14 DAY TRIAL // Google has just announced that its digital distribution platform, Google Play Store, is turning 5. Since its launch back in March 2012, the store grew to more than 1 billion active users spread across no less than 190 countries.
Furthermore, Google Play Store is now home to more than 40 million songs, 5 million books, and many more apps and movies. Not to mention that Google's Play store is one of the most important distribution platforms for devs and their audiences.
To celebrate the 5th birthday of Google Play Store, the search giant unveiled the top 5 most popular books, games, apps, songs, albums and films in the United States since the store was launched five years ago.
Starting with games, it appears that Candy Crush Saga remains the undisputed leader in the mobile gaming industry. King's title is closely followed by two other smash hits of the same genre, the endless runners Subway Surfers and Temple Run 2.
Next in line, there's Despicable Me and Clash of Clans. It's a bit of a surprise that Supercell's game Clash of Clans is only in fifth spot, but it looks like Americans don't like it that much.
Facebook and Facebook Messenger are the first two listed in the top 5 most popular apps in the United States. They are followed by Pandora Radio, Instagram and Snapchat.
Pre-installed apps on Android devices haven't been taken into consideration
It's worth mentioning that none of the lists of downloaded apps contains pre-installed apps on Android smartphones and tablets. The top selling songs list contains names like Ed Sheeran, Lorde, Taylor Swift, Mark Ronson, and Pharrell Williams.
Adele's “25” album is the most downloaded in United States, but here are the next albums preferred by customers in the U.S.: The Marshal Mather LP2 (Eminem), 1989 (Taylor Swift), If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake), and To Pimp A Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar).
The Interview, Frozen, Deadpook, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Guardians of the Galaxy are the top five selling movies in the Google Play Store.
Lastly, Google revealed the top selling books since the digital store was launched five years ago, and they are: Fifty Shades of Grey, The Hunter Games trilogy, A Game of Thrones, The Fault in Our Stars, and Gone Girl.