Google Expands Play With Googlebook Phone‑App Access and Curated App Bundles
This update prepares the platform for Googlebook by enabling phone‑to‑PC app access and improving discovery and security.
Overview
- Google published coordinated August Play updates that most recently appear in Play services v26.33 and Play Store v52.9, with the changelogs dated August 24 and reported on August 25.
- Play services v26.33 adds a feature that lets a Googlebook device access apps on a paired phone, a preparatory change for the unconfirmed Googlebook hardware scheduled later this year.
- Play Store v52.9 introduces 'App Bundles', a store UX that offers curated sets of complementary apps immediately after a user installs an app to ease discovery and bundled installs.
- The August updates also add large‑screen UX changes such as Home/Search chips, video highlights in Ask Play, audiobook samples on app pages, and Tap to share phone pairing to move contacts and media between nearby devices.
- Play Protect detections were strengthened in the same release set and multiple new developer APIs were added across Phone, Wear, Auto, TV and PC to support cross‑device connectivity, utilities and account management.