Google Rolls Out Play Store Refresh

The Google Play Store on Android and Chrome OS received a visual redesign this week with a new look and new navigation.

“The Google Play Store has over two billion monthly active users coming to find the right app, game, and other digital content,” Google’s Boris Valusek writes. “To improve the overall store experience, we’re excited to roll out a complete visual redesign. Aligning with Material design language, we’re introducing several user-facing updates to deliver a cleaner, more premium store that improves app discovery and accessibility for our diverse set of users.”

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Here’s what’s new.

Material design. Like Google’s other recently-redesigned apps, the Play Store now features a minimalist, white-heavy design that uses color to call out “action” items.

New navigation. On Android phones, there is a new navigation bar on the bottom of the screen with Games, Apps, Movies & TV, and Books items. On tablets and Chrome OS, it’s on the left.

Updated store listings. When viewing an app or game in the Store, you’ll see a new layout with richer information at the top and more prominent Install (and similar) buttons.

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Conversation 8 comments

  • dallasnorth40

    Premium Member
    21 August, 2019 - 1:56 pm

    <p>I like it. This is a big improvement with regard to navigation. Suggestions still suck, but baby steps.</p>

  • djross95

    Premium Member
    21 August, 2019 - 2:01 pm

    <p>Good thing they have a dark theme coming in Android Q. So much blinding white! </p>

    • karlinhigh

      Premium Member
      21 August, 2019 - 2:46 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#450827">In reply to djross95:</a></em></blockquote><p>Must be a fashion cycle of some sort. DOS and Unix were "dark mode," and the first Macs were applauded for moving away from that. The Stephen Levy history-of-Mac book "Insanely Great" opens with the line, "What I first remember was the light."</p>

      • darkgrayknight

        Premium Member
        21 August, 2019 - 4:50 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#450830">In reply to karlinhigh:</a></em></blockquote><p>It is kind of sad that we ever even went to white. Seeing black text on a white screen is not as pleasant as on paper. Black background with white text is much better on a screen.</p>

  • Cdorf

    Premium Member
    21 August, 2019 - 3:06 pm

    <p>Can Mary Jo see it?</p>

  • joshhuggins

    21 August, 2019 - 6:53 pm

    <p>What would be really great is if they could fix it so those of us paying GSuite customers could review apps again someday.</p>

  • marius_muntean

    22 August, 2019 - 1:40 am

    <p>Have this new UI for months 🙂 Guess I was among the lucky first ones.</p>

  • rm

    22 August, 2019 - 8:28 am

    <p>No dark theme . . . sad.</p>

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