With technology taking another step forward, Google raises the limit to 100MB for apps in their Play Store, acknowledging both the needs of developers and alleviating the frustrations of users. For some though, it might just add more problems.
- The limit has been doubled from 50MB to 100MB
- The update will be available for all Android versions from 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and higher
- The 50MB limit has been as old as the renaming of Android Market to Google Play Store
Mobile gaming has certainly become a market to be taken into consideration. Smartphones have become much more able to play decent games that have gone past the era of ‘Snake’ and ‘Bounce’. Good graphics and intricate gameplay have become part of the requirements for most, not to mention the practical apps that demand more options.
Google seems to be diving in head first into the change, by allowing Android devices and developers to take advantage of a new limitation in their Google Play Store. The limit has been doubled for APK files (Android application packages), from 50MB to 100MB.
This could mean more complex games, better graphics and more options for developers. On the other end of the spectrum, it could also mean slower downloads and poorer performances when it comes to devices with not-so-excellent capabilities.
The 50MB limitation has been considered a legacy in the Android market for apps, so it does speak volumes that Google is changing it. The company seems to acknowledge the fact that smartphones have become more powerful than they were years ago. They also understand developers’ need to create more complex apps.
The problem has always been rooted in the fact that many app makers found a way to surpass the restriction anyway. If their app needed more than 50MB to work properly, users would have to sit through additional downloads after the original installation and launch. It’s not farfetched to say that most become frustrated when they can’t use the file after they’ve already installed it.
According to Google, their goals is to make it all a “delightful user experience”, while acknowledging that this might mean slower downloads. The bigger the file, the longer it will take to download and install. High bandwidth is not available everywhere, especially in countries outside Europe and the United States.
The company also mentioned that while app developers can now work with larger file sizes, it doesn’t mean that they should. All factors such as internet speed, mobile data, hardware capabilities and the general patience of users should be taken into consideration.
It’s expected that Android devices will start seeing files on the Google Play Store to be around 80-90MB on average.
The update will be made available for the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich version or higher, which is essentially the majority of users.
Image source: infolinks.com
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