Posted by Ellie Powers, Google Play team
Android tablets are a huge developer opportunity, after becoming a breakout success with users. Fueled by the original Nexus 7 and other great Android tablets, more than 70 million Android tablets have been activated, with more than half of all new tablets sold today running Android.
Thousands of developers have already designed their apps to look great on tablets and have seen their investments pay off. With the new Nexus tablets selling quickly and the holidays fast approaching, we’re announcing some changes in Google Play that will make it even easier for Android tablet owners to discover great tablet-designed apps and games.
Play Store tablet changes coming up on November 21
Earlier this year, Google Play added a “Designed for tablets” section, where users could easily discover apps that look great on their 7” and 10” tablets. This section includes only the apps and games which meet criteria and guidelines we established last year. (Here’s an overview if you missed it.) Being part of the "Designed for tablets" section can have a large impact on an app's visibility. For example, Remember The Milk worked to meet the criteria and saw an 83% increase in downloads from being in this section (see the whole story here).
On November 21, the Play Store will make a series of changes to further improve tablet app visibility and make it even easier for users to find the apps that are best for their devices. First, "Designed for tablets" will now be the default view for users browsing Google Play top lists on their tablets (Top Paid, Top Free, Top Grossing, Top New Paid, Top New Free, and Trending). Tablet users will still be able to switch the view so they can see all apps or games if they choose. Second, apps and games that do not meet the “Designed for tablets” criteria will be marked as “Designed for phones” for users who browse the Play Store on tablets.
You’ll want to make sure that your app is designed for tablets. The section below has details on how to check the app to see if it can be part of the "Designed for tablets" section.
Make sure your app is ready
If you want to be sure your app is included in the “Designed for tablets” section in time for the November 21 Play Store changes, go to the Developer Console to check your tablet optimization tips. If you see any "to do" issues listed under "Design your app for tablets", you’ll need to address those and upload a new binary for distribution if necessary. If there are no "to do" issues listed, your app is eligible to be included in the “Designed for tablets" section in the top lists.
Also, make sure to read the full tablet quality checklist to understand how to build outstanding tablet experiences.
Every day, thousands of Android developers are taking advantage of the tremendous Android tablet opportunity. The flood of new users coupled with the increased screen size means new user experiences, more engagement, and more monetization opportunities. We’re excited to see what you do!
Post a Comment