ASO news digest for July 2024

Google introduced collections, AI app comparisons, personalized recommendations, and other new features to the Play Store. Apple is testing several UI options for the Search tab on the App Store. AltStore PAL now provides iPhone users in the EU with access to third-party apps.

Contents

1. Google introduced collections, AI app comparisons, personalized recommendations, and more to the Play Store
2. Google introduced a new Search tab at the bottom of the Play Store
3. Google will remove apps with limited functionality from the Play Store
4. Google Play introduced more personalized local recommendations
5. Apple is testing several UI options for the Search tab on the App Store
6. AltStore PAL now provides iPhone users in the EU with access to third-party apps
7. Angle Group participated in the App Growth Summit São Paulo 2024

Google Play news

Google introduced collections, AI app comparisons, personalized recommendations, and more to the Play Store

Google rolled out updates for the Play Store which aimed to simplify app discovery and interaction with content.

Collections

This feature showcases content from installed apps directly on the home screen. By long-pressing the Play Store icon, users can access a menu featuring seven categories like “Food”, “Game”, “Listen”, “Read”, “Shop”, “Social”, and “Watch”. Each category highlights relevant apps recently interacted with, allowing users to quickly resume activities such as watching a show or browsing content. Collections are now available in the USA. 

Collections allow developers to showcase their content, such as tailored suggestions and promotions. Users can deep-link directly into an app to continue their experience, whether they want to enjoy content or finalize a purchase. For users who have developer apps but aren’t logged in, Collections can prompt them to sign in to access the most personalized content. Additionally, if an app is integrated but not installed, Collections can suggest that users download it.

Google provides several methods to use Collections to effectively engage users.

Continuation journeys help users resume their activities with a tap, like:

• In Shop, users can pick up an abandoned shopping cart.
• In Listen, users can continue a recently played album, playlist, or podcast.
• In Food, users can reorder a recent meal.

Developers can also create up to five personalized recommendation clusters based on user behavior, such as new releases or price drops. For users who are not logged in, developers can provide broad appeal content to encourage a new session.

Finally, Collections features a spotlight cluster for top personalized promotions, which are ideal for:

• Promoting memberships and loyalty programs.
• Highlighting personalized deals.
• Announcing new products and app features.

Learn more on how to use Collections for your app in Google’s article.

Introducing AI-powered app comparisons

Using the advanced Gemini AI model, this feature allows for comparisons of apps within similar categories. Users seeking specific functionalities can now receive AI-generated descriptions and recommendations, streamlining their app selection process.

Curated spaces

Curated spaces on Google Play offer a convenient way for users to explore their interests further — all in one location. Recently, Google introduced a curated space for cricket, aimed at helping users in India discover a wide range of cricket content from various apps in a single spot.

Now, Google has teamed up with popular Japanese comic publishers to launch a new curated space for comics in Japan. This space provides access to a wealth of comics-related content — including free previews of first chapters, live events, trailers, editor’s picks, and fan reviews, even from apps a user hasn’t installed. Users in Japan can find this curated comics space by selecting the “Comics” tab on the Apps home screen.

Personalized recommendations

With customizable interest filters, Google Play now suggests games and apps tailored to the selected preferences, ensuring users discover titles aligned with their interests and preferences.

Users can choose to disable interests if they prefer not to use the feature.

Personalization in Play

The new “Personalization in Play” menu empowers users to manage data collection preferences within the Play Store. Users can choose which app data (like activity, purchases, and offers) to include, shaping their Play Store experience. For example, a user can choose not to collect data associated with a particular app for personalization within the Play Store.

Explore more about these and other updates in Google’s official announcement.

Google introduced a new Search tab at the bottom of the Play Store

After testing, Google is shifting the Play Store search functionality to a new tab located in the bottom bar. Google is gradually rolling out the new Search tab to more users. Many have started seeing it on their phones, although it’s not yet universally available.

When a user first encounters this change, a prompt labeled “Meet the Search tab” appears. If they tap where the search bar used to be, they’ll see a message at the bottom saying “Looking for the Search bar”, as that area now displays the Play Points count. Double-tapping the bottom bar icon quickly opens the search UI and keyboard.

The bottom bar is now persistent — remaining visible when you navigate to app listings and developer pages and allowing for quicker movement within the app.

Previously, the search bar was at the top of the screen within the “Games” and “Apps” feeds. Now, it can be accessed via a new “Search” tab in the center of the bottom bar. When a user opens this tab, the search bar reappears at the top, which doesn’t improve reachability.

The new search interface presents a grid of suggested search terms under “You might like” and “Explore games”. However, the page is visually unstimulating and text-heavy, making the two-step search process feel cumbersome.

In the Games and Apps sections, the app bar now shows just the Play logo, notification bell, and profile avatar, leaving a lot of empty space. The Search tab is exclusively for app queries, with no changes to the Books tab, where the search bar remains at the top.

