App News Round-Up 02 August 2019

Have you missed any of the app news stories over the last few weeks? Don’t worry! We have handpicked some of the most notable developments and groundbreaking app launches for today’s news round up so you can get up to date in a matter of moments.

Google testing Google Play Subscription

Multiple reports have emerged this week suggesting Google will offer subscription access to the Google Play Store. Called Play Pass, the service is thought to be priced around $4.99 per month and will roll out in the USA first. It will offer subscribers access to a huge catalogue of apps across all of its categories for download at no additional cost.

Google has said that the concept is being tested but hasn’t elaborated further – though the sign up screen for the service seems to suggest it’s still looking for testers. It is thought that games and premium music apps will be included within the fixed fee subscription which is sure to make it a very attractive prospect for Android users.

Apple is also working on its own version of a subscription service called Apple Arcade. It was unveiled earlier this year but isn’t expected to launch until autumn so it’s perhaps no surprise that Google has set out to test a rival offering. There’s no word as yet when the Play Pass trial will start or end and whether the $4.99 trial price will be the final cost to the user should the service get the green light for a general launch.

New app can detect potentially fatal conditions in minutes

A new mobile app has been launched which could detect potentially fatal conditions in hospital patients in a matter of seconds. Called Streams, the app has recently been tested by doctors and nurses at London’s Royal Free Hospital. It detects kidney conditions, returning a diagnosis in an average of 14 minutes.

The app sends patient blood test results to a mobile device with easy to read results, flagging up information on markers which can help doctors to recognise problems quickly. The app, developed by a company which is owned by the Google parent company Alphabet offers clinicians a mobile, real time solution and an alternative to pagers and paper.

New drone app shows pilots where they can fly

Drones have caused quite significant disruption to air space in recent months, even closing some airports so the launch of the new US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drones app represents a huge step forward for the industry. It shows drone pilots where they can and can’t fly, anywhere within US airspace. The clever app shows users if they are safe to fly their drone or if they are in a prohibited area thanks to interactive maps. For those in controlled airspace, the app can directly link the user to appropriate federal authorities to request permission to fly.