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Google on Monday announced changes to the way it calculates and displays app ratings on the Play Store, which could make them more useful and relevant to users and developers (via 9to5Google). Instead of a rating for an entire app, which can come in various forms and relative quality levels depending on the device, Google plans to break things down with specific ratings for the country your device is registered in and ratings. specific for the form factor of the device you are using to browse the Play Store.
There are clear reasons why this change might be useful. First, not all apps offer the same functionality or functionality everywhere due to national laws and one universal law: Android fragmentation. If I’m a developer selling a messaging app on the play store, I don’t want my ratings bombarded because the payment feature that I only offer in one country is currently blocked. The other reason, even more important: some apps simply crave larger tablets or foldable forms. Google has had issues with anything bigger than a phone, so specific ratings for alternative form factors mean you can get notified in advance when you download something for your Android tablet that might not. work as well as you remember it on your phone.
Google plans to roll out country rankings in November and form factor rankings in 2022 (for tablets, foldables, Chrome OS, Wear OS, or Android Auto). The company will also notify developers ahead of the two changes if Google’s new rating method significantly changes the rating of their apps.
At least 10 weeks before any change in the Play Store, we’ll automatically analyze the change your app can expect to see and contact any developer who sees a change of more than 0.2 stars on any type of device. in a key market (one with more than five percent of visitors to your Play Store listing). This will give you time to plan if you want to make any key changes to your app.
Both changes should be helpful, but especially the upcoming device form factor considerations. Folders like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 or the Z Flip 3 are becoming more and more popular, but not all apps have adapted to them yet (looking at you, Instagram). Now there will be a slightly stronger incentive to do so or risk a worse rating from people actually using the app on those devices.
As part of Google’s announcement, the company is also presenting more Play Store data and metrics that developers can use in the Google Play Console, including device type information that breaks down ratings based on of the device that uses an app. You can check the Google blog for all other changes.
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