The Android Police reported rumors that the Google Play Store will be getting a Material Design makeover.
The report, however, does not indicate a specific time when the interface changes will be released. It is possible that there would be incremental changes until the entire interface has been revamped, and it is also possible that there will be a complete update in the Fall when Google's apps are set for their own facelifts with the launch of Android L.
Material Design is a visual language created by Google that "synthesizes the classic principles of good design with the innovation and possibility of technology and science." Google is looking to use Material Design for a unified experience across different platforms and devices, including Android gadgets, Chrome OS computers, smartwatches and web apps.
Google+ is the first iteration of Material Design, which was subsequently followed by Google Docs and Google Sheets.
According to information obtained by the Android Police, the Google Play Store is next in line to receive the aesthetic upgrade.
Pre-release screenshots of the revamped Google Play Store show a content listing layout that places content right at the forefront, with all the other information following afterwards.
The listings are shown to have more color, bannered by an image that looks similar to the cover photos of social media profiles known as a hero image. Apps and games listed on the Google Play Store use either a hero image or a promotional video, movies use their trailer, and publications use expanded headers as their book covers are usually in the portrait orientation, which doesn't translate well to a hero image layout.
After the wide images and burst of colors found in both the phone and tablet interface, at the bottom part of the listings are the rest of the information, including content description. At the very last part of the listing are new icons that signify different thing about the listing, such as flagging for mature content.
In addition to all the aesthetic makeover that the Play Store has received, user interaction with the listings of the store has also changed. Previously, users that wish to share a content listing may do so by accessing the option through the action bar. On the pre-release screenshots, however, the option is buried in a row located under the review section, located beside the wishlist button and the Google+ button.
The Google+ button shows the how many people have "plussed" the listing, but not who they are. The button will most like be moved where it can more easily be seen, as Google would surely want to promote Google+ in the revamped Play Store.
