Google is updating its Play Store to make it easier to discover and download apps on a variety of Android devices – whether it’s a Wear OS watch, an Android TV, an Android tablet or a vehicle with Android Auto.
In total, these updates are said to be three in number: a new device-specific search filter, a new section focused on Android apps for non-phone devices, and a new option to remotely install apps from your phone.
The updates come in the context of Google’s ongoing efforts to improve the Android hardware ecosystem beyond cell phones – a focus highlighted by the company’s own efforts to release more Android hardware options, including this year’s GooglePixel smartwatch and a new Google tablet in 2023. It seems that if Google itself is going to offer a wider range of hardware, the company also wants to make it easier to install apps on a variety of devices.
The first update to the Google Play app adds new home pages for non-mobile 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 type of device. Each home page is made up of rows of suggestions. 9to5Google previously discovered these new sections in beta testing, and they officially launched this week.
Searching for apps for non-mobile devices should also become easier thanks to new search filters that appear below the search box. Users can use the filters to limit searches to one of their devices, whether it’s a smartwatch or Android TV. this feature also officially rolled out this week.
Finally, once you’ve found the Android app you want, Google’s announcement says it’s now easier to install it remotely. A promotional image shows how the same Android app can be installed on multiple different devices with a single click. Remote installation of Wear OS apps is a feature that has appeared on Google’s support page since last year, and users also found that Google tested remote Android TV app installation last November. Now, however, the remote installation feature is fully available to all users.
