Skip to main content

Google revamps Android Market, adds more lists

google-android-market-changes-may-2011
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In an effort to combat the Apple App Store and enhance the number of paid downloads on Android, Google is making more changes to the Android Market. The search giant announced a number of new features at Google I/O yesterday. New top app charts, an editor’s choice page, a top grossing list, trending apps, top developers, and an improved related apps engine are already available on http://market.android.com and are coming soon to the mobile Android Market. We’ve got the details below.

  • Country-specific top apps: The top paid/free and new paid/free charts for games & apps will now be country specific in most major markets. Google also claims that the results will be more “fresh” and relevant.
  • Top grossing: This new chart will highlight more expensive games & apps, or ones that have made the most revenue through purchases and in-app billing.
  • Editor’s Choice: The Android Market staff will pick these games & apps.
  • Top Developers: This chart will be filled with developers who have the highest quality and most notable apps on the Market. These developers will get a little denotation (150 of them, to start) saying they make quality games/apps.
  • Trending apps: This list will show apps that are showing a lot of upward momentum on the charts. They may not be top sellers, but they are rising quickly in the ranks.
  • Related apps: There is already a related apps section, but Google claims to have greatly improved it. Now you’ll see apps that are frequently browsed by those who have viewed this app and apps that people tend to install with whatever app you’re looking at.

At this rate, Google may soon need a chart to show the newest, hottest charts. Hopefully these updates won’t clutter the market more than they help it. Google needs to do its best to promote the best apps, wherever they come from.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Pokémon Unite tops the list of Google Play’s Best Games of 2021
Pokemon Unite characters.

In its usual end-of-year retrospective, Google has announced the Best of Play winners for 2021, highlighting key apps and games that Google feels made the most positive contributions to the world of mobile over the past year. 
For the first time, Google has also expanded these awards beyond the Android smartphone platform this year to include apps and games on tablets, Wear OS, and Google TV. The awards recognize innovation in app and game development, and in making its selections, Google looks for apps that challenge the norms by “introducing unique gameplay features and giving users never-before-seen experiences.” 

Pokémon Unite took the Best Game of the Year award for 2021, beating out top picks from previous years such as Genshin Impact (2020), Call of Duty: Mobile (2019), and PUBG Mobile (2018). Google cited the dynamic gameplay and cross-platform experience of Pokémon Unite as its key merits, while also giving honorable mentions to independent developers that it says are “creating imaginative and personal gaming experiences.” The runners-up this year were notably both indie developers: George Batchelor for Bird Alone and Annapurna Interactive for Donut County.
Masaaki Hoshino, Producer for Pokémon Unite, thanked Google for the recognition, adding, “All of us who worked on the game are very honored to receive such an award,” particularly as this is Pokémon’s first strategic team battle game. “We tried to distill the best parts of the MOBA genre to create a new kind of game,” Hoshino added, while also candidly admitting that he was “unsure if it would be well received by players around the world.” The Pokémon Unite producer says he’s thrilled to have the affirmation that his team is on the right track and plans to continue improving the game and making it even more exciting. 
Google Play also acknowledged winners in five more specific categories, including Best Competitive, Best Game Changers, Best Indies, Best Pick up & Play, and, for the first time, Best for Tablets. 
Once again, Google also ran its Users’ Choice awards to give Play Store users a chance to weigh in by voting on their most popular picks. This year, the vote for Best Game went to Garena Free Fire MAX. Previous Users’ Choice award winners include SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off (2020), Call of Duty: Mobile (2019), and PUBG Mobile (2018). Although the 2018 and 2019 Users’ Choice matched Google’s own pick for Game of the Year, this is now the second year in which the user vote has gone in a different direction. 
As for apps, Google noted that apps focused on personal growth continued to be in high demand throughout 2021, and its top picks reflected that. 

Read more
Android at Google I/O 2021: Everything new
Android 12 teaser images

After a few months of early developer previews, at Google I/O 2021 Google has finally given us an in-depth look at the nest-generation version of Android, Android 12 -- and boy is it an upgrade. The new operating system represents a massive overhaul to the user interface, along with support for new features like stacked widgets, new settings toggles, and more.

Android 12 will be released to the public later this year, likely in September or October. Until then, early builds of it will be available in the form of beta releases, though we don't recommend installing those on your primary devices considering the fact that they likely have bugs that could impact usage of your phone.

Read more
The second Android 12 Developer Preview brings more privacy controls and tweaks
Android 12 developer preview home screen.

Google has released the second Android 12 Developer Preview, bringing with it a number of tweaks and fixes, as well as a few new features that weren't available in the first Developer Preview.

It's important to note that the Developer Previews don't usually highlight many consumer-facing new features. The new features and visual tweaks are usually reserved for the public betas, which will start rolling out in May, according to Google. Until then, Developer Previews give users a taste of the under-the-hood tweaks users should expect.

Read more