Latest news with #systemservices
Android Authority
15-07-2025
- Android Authority
Here's why you can't rate that system app in the Google Play Store
Damien Wilde / Android Authority TL;DR Earlier this year, Google started working to implement minimalistic app listings for system services in the Play Store. These listings do not include a review section nor allow users to rate the apps. Users are now starting to see this new format for system services roll out widely. Should all app listings be created the same? At first glance, it might make sense to expect all app listings in the Play Store to have the same stuff: description, screenshots, device compatibility, and a place to submit and read reviews. Back at the start of the year, though, we started to become aware of a change Google was working on that would seriously pare down the content available in Play Store listings for some apps, resulting in a minimalistic app listing just containing a basic synopsis. And now it finally looks like this new view is starting to roll out widely. Not all apps are built equally, and the ones we first saw associated with this minimal new Play Store layout were all Android system services — the sort of things the vast majority of users will never have to think twice about, let alone try to pull them up on the Play Store. At the time, we speculated that Google's reasoning for this change might involve wanting to limit the ability of users to take out their frustrations with undesirable system behavior by review-bombing these apps. A few months later, we spotted Google preparing a new list of 'System services' apps within Play Services that appeared to feature the very same apps we saw trying on that new Play Store listing look. Now in July, that list is finally starting to roll out. As if heralded by that release, we've started to receive reports from users who are now seeing the new listing format live on their devices. Odds are, you won't stumble across any of these naturally — these aren't the kind of apps most people go looking for in the first place, and they won't even show up in a regular search. But if you're browsing installed apps on your phone and tap through out of curiosity — well, now you've got no excuse for being surprised. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Forbes
Google Confirms Android Update—Is Your Phone On This List?
New update is critical for 1 billion users. While the monthly security updates from Google, Samsung and others drive headlines, there is a quieter process in the background which is just as important. Google updates the core system services underpinning Android, which helps secure your phone. Until now, updating these services has been fairly sporadic, with frequent reports of delays and phones lagging behind. Now Google is about to fix this, and for a billion Android users in particular, that's critical. Per 9to5Google, 'Google is now adding a new 'System services' settings page to manage all the background services installed on your Android device and more easily update them. This new 'System services' page will list all the services/applications (with most not having user interfaces) from Google that help keep your phone or tablet running.' As Android Authority explains, while 'most of these services are updated monthly, distinct from routine Android firmware updates,' doing so requires 'downloading the latest updates for most of these apps or services through the Google Play Store.' That will now change with this central update dashboard, which will ensure phones are current even if automatic Play Store updates are disabled. The risk has always been that 'some of these updates may get overlooked despite being crucial,' and 'also addresses the fact that your Android device is never truly up to date.' New system services update Courtesy of 9to5Google, the services that will be updated include: Critically, as pointed out by Android Authority, 'the System services dashboard is rolling out to devices running Android 6 Marshmallow or later.' This comes as warnings continue for the billion Android users running Android 12 or older, given Google no longer provides monthly security updates. The company has also updated its Play Integrity API to further differentiate Android 13 or newer. The numbers are stark. Below is the list of Android OS versions and market share between Android 6 and Android 12, all of which need this latest update in lieu of upgrading their hardware, which in reality should be a priority. Per Composables, this could particularly impact as much as half of the current install base, not yet running Android 13 or newer: Android Authority advises that 'this new dashboard is expected to accompany the Google System Services update for July 2025. On your Android device, head over to Settings > Privacy & Security > System services to view the list of internal services that keep all the features of your Android phone running smoothly.'
