Maintenance of your app is a usual business if you deal with software development. How often should you update your app? It depends on how often Google releases their updates. But, they definitely cannot be ignored, at least not for long. Sometimes, missing an update can cost your business clients and/or revenues. One glitch or bug can hurt your app’s reputation because those things tend to irritate users pretty much. Google has recently published a shortlist of required updates for apps that it distributes on its platform Google Play. These updates are to be made by developers but it is up to you to initiate their integration.
You would be required to do it earlier or later, so it would probably be best to get prepared. These updates include icon size changes, transition from 32bit to 64bit system versions, changes in the forms you are required to fill when submitting your app, and switch from Google Analytics to Firebase analytics (for those that use them). Read on to find out more and why this is relevant.
Android 10
Anniversary release of the world’s #1 smartphone OS is finally here. Google will release the updates gradually starting from September 4th and introducing them first on its Pixel smartphone line exclusively. Following Apple, Android also adopted dark theme to allow saving the phone energy which is a great move. But even greater is the OS’ gesture recognition feature. Here’s the list of some other incremental improvements:
- Works with foldable phones and new screens
- Improved privacy settings (more control of the apps)
- “Bubbles” multitasking (like in Facebook messenger)
- Background security updates
- 5G
- More multimedia codecs support
- Freeform windows
- Adaptive Wi-Fi (allows higher performance)
- Enhanced voice recognition and text transcription
You can get a more detailed in-depth review here but much is still unknown, especially from a user perspective since it is only the first day and not much feedback is yet available. We’ll keep you updated, so stay tuned!
Google Analytics to Firebase Analytics
Not many apps use Google Analytics to have a detailed report on a client’s in-app activity. This includes how much time a user spends in each window, what is his behavior, what buttons he pushes, which blocks of information attract his attention, etc. App owners mostly use basic free analytics that show user count, number of uploads, etc. But, many apps that have a wide audience require more specific analytics to improve the overall functionality of the app. And this summer Google announced that it switches Google Analytics to its successor Firebase Analytics, a more innovative and updated program. Consider this, if you’re going to develop an app that needs detailed analytics.
32bit to 64bit
All apps should include a 64-bit version from now on. It means all the libraries and code modules in your app should have a 64-bit version. This continues a strategic move to the overall implementation of a 64-bit system. 64-bit systems can handle more data and operate faster than 32-bit systems. Almost all modern processors are 64-bit processors. In a couple of years it will be implemented everywhere, so make sure your app is going to function properly over time.
Fill in the Form
Make sure that you or your team members fill the new form correctly when submitting the apps to Google Play. It is primarily related to age restrictions and the rating of apps, depending on the content (nobody wants their kids to use tinder, right?). The form also gathers specifications regarding business objectives of your app, its target audience, etc.
Icons
Google requires all apps to update their icons and follow the guidelines for a better displaying in Google Play and on different devices. Keep in mind that an icon is a face of your app, so don’t neglect this requirement and remind your designers to update the resolutions according to the provided guidelines. A faulty icon can confuse users and hurt the status of your app (making users think you’re reckless or inattentive). Moreover, it may be one of the reasons for Google to discard your app.
Conclusion
New versions of Android appear annually and there is a need for apps to migrate from older versions to newer ones if they want to work properly on new devices. These updates are aimed to make apps function perfectly on Android 8 and higher. Consider that a smartphone’s life cycle has shortened and people tend to buy new models each 3 years. And, Google also updates Android via cloud, so it requires making incremental changes from time to time.
Need to update your app?
