Google is making major changes to the way Android apps work. While the changes may not be obvious to most people, it's crucial to understand what's going on and why if you use Google's mobile operating systems.Developers who want to publish Android apps on Google Play Store in August 2021 will need to modify the way those apps are packaged. Instead of the APK format (Android Application Package) that has been in use for many years, software developers will be required to use AAB (Android App Bundle) instead.We won't go into the technical details of how these standards differ unless you are a developer. However, one of the main reasons we made the switch is the large number of Android-compatible devices.AAB delivers only what you need to your device. This is one of its key advantages. For example, if you are using a smartphone, the app doesn't require the larger graphics that are designed for tablets. The app can therefore be smaller and lighter. Instead of developers writing and packaging separate APKs for different devices or putting them all together in one place, they can use the AAB route.Google Play Store is changing. Screenshot: David Nield via GoogleDevelopers also have more control over delivering certain features to specific devices (such as augmented realities add-ons). Users don't need to download everything at once.This can also be applied to games. Users don't need to download higher levels immediately. It means they can start playing faster on lower levels and not get frustrated by slow loading times. This results in a smaller file size and a faster app.Google uses the Play Store to split the Android app bundle into APKs that are specific for each device. These optimized APKs have a 15% average reduction in size, according to Google.Google insists that developers adopt AABs with Android 9 in 2018. APKs can still be used by apps that are already in the Play Store, but the trend is not going in the right direction. Google claims that most top-1000 apps use AABs and over 1,000,000 apps use the bundle format.
