Android KitKat unveiled days after Google took tough stance on fraudulent apps


Google has code named the next version of its mobile operating system Android KitKat. Android software is the world's biggest mobile operating system, driving more than a billion tablets and smart phones. Android's new OS KitKat name, however, is slightly different from one of my favorite chocolate wafer, spelt with a space in between the two words "Kit Kat." Many droid fans were surprised as they had expected the company to move straight to Android 5.0. However, Google had other ideas and maintained version 4, KitKat being version Android 4.4. Undoubtedly, Android operating system has grown by leaps and bounds from the time it was unveiled back in six years ago. The amount of support that the operating system has been garnering from developers has been overwhelming, judging by the rapid growth of the Google Play which now offers users almost a million apps for download. Traditionally, Google’s Operating Systems versions have often had a history of sweet-theme names, with past versions being named Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean.

The new name suggest that creative mind has gone on leave at Google as am wondering why Google would copy or even perhaps infringe the trademark of Swiss brand Nestle, which owns the name “Kit Kat”. Even if there is money changing hands kind of deal as some officials of Google have been quoted as saying I strongly feel they have lost the “steam” in coming up with catchiness and uniqueness.Few days ago, Google updated Android Play Store developer policies to ensure users are now better protected. Google Play is known to have a wide range of free and paid apps and games ranging from the top class to malicious. The Californian based company new policies are urging users to be cautious and employ high level of intelligence when downloading apps. Although Google has been making efforts to control the quality and security of the apps on Google Play, there has been widespread outrage on cases where scammer apps are widely available. Most harmful apps contain viruses and malicious content that hurt users of Android device.

The less harmful are also very common and annoying ones and are filled with spyware that steal information from devices. Multiple studies have shown that malicious apps secretly leech data out of user device without their knowledge. It can either send out user information stored in devices or it can either send in adverts and viruses to device. Users can usually identify apps with questionable intent prior to installing an app. Apps always required to ask for permissions before users install them, and therefore users can scrutinize if an app is seeking more than is needed. Unfortunately, studies have shown users do not bother to go through the list of permissions that the apps are requesting, similar to the cases of people who just agree to terms and conditions without bothering to read them. Google has updated their Google Play developer policy to disable push notification ads from being hidden in apps. The updated developer policy also now prohibits apps with misleading information in their description.

As I had posted http://www.contadorharrison.com/malware-targeting-android-devices-on-the-rise/,the new regulations warn developers against manipulating product ratings or reviews including paid or fake reviews, fraudulent installs, fake ratings and offering incentives to rate apps. There is also a ban on the use of irrelevant, misleading and even excessive keywords in an app description something that I have personally been against for ages because it is a form of spamming that has always annoyed me. Apps will no longer be allowed to confuse users by imitating other existing apps. On that note, I've come across many apps from small developers that have tried to ride on the fame of top apps while downloading angry birds app for my Samsung Galaxy S4- http://www.contadorharrison.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-review-45-days-user-experience/. Many wannabes developers (I call them vocational types) have released apps posing to offer 'alternative versions' game of the Finnish company. The scammers are trying to con unsuspecting users searching for the angry birds on the Google Play by offering different versions.  To read the full list of new updates, you can visit the Google Play developer program policies page: http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html and to see “Kit Kat”
http://www.android.com/kitkat/.


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