This update is part of version 40.1.19-31 of the Play Store and is being rolled out via a server-side update, signaling Google’s commitment to this new design.

Google will remove apps with limited functionality from the Play Store

From August 31, 2024, Google will enforce an updated Spam and Minimum Functionality policy. Previously focused on severe functionality issues like crashes, forced closes, freezes, or otherwise abnormal functioning, Google’s policy now extends to apps deemed to offer limited functionality and content. For instance:

• Static applications without app-specific functionalities, such as text-only or PDF file apps.
• Apps with minimal content and that do not provide an engaging user experience, like single wallpaper apps.
• Apps that are designed to do nothing or have no function.

Google Play introduced more personalized local recommendations

The Google Play Store is set to become more personalized by offering local content recommendations based on users’ device location. In July Mishaal Rahman noticed a new feature that uses a device’s location to suggest apps, offers, and other relevant local content, which he described in the Android Authority blog. 

When Mishaal recently opened the Google Play Store on his Galaxy Z Flip 6, he saw a prompt asking if he wanted to enable local recommendations. It explained that Play could use his device’s location to provide more relevant content for his area.

After selecting “Continue”, Android requested permission to access his approximate location, a feature introduced with Android 12. This permission provides location estimates accurate to about 3 square kilometers (1.2 square miles), which should be sufficient for offering localized recommendations.

In addition to personalized suggestions, Google Play will use this location data to “enforce local guidelines on content and distribution”, according to the support page. While the exact impact on app availability is unclear, it might affect which apps are shown based on a user’s approximate location, even if apps are available in the country.

To opt out of this feature, users can disable “Use device location” in the Play Store’s settings under the General dropdown — or revoke location access via the Android Settings app.

Currently, Mishaal Rahman only noticed this feature on one device, and others he asked have not seen it yet. However, with a support page already available, it may be rolled out more broadly in the future.

App Store news

Apple is testing several UI options for the Search tab on the App Store

The Search tab on the App Store has been redesigned. Users of the ASO Stack community on Slack and LinkedIn shared different versions of how they see these changes on their devices.

Apple is testing a single ad placement with a banner, a single ad placement without a banner, and suggestions with a single ad placement. Users can browse any category below, and the suggested apps section can be expanded into the full list. Top charts are still accessible at the top of the Browse section — with other categories listed beneath them.

Here’s what Alexander Vereshchagin, ASO Lead at Angle Group, thinks about the Search Tab update on the App Store:

“This update will make the App Store more convenient for users. It will no longer be necessary to scroll down the tabs every time to find app categories. Previously, users might have discovered interesting apps while scrolling down. Now, the focus is entirely on categories. For users to find their apps in these categories, ASO specialists need to work hard to improve keyword rankings and reach the top of the category charts.”

Alternative app stores news

AltStore PAL now provides iPhone users in the EU with access to third-party apps

In April, developer Riley Testut launched an alternative version of AltStore called AltStore PAL as an App Marketplace for iOS users in the European Union, enabled by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation. Initially, AltStore PAL only featured Testut’s own apps, but it now includes third-party apps.

According to an announcement on the official AltStore Mastodon account, AltStore PAL 2.1 allows users to add sources for downloading apps from other developers. By default, four additional apps are available for download through AltStore PAL: UTM SE, qBitControl, iTorrent, and PeopleDrop.

AltStore has conducted its own review of the initial apps to confirm they meet its safety standards. Users can add these apps through the “Sources” screen, where they will then appear in the “Browse” tab.

To use AltStore PAL, users need an iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later, and it is available exclusively to users in the European Union. A subscription fee of €1.50 per year is required to cover Apple’s associated charges. 

Thanks to the DMA, Apple is required to implement APIs that enable developers to distribute apps beyond the App Store. This is leading to the emergence of a new app store ecosystem where developers can compete with the default iOS marketplace. Learn more about how to distribute your app on AltStore. 

Angle Group news

Angle Group participated in the App Growth Summit São Paulo 2024

On July 11, Angle Group proudly participated as a major sponsor at the App Growth Summit in São Paulo 2024. This remarkable event attracted over 470 professionals specializing in app growth.

Michael Subins, an expert in Apple Search Ads and co-founder of Angle Agency, delivered a keynote presentation on launching and scaling Apple Search Ads campaigns. His insights drew a packed audience of specialists, showing significant interest in the topic.

We are pleased to share Michael’s conference slides, which cover:

• Key Apple Search Ads strategies.
• How to determine test budgets for campaigns.
• Strategic account structures.
• How to optimize bids.
• How to scale your campaigns.
• Top 10+ practical tips for working with Apple Search Ads.
• The formula for a successful Apple Search Ads campaign.

Download the presentation created by an expert with seven years of experience in Apple Search Ads.

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