News on App stores, March 2021

App Store 

Updates to App Store server notifications

If you support Family Sharing, you can now receive new App Store server notifications for real-time updates on family member statuses.

Full content and details (external sources): Apple Developer

Additional guidance available for App Store privacy labels

Additional details have been published on completing your App Store privacy labels, including more information about data types, such as email or text messages, and gameplay content. 

Full content and details (external sources): Apple Developer

Apple denies Parler’s request for re-entry to the App Store

In January, following the insurrection at the US Capital, Apple kicked the social media network Parler off the App Store, citing its lack of moderation. After a recent review, Apple has apparently declined Parler’s request to come back to the App Store.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Mac

Google Play Store 

Google readying crowdsourced ‘App install optimization’ in the Play Store

Over the past several years, Google has been working to make Android apps smaller in size by optimizing what code and resources are downloaded to devices. The latest initiative on this front is “App install optimization” in Google Play.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Google

Google Go reaches 500-million Play Store download milestone

Like many of the “Go” apps, Google Go is fairly streamlined with quite a few things missing from the full Google search app pre-installed on almost every Android smartphone out there. Android Go smartphones make up a fairly small proportion of sales each year, but it’s a fairly good indicator of its popularity that Google Go has managed to reach 500 million downloads some two years after coming to the Play Store.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Google

Huawei App Gallery 

Huawei AppGallery is getting the latest version 11.1.2.304. You can download it Here.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

Huawei AppGallery now has over 530 million monthly active users

Huawei has shared the latest updates on AppGallery - the heart of its in-house ecosystem. The Chinese company now has over 530 million active monthly users, and an 83% yearly increase in-app distribution, reaching 384 billion installs in 2020.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Huawei AppGallery gets App Accessibility Zone

Recently, a Weibo tipster – Peng Peng Jun discloses that both Huawei AppGallery and Huawei Club have quietly launched the barrier-free accessibility zone. It includes barrier-free apps and apps adapted for accessibility features. App accessibility feature generally refers to making websites and applications accessible to people with disabilities, who use mobile phones and other devices to access the content.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral