only or PDF-only apps, and those with minimal features like a single image or wallpaper, will also be banned.
Additionally, apps with no functionality or those designed to do nothing will be at risk of removal.
“We’re updating the Spam and Minimum Functionality policy to ensure apps meet uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality and content user experiences,” Google said on the Policy Announcement page.
According to a Google blog quoted by Android Authority , this is not Google’s first attempt to improve app management on the Play Store. In 2023, the Play Store removed 2.28 million apps for violating listing policies. The blog also noted that Google banned 333,000 “bad” Play accounts that year due to repeated severe policy violations and issues related to fraud and malware.
In addition to its effort to enhance user experience through elimination of low-quality and non-functional apps, the company also aims to boost overall security of its Play Store. In the policy update announced on July 17, the company introduced enhanced malware prevention measures.
These measures include requiring developers to remove third-party code from sources associated with malware and implementing stricter enforcement of the malware policy throughout the platform.
Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash
Nvidia is Working on New Flagship AI Chip Model For China
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
The news agency Reuters revealed the American technology company Nvidia is working on a new flagship AI chip model for the Chinese market. Three anonymous sources explained that the new chip version will consider the strict export controls in the United States to make it compatible.
Back in 2023, the U.S. tightened export controls to avoid providing China with tools that could lead to empowering its military capabilities; forcing Nvidia to create specific products for the Chinese market and decreasing its sales in the region.
“Nvidia will work with Inspur, one of its major distributor partners in China, on the launch and distribution of the chip which is tentatively named the `B20’,” explained Reuters. Nvidia hasn’t made an official announcement on this new development.
A few months ago, in March, Nvidia announced that its new AI chips would be more affordable. The new generation series was named Blackwell and will be mass-produced by the end of this year to supply major AI and cloud computing companies.
According to Reuters, the new processors will be 30 times faster than previous models and will be better at tasks like processing chatbot answers. Nvidia’s sales have rapidly increased this year, with competitive prices to gain leverage against the company’s main competitor, the Chinese giant Huawei.
Nvidia’s top and most advanced product in the Chinese market at the moment is the H20 chip, and it’s about to hit over 1 million sales in China. The new advanced products for the Asian region could increase friction with the U.S. government as Biden’s administration has been restricting chipmaking equipment to China and reaching out to allies, like the Netherlands and Japan, to join the mission.
Official statements and more details on the new AI chip models should be announced soon.
Nvidia has also been recently accused of using YouTube videos to train AI models without permission , along with other major tech companies like Apple, Salesforce, and Anthropic.
