Google Makes It Easy For Non-Mobile Users To Install Smartwatch Apps on Play Store

Illustration of smartwatch (photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Google recently added a new tab to the Google Play Store homepage with recommendations for Android Automotive, Android TV, and Wear OS apps.

Visit "other devices" and you can find a health tracker for your Galaxy Watch 5, or a video service for your Chromecast.

Cited from Engadget, you can find the other devices tab next to Top charts and kids. There's also a new search filter that will limit the results to those that support your non-phone hardware.

So, if you find something you like, you can install it remotely from your handset.

Engadget also notes that Google previously revised the Play Store website to improve navigation and features such as remote installation.

Previously, if you used a non-phone device to install the app, it was very difficult to do. But now Google makes it easy.

This step follows Google's efforts to accommodate tablet users, and can be helpful if you can't find the app on the device you want to use it on.

This capability is definitely helpful for Wear OS users who may have to scroll through apps on a very small screen.

Google also expects that going forward, users will be able to find even more apps on their devices, and increase the chances of sticking to the Android ecosystem.

Apparently, this step was also taken because Google wanted to make it easier for users of the Pixel, its mobile phone. Google officially debuted the Pixel Watch at its New York City event on October 6, and recently revamped the Chromecast to 1080p.

The discovery of this improved application is claimed to help sell the product.