Google Play Store looks a lot cleaner this year, and that’s because Google has removed millions of apps. In early 2024, the Play Store had about 3.4 million apps. Now, it has dropped to around 1.8 million. That means nearly half of the apps are gone.

But why did Google remove millions of apps from the Play Store? In July 2024, the company started a big cleanup to improve the quality of apps. Google wanted to remove apps that didn’t work well or didn’t offer anything useful. Many of the deleted apps were simple or low-quality, like apps that only showed one picture, displayed a PDF, or did nothing at all.

For a long time, the Play Store allowed almost any app, using mostly automated checks. That made it easy for spammy or fake apps to appear. But now, Google is using better tools and more human reviewers to catch bad apps before they reach users.

According to Google (via TechCrunch), over 2.36 million policy-violating apps were blocked before they even launched. Also, more than 158,000 developer accounts were banned for breaking the rules.

Another reason some apps disappeared is a new rule in Europe that developers must now show their name and address on their app pages. But this rule also applies to Apple, and its App Store still grew slightly, so it seems Google’s cleanup had a bigger effect.

Even with fewer apps, Android development is still strong. Over 10,000 new apps have been added in 2025 so far, which is more than this time last year. With a focus on better quality, finding useful and safe apps on the Play Store is now easier.

Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra get April 2025 Google Play System update

Samsung introduced new Good Lock modules with the One UI 7 update for Galaxy users. Now, one of the Good Lock modules, named Game Booster +, is available for download for Samsung Galaxy devices running the stable One UI 7 update.

Game Booster + plugin is designed to give users a better gaming experience. It includes several helpful features that let you take more control over how games run on your phone.

You can now remap your Gamepad buttons to fit your play style. It also helps improve performance by reducing GPU usage during screen rotation in Vulkan-based games, which can make gameplay smoother.

Moreover, it offers an option for ability to change the category of apps. If a game isn’t recognized as a game by default, you can manually set it so it gets the same gaming benefits.

Although Game Booster + is available to download around the world, not all features are fully accessible yet. You can easily download Game Booster+ from the Galaxy Store by searching for “Game Booster+.” You can also find it inside the Good Lock app on your Galaxy device.

If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy phone with the One UI 7 update, this plugin is worth trying. It gives you more control, better performance, and a more enjoyable gaming experience right from your device.

One UI 7 unlocks Display Assistant and Game Booster+ plugins on Galaxy S23 series

Two Samsung apps targeting Android 16 are now available online. While Galaxy users wait for the One UI 7 update, the company is swiftly progressing the One UI 8 development. The listing of apps suggests things are going well ahead of the July debut.

Samsung Gallery and Weather apps from One UI 8 are available early, first spotted by ThatDev/X. It’s the first time we’re seeing the listing of app files on a famous third-party Android apps provider, and the list will expand further gradually.

One UI 8 brings revamped Gallery, Weather

The Gallery and Weather apps are getting massive interface changes in One UI 8. Leaked firmware revealed the company’s plans to revolutionize system applications to elevate the user experience with the next big upgrade.

One UI 8 will bring visible changes to the appearance of the Gallery app. The menu buttons will adopt global One UI shapes for a unified look. The Weather function will add sleek new animations, making it the biggest upgrade in years.

While the app files are available early, the installation failure is quite disappointing. I tried sideloading One UI 8 apps on One UI 7 so you don’t have to. The installation begins, but the process ends with a pop-up citing installation failure.

That said, the latest versions are compatible with One UI 8 only.

Samsung will launch Android 16-based One UI 8 with the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7. The new foldable phones will likely launch in early July this year. We expect the One UI 8 Beta Program may go live in August or September this year.

Samsung has pushed a new update for its Interpreter app, now available in version 1.1.11.12. This update is rolling out to Samsung devices running One UI 7, and it brings enhancements to improve how the app works.

The Interpreter app is useful for travelers, students, and anyone who needs to understand or speak another language quickly. It is an AI-powered feature available in the Samsung Galaxy AI suite. It helps users overcome language barriers and communicate in any language.

Samsung didn’t give details about what’s new it brings, but users can expect a better experience after updating. The fresh update makes the app better by fixing minor bugs to enhance stability. It helps the app work faster and more reliably, especially when translating live conversations.

Samsung Interpreter New Update Version – 1.1.11.12 #Samsung #OneUI7 #OneUI #SamsungInterpreter pic.twitter.com/zOId69OJiP

— Sheetal Malviya (@Malviy_Sheetal) April 28, 2025

The installation package size of this update is around 22.89 MB. While the update does not introduce any major visual overhauls or new features, it does include several enhancements that fine-tune the app’s operations on One UI 7 running Galaxy devices.

If you have a Samsung device with One UI 7, you can download the latest version of the Interpreter app from the Galaxy Store >> Menu option >> Updates. Through this update, Samsung aims to provide a better Galaxy experience.

Samsung updates Galaxy AI’s Interpreter app amid language expansion

Samsung has rolled out a new update for its Home Up Good Lock module with version 16.0.00.82 on One UI 7 devices. This update introduces not only important bug fixes but also exciting new features, especially for those who enjoy customizing their home screens.

The fresh update expanded Home Up support for Samsung’s Fold and tablet devices, which were previously not fully compatible with this Good Lock app. With this update, users on these devices can now enjoy almost all the customization features Home Up has to offer.

In addition to support, the changelog also mentioned that the update includes general bug fixes to improve the app’s stability and performance. This means the app should now run more smoothly.

Image via SammyFans

Beyond these changes, a reliable tipster @theordysm has spotted two new DIY options for home screen customization that have been added with this update. These features are as follows:

Animate Overlapping Items

This new toggle animates overlapping items when launching an app, creating a smoother and more dynamic transition. To activate this, simply turn on the “Animate overlapping items when the app launches” option in the DIY section.

Align Guide Line

This handy feature helps users better align their home screen elements during editing. Just enable the “Use align guide line in edit mode” toggle for better layout control.

Image via Theordysm

To get the latest version of Home Up, users can head over to the Galaxy Store and navigate to Menu >> Updates, or update directly through the Good Lock app.

If you are using One UI 7 Galaxy devices, you can enjoy the new DIY features. So, install the update now to enjoy new features and enhancements.

One UI 7 Home Up missing on Galaxy Z Fold6, Flip6 and Tab S10 – There’s good news