Google Rebrands and Renames Android Market to Google Play
by Brian Klug on March 6, 2012 1:20 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Android
- marketplace
- Mobile
- google play
The Android Market has slowly evolved to become much more than a place for vending Android applications, and today Google announced that it is rebranding the Android Marketplace to the somewhat more service-agnostic Google Play. It's a move that is sure to solicit some heated and perhaps valid opinions, given the solid foundation and mindshare that Google has carved out with the Android Marketplace brand to date.
The rebranding also comes alongside a new logo, new URL (play.google.com) and an update to the Android vending (market) APK in the coming days. Google has been trying for some time to emphasize that Android Market is more than just Apps, as the store now is the first party repository for Apps, eBooks, Music, and Video, and moreover not just limited to Android devices. Google will roll out an OTA market update to devices running Android 2.2 or higher starting today and in the upcoming days. We'll be on the lookout for this update and will update with screenshots as soon as that new vending APK hits.
Update: One of our Galaxy Nexii just got pushed the Google Play related updates, including the new vending APK. Market is now "Play Store" and gets a new logo, though the actual application is the same as before, along with the other Play updated apps we've been pushed.
Like other Android vending updates, you might be able to get this pushed to you faster by heading into manage applications, tapping force stop and clear data, then launching market once more, tapping accept, and then waiting. Google has also updated its FAQ on updating the Android Market, which previously went over these details.
Source: Android Developers Blog, Google Blog, About Google Play
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BPB - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
At least they are giving discounts to celebrate the new names. I'll take discounts any day.michal1980 - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
"Google has been trying for some time to emphasize that Android Market is more than just Apps"hmm, "Market" to me sounds way more open end then "Play".
I see "Google Play" I think Games, not apps, not books, not movies.
KitsuneKnight - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
When I saw the link on the main page my initial reaction was "are they dropping everything for a focus on games?" which seemed crazy. Definitely not a good choice, especially from a corporate/business point of view.I wonder who at Google thought this was a good name...
tayb - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
Android Market is a pretty ambiguous term. I can easily infer that a market could include movies, games, television shows, applications, utilities, or whatever. Google Play is far less ambiguous. I hear Google Play and I think games and games alone.If the objective was to reinforce the idea that the market is more than just applications I think they've gone way too far the other way. Average people are going to be confused by this and wonder where they should go to get books and apps now.
tayb - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
Not to mention that this is a direct ripoff of a certain Nintendo naming scheme.Zoomer - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
Google Market would probably have been better?solipsism - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
I agree.I do like the logo.
chizow - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
Not just a stronger brand name emphasizing "Google", its probably a penny or two less to Lucas Ltd. every time they sell a game or app too.gorash - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
That sounds terrible, that sounds (and looks) like something Sony would come up with.Malih - Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - link
exactly, Play is too closely related to Playstation and they did name their device the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play