Google has announced it is introducing three changes to its Play Store, which are: “ranking and promotability changes,” “alerts for low-quality apps,” and “device-specific ratings and reviews.” “We’re making big changes in Google Play to enable users to discover and engage with high-quality apps and games,”, the company writes on its Android Developers Blog.
Specifically, Google says it will adjust how it ranks and features apps on large-screen devices, with the rationale taking into account aspects such as compatibility for different device orientations, keyboard accessibility, and other factors. According to Google, the change, which will take effect “in the coming months,” will “prioritise high-quality apps and games” and help to ensure that the first apps consumers find are ones that will work effectively on their device.
Google also mentioned that the Play Store will begin giving customers reviews and ratings from devices in the same category — for example, phone users will see reviews left by phone users, tablet users will see reviews left by tablet users, and so on — in order to give them a better indication of how well the app will operate on their device. Although the company said that this update would come last summer, it is great to know that it is still in the works. Developers who build apps for Play Store will know which reviews and ratings a certain device’s owner read.
Furthermore, Google is going to change app compatibility alerts to let consumers know how an app will perform after installation. The company didn’t say clearly what this means in its post, but it says it will “provide more details on this change” in the coming months.
Since the release of Android 12L, the tech giant has been focusing a lot on tablets and larger-screen phones. An updated taskbar and tweaks to notification and Quick Settings colours are included in the Android 12L update for big-screen devices. Also, one of Android’s initial founders is working on building Android for huge screens at its Platforms and Ecosystems unit.
