Google is updating its Play Store, making it easier to discover and download apps on various Android devices—whether it's a Wear OS watch, Android TV, Android tablets or vehicles with Android Auto.
It is reported that there are three updates in total: a new device-specific search filter, a new part of Android app focusing on non-mobile devices, and new options for remotely installing apps from your phone.
These updates are all underway as Google is working to improve the Android hardware ecosystem outside of phones - the company itself is working to release more Android hardware options, including this year's Google Pixel smartwatch and 2023's new Google tablet , highlighting this point. It seems that if Google itself wants to provide a wider range of hardware, the company also wants to make it easier to install apps on various devices.
The first update of the Google Play app adds a new homepage to non-phone devices, including watches, TVs and cars. These home pages can be accessed from the Other Devices tab below the search box, and users can specify the exact device type. Each homepage consists of rows of suggestions. 9to5Google previously discovered these new parts in testing, and they were officially launched this week.
Thanks to the new search filters, it should also be easier to search for applications that are not mobile devices, which appear below the search box. Users can use filters to limit search to one of their own devices, whether it is an smartwatch or an Android TV. This feature is also officially launched this week.
Finally, once you find the Android app you want, Google's announcement says it's easier to install it remotely now. A promotional image shows how the same Android app can be installed on multiple different devices with one click. Remote installation of the Wear OS app is a feature that has appeared on Google's support page since last year, and users also found that Google tested the installation of the remote Android TV app in November last year. However, now, the remote installation function is fully available to all users.
