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Google’s recent Play Store redesign introduced a clean all-white UI and squircle icons. However, it hasn’t gone down too well with the users. People are annoyed with it having plenty of white space, and lacking a dark mode option.
The Google Play Store is now going to get more annoying in the coming weeks. The app will soon start autoplaying videos on app/game listings.
Google says “beginning September 2019, Google Play will start autoplaying store listing videos to help more users discover your content at a glance.”
According to a Play Console help page, autoplaying videos are coming to Play Store this month. Google, however, is not allowing videos with ads before them. Since videos in Play Store listings are pulled from YouTube, monetized videos show ads, which Google says could be confusing for users. The company has asked developers to turn off monetization for the promo videos featured on Play Store listing.
Videos having copyrighted content with monetization claims may need to be replaced with a different video. Developers have until November to address that requirement and keep the video eligible to be shown on Google Play.
“Google Play will soon start autoplaying store listing videos to help more users discover your content at a glance. If your videos are monetized, they may show YouTube ads. This can be confusing for users,” a Google notification reads. “When users browse Google Play, we want them to see your app, not someone else’s ad.
That’s why all developers with a video in their listing must disable monetization by November 1, 2019 to keep the video eligible to be shown on Google Play.”
Google Play Store gets more annoying
At a time when many apps and websites are moving over to a more darker-tone, Google introduced a blindingly white theme for the Play Store. It was certain to annoy users worldwide. While white background makes webpages look less busy, a dark one feels easier on the eyes, more so in a dark environment, like in bed at night. Dark mode also saves a bit of battery juice.
Most of the Google apps already have a dark mode. The next iteration of Android is even getting a system-wide dark mode. Many third-party apps are also embracing this trend. The Play Store, on the other hand, is going exact opposite.
Imagine navigating through an entire UI that is dark, only to be blinded by the brightness of the Play Store. That’s annoying, right? Add to that, autoplaying videos in it.
It is unclear if Google will add an option somewhere in Play Store settings to disable autoplaying videos. Not only it will be annoying to users, the autoplaying videos will also add to the data expense on your smartphone.
YouTube, and even Facebook, also play the videos automatically when you scroll through the Home feed, but they do have an option to disable the autoplay. Furthermore, the video playback is muted unless the user decides to turn on the volume. Here’s hoping the Play Store will also have this feature.