GOOG TO GO
Google gives free upgrade to Android owners but angry fans blast it as ‘useless’ over missing feature
There's a catch to the new feature
GOOGLE has rolled out a surprise upgrade for Android phone owners – but reviews are mixed.
The update makes a welcome change to the Google Play Store, but some fans say it doesn't go far enough.
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Google's Play Store is the main way that Android users download apps onto their devices.
Now Google has rolled out the ability for multiple (or more specifically, two) apps to be downloaded at the same time, as spotted by .
Previously you'd have to wait for one Android app to finish downloading before the other one would start.
With the latest Play Store update, two apps will download simultaneously – and any additional ones will appear as pending.
If you're not seeing the change already, it may be because the update hasn't rolled out onto your Android phone yet.
FAN FAVORITE?
A Reddit about the news has earned hundreds of upvotes.
But several users were disappointed that the feature appears to be incomplete.
"Doesn't apply to updates. Useless," wrote one.
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An optimistic fellow fan added: "Hopefully this is more to test it or something, and it comes to updates in the (not too distant) future."
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And others mocked Google for adding the feature so late.
One sarcastically called it "innovation at its finest", while another said "sometimes their genius is almost frightening".
And another user complained "that took so much time".
In any case, the update is free and available now.
Google's Best Android Apps of 2023
Here are the lists...
The top winners were:
- Best App: Imprint: Learn Visually
- Best Game: Honkai: Star Rail
- Best Multi-device App: Spotify
- Best Multi-device Game: OUTERPLANE - Strategy Anime
And the full list of best apps is as follows:
- Best for Fun: Bumble For Friends: Meet IRL
- Best for Personal Growth: Voidpet Garden: Mental Health
- Best Everyday Essential: Artifact: Feed Your Curiosity
- Best Hidden Gem: Aware: Mindfulness & Wellbeing
- Best with AI: Character AI: AI-Powered Chat
- Best for Families: Paw Patrol Academy
- Best App for Good: AWorld in support of ActNow
- Best for Watches: WhatsApp Messenger
- Best for Tablets: Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw
- Best for Chromebooks: FlipaClip: Create 2D Animation
- Best for Google TV: Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies
- Best for Cars: Amazon Prime Video
The full list of best games is here:
- Best Multiplayer: Farlight 84
- Best Pick Up & Play: MONOPOLY GO!
- Best Indies: Vampire Survivors
- Best Story: Honkai: Star Rail
- Best Ongoing: Stumble Guys
- Best Games for Good: Pokémon Sleep
- Best on Play Pass: Magic Rampage
- Best for Tablets: Honkai: Star Rail
It should be a help to anyone setting up a new phone – the mostly likely time that you'll be installing a large number of apps all at once.
But it would be significantly more useful is during app updates.
Some large apps – and especially video games – can take a while to update.
It's unclear when (or even if) Google will add this feature, however.
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