Surprise: Google wants better tablet apps

Even with the success of the Nexus 7, Android isn’t really known for having the best tablet apps. While many phone apps will work fine on smaller Android tablets, there aren’t quite enough quality apps that take advantage of a tablet’s larger screen size. Google is well aware of this issue, and in an attempt to get developers to make better tablet games, has started pushing for better tablet apps.

Google’s first order of business in helping developers to build better quality tablet apps was to offer them a “Tablet App Quality Checklist.” The list itself is a bit technical, but the general purpose is to help developers to optimize app layouts for larger screens, take advantage of extra screen area on tablets, and use icons that are designed for tablet screens. Google also highlighted a few apps that “work great on tablets,” including Mint.com and Instapaper.

While it isn’t much, Google’s additional tablet guidelines should help developers make better tablet apps, and at least show that Google is doing something about the lack of Android tablet apps. Hopefully, these guidelines will result in more consistency in tablet apps as well, as more apps as useful and beautiful as the one from Mint.com would certainly make the Android tablet experience that much better.

Pocketables does not accept targeted advertising, phony guest posts, paid reviews, etc. Help us keep this way with support on Patreon!