Google’s Android Dev Summit will kick off on October 23, 2019, where keynote speakers and presenters will go over the latest in Android app development. The summit comes shortly after the “Made by Google” event, which revealed the Google Pixel 4, so there will likely be many new announcements to keep an eye out for. App developers should keep a close eye on the conference and consider how changes can impact their App Store Optimization. With that in mind, here’s what we can expect to see at the 2019 Android Dev Summit.
Android 11
The Android app for the Dev Summit launched recently, including the first official reference to Android 11. This continues Google’s relatively newer trend of naming its operating systems numerically, rather than after desserts. Surprisingly, the name is not hidden by a codename like previous versions were before they were revealed.
The main stage event “Preparing for Scoped Storage in Android 11” is the first indication of the new OS. Scoped Storage changes were initially planned for Android 10 but were pushed back to Android 11. With that in mind, we can expect a full Android 11 announcement during the event.
Updating Apps for Pixel 4
During Google’s “Made by Google” hardware event, the company revealed several new products. Chief among these is the Google Pixel 4, which has new features and specs including:
- An enhanced camera
- Face unlock sensors
- 90Hz display
- Motion Sense
- New Google Assistant
- Car crash detection
Many of these features can impact apps, such as motion sense controls. Developers should know how they can integrate such features into their Android apps and what benefits they can get from them.
Afterwards, developers should also consider how to highlight these features in their Google Play Store pages. For instance, photo app developers should see how the app works with the Pixel 4’s dual camera and design creatives that utilize it.
Stadia
Google recently announced the launch date for Stadia, its game streaming service. This is a cross-platform service that lets users play games on console, computer or mobile devices. Since it can be used for mobile games, developers have been interested in how they can utilize Stadia for their apps. The Dev Summit has several sessions that can be relevant to such developers, such as “How to Bring Optimized Experiences to the Big Screen” focusing on cross-platform environments.
No More VR
Google has moved away from virtual reality with the discontinuation of its Daydream VR platform. While VR apps are still available on the Google Play Store, discontinuing Daydream support may be worrying for virtual reality app developers.
On the other hand, Augmented Reality has continued to see new support from Google with each new update. Google’s ARCore support has helped apps add AR functionality and the trend shows no signs of slowing. If there is any AR news from Google, we may hear about it at the Dev Summit.
Demos, Sessions & More
Aside from the keynote, there will be several sessions during the Dev Summit. Many of these will be of interest to app developers on Google Play, including:
- Google Play Billing: Required Updates and New Functionality
- Why Does Google Think My App Is Harmful?
- Navigating Your Way Around Customizable Delivery
- Vitals Masterclass: Monitoring and Improving Real-World Stability and Performance
- In-AP Updates
There are also several sessions dedicated to Android Jetpack Compose, a suite of libraries, tools and guidance to help developers write apps more easily. These sessions can all provide useful information for app developers, including information on ensuring their apps are optimized for the Play Store.
How Can I Watch?
The Android Dev Summit will broadcast live on the Android Developers YouTube channel, starting October 23rd at 10:00 AM. Keep an eye on the Gummicube blog for any and all information relevant to app marketing and App Store Optimization from the summit.
Want more information regarding App Store Optimization? Contact Gummicube and we’ll help get your strategy started.