Google will soon be reviewing every WearOS app to ensure those on the platform are high quality as part of its bid to revitalise the platform.
WearOS has struggled to take off quite as people hoped. Part of the reason is a perceived lack of reason to hand over hundreds of pounds for a glorified notification extender.
To help ensure users find good apps for WearOS, Google will soon be assessing whether submitted apps are of a decent standard.
Having a WearOS app review by Google was optional as of Android Wear 2.0. However, as of October, it will become mandatory for all new apps.
Existing apps will need to be reviewed by March 4th 2019 or risk being purged from the Play Store. The review process for mobile companion apps will not be changing.
Two of the biggest focus areas to pass the review is that an app must support multiple screen types and sizes, and have a screenshot in the Play Store.
Supporting various screens is highly important to WearOS in particular as, much like Android, there is so much variety of devices. Aside from size, you also get circular and square displays that must be accounted for accordingly.
Apps that are being developed for WearOS, but are currently in testing, can ‘opt out’ of the review process in order to continue their development unhindered prior to launch.
If you have a WearOS app on the Play Store, it’s better to get it up to review standard and submitted as early as possible. Reviewers at Google are sure to be getting very busy as the days tick by.
What are your thoughts on Google’s new WearOS app review process? Let us know in the comments.
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