Google Play Pass: Move over Apple Arcade?

🍂 Good morning! The Samsung Galaxy Fold returns on September 27 in the US, Play Pass launches this week, while the next OnePlus device plus TV are both said to be announced this week as well. And I have a cold. And now it's fall/autumn/herbst. Sniffle. But let’s get into it, because we have a sponsor!

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Google Play Pass: Coming this week, for $4.99

Google-Play-Pass-apps-games-icons

Google sure isn’t messing about trying to keep Apple Arcade from getting ahead, announcing it will launch this week. But at the same time, with the full details released by Google yesterday, we now know that Google Play Pass and Apple Arcade aren’t all that similar, despite definitely being competitors.

Here’s what we now know:

Play Pass is a $4.99/m subscription service for access to 350+ unlocked Android apps and games, with a 10-day free trial.
The first year will be $1.99/m until October 10th, 2019.
A Play Pass subscription can be shared with up to five other family members.
It’s US-only, for now.
There are no exclusives, and all apps via Play Pass are free of ads, along with those deeply problematic in-app purchases.
The regular apps will still be present for non-Play Pass subscribers - there’s no lock-in for a Play Pass bundle only.
For developers and makers, nothing has to change. Google will dole out revenue to developers based on how much time subscribers spend with each app.

What's in it?:

Those 350+ apps and games?
We don’t know the full list yet, but the premium games list includes the likes of Terraria, Stardew Valley, Game Dev Tycoon, Reigns: GOT, and Monument Valley 2.
On the apps front is a much shorter list from what we know so far: Accuweather, Photo Studio Pro, Facetune, and ISS Live Now, for now.
More on that here, with more apps and games being added as they are confirmed.

What matters:

Subscription everything is the new model, which shouldn’t be a surprise.
The US-only launch is somewhat of a surprise. Google does this a bit with new services, but Android’s spread isn’t limited to its home market, and Apple Arcade did go live in 150+ countries simultaneously.
One big problem for Google is that Android hasn’t generated as much money for developers when compared to Apple/iOS.
The pirate scene of sideloading modded APKs, despite the risks of malware and the inconveniences of feature updates, is very active.
Pirating music was easier until good subscriptions emerged, and Play Pass may offer a way for Android users to fork out.
But it’ll have to be constantly updated and offering the latest and greatest apps, not just a list of already-popular apps/games. That’s what differentiates the service from Apple Arcade mosts, along with the exclusives angle Apple is going for.
Oh, and will this encourage people to try more apps and games? Last check, via comScore, the majority of US smartphone owners downloaded zero apps.

Thoughts:

I can’t say if it’s a game-changer yet, because we don’t know how it will impact developers who need to make money to survive.
But anyone who plays mobile games should snap that introductory deal up, and it’s definitely something I’d try it for $2 a month, with 10-day free trial, while $5 p/m is an acceptable regular price point as well.
I’ll be hoping it grows to encapsulate a lot more apps as well, to really make smartphones more useful in an obvious way.

Round Up:

📂 Re-engineered Samsung Galaxy Fold to make its US return Friday Sept. 27 (Android Authority).

🌍 Google told it doesn't have to apply 'right to be forgotten' results globally, just in Europe (Engadget).

🆕 The stunning Xiaomi Mi Alpha has a wraparound screen with a crazy 180.6% screen-to-body ratio, and it looks incredible and probably isn’t at all practical (Android Authority). But look at it!

📶 Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G launched in China: Big specs, fastest wireless charging yet (Android Authority).

💻 Google could launch ‘Pixelbook Go’ in October, alongside Google Pixel 4 (Android Authority).

📸 Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10e get Note 10 camera features in new update (Android Authority).

🔬 Essential confirms its next mobile device is in early testing. From the very good report here, it doesn’t look like another flagship but a smaller-form factor device (XDA).

🧠 Facebook acquires CTRL-Labs, which is developing a mind-reading wristband, by tracking neural activity through your arm, possibly for AR/VR applications (The Verge). Cynicism first: don’t mind-control and Facebook go together so well! But more seriously, this could be a first technology that makes AR usable in ways that do not involve gestures, but thinking.

❗ Yahoo redesigns its logo to remind you that Yahoo exists (The Verge).

✊ Disney originally passed on Marvel for being 'too edgy,' says CEO (CNET).

❌ Chat app Kik is shutting down, and Kin, the company’s cryptocurrency is the reason, somewhat confusingly (TechCrunch).

🏢 The WeWork mess, explained (Vox).

🎨 French woman had masterpiece Renaissance painting worth millions hanging above her stove (ABC News).

🌕 “If we return to the moon, is there a telescope on earth today strong enough to watch astronauts walking around on the surface?” (Answer: not even close, explained a lot) (r/askscience).

🌳 “We hear all about endangered animals, but are endangered trees a thing? Do trees go extinct as often as animals?” (Answer: yes, explained a lot) (r/askscience).

Chart Tuesday

Here’s a really cool chart made by Luisa Bez, that you probably need to click-through to for your complete enjoyment:

To celebrate Nintendo’s 130th birthday yesterday, this chart shows significant events in the life of the company born out of Kyoto in Japan.
It first saw success making playing cards back in 1902.
It’s well worth clicking through to the interactive chart on Tableau to explore more.

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Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor.