Earlier today, we posted the Google Play Store version 8.2.58. However, it turns out that Google has another Play Store update coming in with version 8.3.41. This new update is a big leap in version number so we put it for a ride into our APK teardown process to find new interesting stuff. And boy! we did find some.

Although on the visual side of things we didn’t notice any new stuff on Play Store version 8.3.41, but comparing the app’s code to previous version revealed some interesting new features that may be coming to Play Store in near future. Let’s have a look..

Cookbooks

strings.xml
<string name="content_description_cookbook_title">Cookbook: %1$s</string>
<string name="content_description_thumbnail_cookbook">Image of cookbook cover for %1$s</string>
<string name="cookbook_buy">COOKBOOK %1$s</string>
<string name="cookbook_free_buy">Cookbook Free</string>
<string name="play_cookbook">Play</string>
<string name="rate_this_cookbook">Rate this cookbook</string>

There are several new mentions of Cookbook under the strings.xml file on Play Store. By definition, a cookbook is a book with a collection of recipes for cooking food. Now we’re not sure how Cookbooks will come to Play Store, but it sure sounds interesting to get a dedicated section/framework in the Play Store app for Cookbooks.

FAB button

attrs.xml
<attr name="floatingActionButtonStyle" format="reference" />
public.xml
<public type="attr" name="floatingActionButtonStyle" id="0x7f010276" />

We found two references for Floating Action Button (FAB button) under the new Play Store app’s code. This could mean that FAB button is coming to the Play Store. But honestly, we couldn’t think of any use cases for it on the Play Store.

Fast Scroll

attrs.xml
 <attr name="fastScrollModel">
 <enum name="last_visible_view_position" value="0" />
 <enum name="nested" value="3" />
 <enum name="pixel_height" value="1" />
 <enum name="same_item_height" value="2" />
 </attr>
 <attr name="disableHeaderOffset" format="boolean" />

public.xml
 <public type="attr" name="fastScrollModel" id="0x7f0102db" />
 <public type="attr" name="disableHeaderOffset" id="0x7f0102dc" />

There is a mention of fastScrollModel as well inside the new Play Store APK v8.3.41. However, we can’t really say anything about this unless we see it in action.

Quick Install

string.xml
 <string name="ia_quick_install_prompt">Install %s on your device?</string>

styles.xml
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallDialog" parent="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light.Dialog.Alert">
 <item name="windowNoTitle">true</item>
 </style>
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallDialog.PromptText" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance.Material.Subhead">
 <item name="android:textSize">20.0sp</item>
 <item name="android:textColor">#ff757575</item>
 <item name="android:lineSpacingMultiplier">1.2</item>
 </style>
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallDialog.PromptText.AppName" parent="@style/Theme.QuickInstallDialog.PromptText">
 <item name="android:textStyle">bold</item>
 <item name="android:textColor">#ff4a4a4a</item>
 </style>
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallEntry" parent="@style/Theme.AppCompat.NoActionBar">
 <item name="android:windowBackground">@android:color/transparent</item>
 <item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
 <item name="android:windowIsTranslucent">true</item>
 <item name="android:windowAnimationStyle">@android:style/Animation</item>
 <item name="android:background">@android:color/transparent</item>
 <item name="android:colorBackgroundCacheHint">@null</item>
 </style>
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallProgress" parent="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar">
 <item name="windowNoTitle">true</item>
 </style>
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallProgress.AppNameText" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance.Material.Subhead">
 <item name="android:textSize">18.0sp</item>
 <item name="android:textColor">#ff333333</item>
 </style>
 <style name="Theme.QuickInstallProgress.ProgressBar" parent="@style/Widget.AppCompat.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
 <item name="android:minHeight">2.0dip</item>
 <item name="android:color">?colorAccent</item>
 </style>

We found mentions of QuickInstall inside the new Play Store v8.3.41. Of course, by the string’s name we can guess it’s something to facilitate quick installation of apps, but how?

Google will be unveiling the new Pixel phones and couple of other products at an event later today. We think some of these new feature mentions in Play Store version 8.3.41 APK teardown might have to do with today’s event. The Cookbook thing definitely seems interesting.

Anyway, you can grab the latest Play Store APK version 8.3.41 from the download link below and install it like you’d install any other APK on your device.

→ Download Play Store APK (version 8.3.41)