The Google Play Store will improve the process of locating apps that have an appealing appearance on tablets and foldable devices.
Google's Play Store badge for large-screen apps may seem like a minor visual tweak, but it carries significant implications; this marks the first instance where users can identify a tablet-optimized app without needing to download it and gamble on its compatibility.
If you've ever installed an app on a tablet only to discover that it features a phone-sized interface that only occupies the center of the screen, leaving black bars on either side, Google has now recognized your frustration.
A forthcoming update to the Play Store (version 51.2) will introduce a new badge system that will clearly identify apps designed for larger screens, allowing tablet and foldable device users to easily see which apps are correctly formatted for their devices.
What information does the new badge provide?
The badge will be visible on an app's listing in the Play Store. It indicates that the app is optimized for larger screen devices, suggesting that the layout is designed to fit the entire display rather than defaulting to a stretched phone interface.
Version 51.2 will also bring several other enhancements, such as an additional content rating display on app listings, visible subscription plan details within app reviews, and access to Collections for tablet users through a long-press on the Play Store icon.
When will the new Google Play Store update be available?
As mentioned, these features are part of an upcoming Play Store update and are not yet active. There is currently no confirmed date or timeline for the rollout.
However, the timing appears intentional. Google has reportedly been developing Aluminium OS for several months, a unified Android and ChromeOS platform. The introduction of Play Store badges indicates that the company is planning to extend its focus beyond smartphones.
For users of Samsung Galaxy foldable devices or tablets, Pixel foldables or tablets, or any other large-screen Android devices, the upcoming Google Play Store update is certainly worth following.
In other tech news, Apple is set to introduce an AI photo editing feature that Google and Samsung have offered for years.
Apple's AI photo editing initiative in iOS 27 is a timely move, albeit three years after the launch of Google's Magic Editor and multiple generations of Galaxy AI features.
For years, Google Photos has provided functionalities that Apple's Photos app lacked, leading to Apple taking notice. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 will include a dedicated “Apple Intelligence Tools” section in the photo editing interface.
The “Apple Intelligence Tools” will include three new AI-powered editing capabilities: Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. Each of these features will operate entirely on the device, and true to Apple's style, will complete edits in just a few seconds.
In addition, Amazon has made online shopping more conversational with its new Join the chat feature, allowing users to ask questions while receiving AI-generated product summaries.
Shopping on Amazon has become more interactive with the launch of Join the chat, which is an enhancement within the already existing Hear the highlights feature.
If you haven't encountered Hear the highlights, it’s an AI-driven audio summary tool found on numerous product pages in the Amazon Shopping app. It provides brief audio overviews of a product's main features based on product details, customer reviews, and other public information.
Furthermore, Google Translate is now introducing a feature that allows users to practice pronunciation with live AI feedback.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Google Translate is launching pronunciation practice, which is currently available on Android for English, Spanish, and Hindi users in the US and India, though there is no information yet on its availability in other regions or on iOS.
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The Google Play Store will improve the process of locating apps that have an appealing appearance on tablets and foldable devices.
The forthcoming v51.2 update of the Google Play Store introduces a large-screen optimization badge to app listings, clearly indicating which apps are designed for tablets and foldable devices.
