These 5 Android apps were just named 'hidden gems' by Google

collected by :Maya Tony

Google just announced its picks for the best apps of the year, and among them are five apps Google said are "hidden gems." The apps range from an augmented-fact app that lets you draw on things you see in the real world, to an app for recording your dreams. Here's how Google described them: "These apps are new to the scene and quietly building a fanbase — from newcomers on the brink of getting big to our favorite niche platforms." These are the five Android apps Google considers hidden gems:

Google removes 2 popular Android apps that enabled click fraud

Admittedly, Google does not control its application store as required and on Android you can easily install many malicious apps that infect our devices. Occasionally, fortunately, Google acts and this day it does extremely by removing 2 applications: CM File manager and Kika keyboard. The Kika Keyboard application had achieved more than 100 million downloads according to AppBrain and CM file Manager as many as 50 million. The 2 applications can be put back on the Play Store, after providing Google all evidence of having removed all traces of malicious software. It is worth to mention that Google has published its selctions for the best content on the Play Store for this year, and unlike previous editions, consumer ratings have been taken into account for apps and movies.

Google Play-promoted Android apps are using scammy ad practices, report says

referring to Eight Android apps by more than 2 billion downloads in the Google Play store have been engaging in fraudulent ad practices, BuzzFeed News announced today. Seven of the apps are owned by Cheetah Mobile, a publicly-traded Chinese company, and one app is owned by Kika Tech, a Chinese company headquartered in Silicon Valley. In a normal installation process, downloaded apps going to check that link or ad the consumer clicked on to see where to attribute the download. In some cases, Cheetah Mobile's apps were programmed to launch the newly downloaded apps themselves in order to get credit for the installation, according to the report. Update 11/27/18 12:42pm ET: Two of Cheetah Mobile's apps, Battery Doctor and CM Locker, have been removed from the Play store.