Google Play refocuses on general media, not apps

Google put an end to rumors surrounding its Play name Tuesday by revealing it to be a rebranding of Android Market. Now just called Google Play, it will represent the same store but change the name to reflect its usefulness beyond Android apps. The store was already a gateway for e-books, music, and movies, and should soon reflect the switch.

Accordingly, the layout will change to reflect the wider range of content on the store, depending on the country the user's visiting. Android device owners should see the store rebranded in the app. Many of the individual apps will have the Play branding put on top, such as Google Play Music and Google Play Movies.

Most of the app and web changes should take effect by the end of the day.

For Google, the change is a reflection of its attempt to create an iTunes-style ecosystem for Android, much as Apple had years earlier for the iPod and later iOS devices. The nature of Android had meant that, until the expansion of Android Market, device owners couldn't be guaranteed access to a ready supply of legal content beyond apps.

By Electronista Staff

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iPod, iPhone, industry, digital imaging, Google, iTunes, Android, audio, mobile phones, Apple, Android Market, iPad, Google Play