The Google Play Edition One M8 is no more. Photo: HTC

The day pure Android fans have been dreading is finally here; the last remaining Google Play Edition smartphone — the HTC One M8 — has been removed from the Play Store, almost certainly confirming the end of Google’s program. The only pure Android smartphones you can buy from the search giant now are its own Nexus handsets.

Something much more ambitious than Google Voice is coming.

Pretty soon you’ll be able to buy a Nexus smartphone that works with Google’s own wireless network. The company is close to offering its own mobile phone plans directly to customers, a move that would allow Google to control the entire phone experience from top to bottom.

Google Now Launcher gets the Lollipop look. Photo: Google

Desperate to get a taste of Lollipop’s sweet, sweet Material Design makeover? Well now you can — even if you’re still running Jelly Bean or KitKat — thanks to the latest version of the Google Now Launcher. In addition to a whole host of visual improvements, you’ll find welcome changes to Google Now and more.

The One M8 gets a taste of that sweet, sweet Lollipop. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

If you’ve got an unlocked or Developer Edition HTC One M8, then top up your battery, ensure you’re connected to Wi-Fi, and sit back and wait for an impending over-the-air update to Lollipop. Google has finally given HTC’s latest software the green light, and it’s making its way to the devices above today.

Google Play becomes king of the mobile app platforms. Screenshot: Cult of Android

Who says iOS has all the apps? According to new data, Google isn’t just kicking butt when it comes to market share, but also mobile apps as well. The search giant’s Play Store now offers a great selection of titles than the App Store, but Apple fans will argue that quality is more important than quantity.