Google Play Adds 5 Labels for Android Apps on Googlebooks
New badges range from "Made for desktop" to "Built for mobile," showing users how well each Android app suits the laptop form factor.
Google Play now shows five labels that indicate how well Android apps work on Googlebooks, according to Android Authority. The classifications cover everything from apps built specifically for the laptop form factor to those that are best left to a browser.
The five labels are "Made for desktop," "Optimized for desktop," "Compatible with desktop," "Better on the website" and "Built for mobile." Apps labeled "Made for desktop" are built specifically for larger screens, keyboards and mice. Those marked "Optimized for desktop" have been adapted for laptop use.
Apps carrying the "Compatible with desktop" label work with standard mouse and keyboard controls but may not have redesigned interfaces. The "Better on the website" label suggests users get a fuller experience through a browser, while "Built for mobile" indicates apps may retain phone-oriented layouts and have not been tested for desktop.
The labels recently began appearing alongside apps in Google Play after a Reddit user, Guyssocialweb, spotted them, Android Authority reported. Android expert Mishaal Rahman explained the five classifications in the discussion. Googlebooks have recently launched.
Quick answers
What are the five Google Play desktop labels for Googlebooks?
"Made for desktop," "Optimized for desktop," "Compatible with desktop," "Better on the website" and "Built for mobile." Each indicates how well an Android app works on Googlebooks.
What does "Built for mobile" mean on Google Play?
It indicates an app may retain phone-oriented layouts and has not been tested for desktop use.
What does "Made for desktop" mean?
Such apps are built specifically for larger screens, keyboards and mice.