Google is optimizing the Play Store to make it easier for people with larger screens to find the right apps. According to a post on the developer’s blog, the company plans to make adjustments to how apps are ranked and promoted, how reviews are displayed, change alerts when users browse apps on a tablet, foldable or Chromebook, and more.
In the blog post, Google said it will update the Play Store’s app rankings and features on large-screen devices, with logic that takes into account factors such as support for different device orientations, keyboard support, and more. The company said the change, which will be made “over the next few months,” is designed to “prioritize high-quality apps and games” and help ensure that the apps people find first work well on their devices.
Google’s post also mentions that the Play Store will start showing people reviews and ratings from devices in the same category — for example, phone users will see reviews left by other phone users, and tablet users will see reviews left by tablet users reviews, etc. so they can better understand how the app works on devices like theirs.
The company announced the change last summer, but it’s good to hear it’s still a work in progress. Developers can see which reviews and rating users with a specific device will see in the Play Store console, Google said.
Finally, Google says it will change alerts for apps that don’t meet compatibility requirements to make sure users of larger-screen devices know how things will work after they’re installed. Its post was vague about what that actually means, saying it would “provide additional communication on this change” later this year.
