Google Play Store 6.9 lays the foundation for app streaming, VR purchases
That future isn’t here yet, but we can glance into the crystal ball thanks to an APK teardown by Android Police of the version 6.9 update to the Google Play Store.
The app streaming feature, which works with a few games through Google search, is coming to the Play Store. The concept is that you can play a few levels of a game before downloading the entire title. It works already in Google search, but most people tend to go right into the Play Store when looking for an app which kind of limits the appeal. A sample of how this looks is below:
To launch the streaming you’ll see a “try now” button. This isn’t the same as Android Instant Apps, which pledges to launch any type of app with no lengthy download and installation required.
Also, there’s evidence of how virtual reality apps will appear inside of the Play Store when VR hits the Android mainstream. With the Daydream project, Google will likely feature VR content right inside of Google Play for both Daydream and Cardboard.
The Play Store should update automatically on your phone or tablet. If you’re the impatient type, you can grab it now from APK Mirror.
The impact on you: There won’t be a major change to your day-to-day Android use with this update. However, it shows that the Play Store will soon do more than just serving as a static storefront for apps. It’s a good differentiator for Google to have. The future just needs to get here sooner.