Google have updated their policy for the Play Store to clean up on shady apps.
This update will effectively bring an end to ads in the notification bar. Here is what they did.
Here is a link to the full Policy, and let me quote the part which we are interested in,
- Apps and their ads must not display advertisements through system level notifications on the user’s device, unless the notifications derive from an integral feature provided by the installed app. (e.g., an airline app that notifies users of special deals, or a game that notifies users of in-game promotions).
So this means the end of services such as AirPush which uses ads in the Android Notification Bar. Hpvere you will still be getting notifications from games and apps which use them for promoting in-game updates, events etc.
For example, some of Gameloft’s games have daily rewards, EA’s Real Racing 3 has notifications for vehicle upgrades. repairs and servicing, etc.
Here is another interesting policy change:
- Apps and their ads must not add homescreen shortcuts, browser bookmarks, or icons on the user’s device as a service to third parties or for advertising purposes.
A lot of free apps and games often add shortcuts to third party apps as a way of serving ads. Not only do they serve annoying ads, but some of them have invasive privacy permissions as well. So it is a good thing that Google have decide to ban apps which use such services.
via: Google System Blog
