Google Play Store makes it easier to find Android apps, but I’m bummed that this comics feature is only available in Japan
Google is making major changes to its Play Store on Android in an effort to make finding apps on the platform easier. Several features are being added to the digital storefront, including a section dedicated entirely to manga.
But before we dive into the new page, let’s first discuss what might be the most dramatic change: a widget on the home screen called Collections. This lets you keep track of what’s happening in different apps and actively receive recommendations.
You can change the widget’s design to full screen, a single-line bar, or something in between with a few icons, but regardless of the layout, it divides things into categories of apps. Watch, for example, serves up video recommendations for YouTube and streaming services. It even has a Continue Watching section that brings you back to a show or movie where you left off.
There’s also Listen to audio content like music or podcasts, and Shop offers deals you might find interesting. you can return the last one to “active shopping carts inside [other] applications.” Collections can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. However, it seems that the rollout is still ongoing and the feature may not be ready yet.
When we tried to install the widget, nothing happened and the widget did not appear anywhere on our Android phone.
AI and new controls
It wouldn’t be a new update from Google if artificial intelligence didn’t make an appearance somewhere.
In the past I/O 2024 EventThe tech giant implemented AI-generated reviews on the Play Store to quickly provide information about an app. For this update, Google has decided to use AI to help people ” [software] in similar categories.” A comparison page describes an app’s most notable features, how often the app has been downloaded, and what it does.
The company is also adding several search features, starting with video game interest filters in the search bar. This will help you narrow down the genre of games you’re most interested in or want to play, whether it’s action games or puzzle games.
If you want to control your experience on the platform, Google is implementing Personalization in Play to manage your app data. What is and isn’t shared directly impacts the listings that appear. For example, if you revoke consent to share data in the Fitness app, fitness-related software will appear less frequently. The same goes for finance apps, productivity apps, or whatever; they’ll become less common.
But perhaps one of the best features is exclusive to Japan, and that’s the new Comics section. Google has partnered with Japanese publishers to create an entire section dedicated to manga and manga-related content. It will feature first-chapter previews, editor’s picks, fan reviews, and trailers. The best part is that Japanese users don’t need to install any apps, as they’ll be built right in.
Considering how immensely popular manga is worldwide, it would have been great if this section had been given a wider release. But unfortunately, much to the dismay of fans of the medium worldwide, that has not been the case.
We’ve reached out to Google to ask if they plan to expand the Comics tab and when exactly this Play Store update will roll out. This story will be updated later.
In the meantime, check out TechRadar’s list of the best Android phones for 2024.
