The latest update of Google Play, dubbed as version 4.9.13, seem to bear little changes at first glance. The familiar Play Store home page is left untouched as well as the sliding menu. The enhanced version becomes more apparent once navigation of an app begins. Each listing which includes movie, book, and album had been enhanced using the Material Design philosophy. Users would notice the presence of vivid sliding animations, enlarged images, and a smoother layout.
While the revamp would mean that more scrolling is needed, it shouldn't be an issue as the page is transformed to look prettier with a more user-friendly interface. The first noticeable change is the new white background color which is a shift from the previous grey. Probing further, Google has made several enhancements on the application's various aspects. In order to achieve a better focus on a page's information, Google has re-positioned the app changelog and the app screenshots. The apps that come with a video trailer should appear more prominent and should therefore occupy the top part of the page.
The redesign concept is based on creating a type of interface that's aligned with reality. Things such as elements, transitions, and animations must achieve a real-life appeal. The new design is embedded with tactile reality that has been inspired by careful study of paper and ink. The resulting effect is a type of material that has high touch-responsiveness and limitless possibilities.
The material design inspired homescreens have already rolled out in Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides. There's a rumor that Chrome OS is getting a similar revamp. Aside from the apps, cover art can also be noticed on music and content.
Material Design features layers and objects that brought notable animation changes. By scrolling down further, the page slowly occupies the space and pushes off the trailer. When the app changelog's "read more" option is selected, the user would see a full screen view which only shows important information on the app such as description, latest updates, and details on the developer.
Size of the app photos has been enlarged. Screenshot displays occupy a bigger space which can grant developers with some application bragging rights. User ratings have become more "colorful" with the new color coding system of the ratings bar. Even the app page's review section appears cleaner and more spontaneous with lesser lines that horizontally separate the sections. Lastly, buttons such as the share and Google+ have been transferred underneath the reviews section, vacating its original spot found beneath the app screenshots.
