Android's Upcoming 'Collections' Feature Will Drive Users Back to Their Apps

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A new feature called "Collections" is set to launch on Android, allowing users to keep up with their apps from their home screen. The feature was first announced at the Google I/O developer conference, where developers were presented with tools to re-engage users with the apps they already have installed on their devices.

Engage SDK

Image Credits: Google

The feature will automatically organize the best and most relevant content from apps already installed, with a focus on enabling cross-app continuing journeys for nearly every app category. With a tap, users will be able to launch full-screen, immersive experiences that highlight and arrange the most important content from their installed apps.

Thanks to an APK teardown of the Google Play Store software, we now have a better idea of what this surface will look like. The feature introduces a Play-Store-powered widget for the Android home screen that organizes app updates into categories like Watch, Listen, Read, Games, Social, and Shop.

Collections Widget

Image Credits: Android Authority

When users select a given category, they will be shown all the relevant content from their apps in this space, presuming the apps had integrated with the SDK. The company offered a few examples, such as retail apps inviting people to continue their shopping journey by highlighting what they had saved in their cart, while apps like Uber Eats might invite users to place their favorite food order.

The APK teardown revealed that the feature is launching first in the U.S., before rolling out to new markets, and will also be easily accessible by way of a shortcut from the Play Store app itself. That is, when you long press on the Play Store app, there will be a link to access Collections from the pop-up menu that appears.

The feature is expected to launch later this year, with an official announcement expected at the upcoming "Made by Google" event in August.