SoylentNews

APK Hosts File Engine Sucks writes:

It seems Google removes apps from their store when they violate certain conditions. From what I can tell, the reasons for app removal include those described at https://play.google.com/about/spam-min-functionality/min-functionality/#!?zippy_activeEl=broken#broken [google.com]. From what I can tell, this includes removing apps that once worked properly but haven't been updated recently, leading to incompatibility with recent Android devices.

I have no problem with not making broken apps available for purchase in their app store. That's completely reasonable. But this also removes the app from the libraries of people who have already purchased the app. In this case, I can no longer attempt to install an app that I've already purchased, because it doesn't appear in my library. Moreover, if I use Google Play to review the list of apps that I've previously purchased, those apps are also hidden from my purchases. No explanation is given; the apps just disappear. My only record of having purchased such apps is the receipts emailed from Google when the apps were purchased. I can't even try to install the apps, even if they would work properly on older Android devices that I own.

I'll give a couple of examples:

1) Final Freeway 2R [google.com] -- This is a rather fun Out Run clone that was removed from the app store in this manner. The developer even acknowledges this in response to a review on Final Freeway [google.com], where they say, "Unfortunately Google removed FF2 from the store demanding some changes. We're working on that. FF2 will appear again :) Thank you." Thankfully, the app recently reappeared in my library.

2) Quell Memento+ [amazon.com] -- There's a free version of this with in-app purchases [google.com], but I had bought the free version awhile back. I emailed the developer, Fallen Tree games, and received a response. The developer told me that Google removed the app because it hadn't been updated in a year. To their credit, they offered me a workaround, refunding an in-app purchase providing the same functionality in the free version. I sincerely appreciate the developer contacting me, seeing as other developers haven't responded to me.

3) Fieldrunners HD [google.com] -- At one point, I recall this popular game disappearing from my library. Thankfully, it has been restored. I can only assume it disappeared for similar reasons.

4) iCircuit [apkhome.net] -- There are versions of this for other systems. I purchased the Android version a couple of years ago, but it's since disappeared. I emailed the developer and never heard back.

5) SPB Shell 3D [softonic.com] -- This app was once available on Google Play, but has since disappeared from my library. I haven't contacted the developer. It cost me $14.95, which is quite expensive. It seems I've permanently lost that money since I can't even attempt to install this software now.

It's also worth noting that the free CardioTrainer [amazon.com] app also disappeared in this manner. While this app is free, there were a number of paid add-ons, which I purchased. They weren't in-app purchases, but separate app purchases that unlocked additional functionality. These paid add-ons are now useless because the free CardioTrainer app has disappeared from my library.

There doesn't seem to be a mechanism to obtain a refund, nor does Google allow me to try to install the app that I purchased. They offer no explanation to users. Apps just disappear from users' libraries without notice or explanation. I would understand if Google was preventing me from installing malicious apps, but these apps don't qualify as such.

Unlike the glitch affecting the Amazon Prime Video app, the issues I described appear to be intentional on the part of Google. It's deceptive, because any record of the purchases is hidden from users in the Google Play app. It's unfair because users who purchased the app have their ability to install the app arbitrarily revoked with no apparent recourse.

Original Submission