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Google Play Store removes version numbers from Android app listings

sschueller 4y ago
Next thing they will reject my app from the store for having the version number on the settings page.
thesuperbigfrog 4y ago
"The version number is gone with version 31.6.13-21 of the Play Store, which is also responsible for widely rolling out the new Google Play icon." Why would they remove the version number from apps?
- 0x073 4y ago
  Looks like decision from a non tech guy, because it's cleaner :,D
- iforgotpassword 4y ago
  I just opened the Play Store to check if I already have that version of the Play Store, but it doesn't display the version number :-(
- Mindwipe 4y ago
  Someone in Google Play's management seems to have an ideological opposition to users being able to identify updates, presumably under the guise of simplification.
  - cvccvroomvroom 4y ago
    Details like SD slots, HDMI ports, and microphone jacks are unnecessary because they ruin the sleek lines of beautiful design. /s
- rasz 4y ago
  Because "I need to leave my mark on the product, and my previous proposal to remove permissions from play store was denied after user pushback"
gkbrk 4y ago
At least Aurora Store [1] still displays version numbers from Google Play, along with other useful information. [1]: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/
cptcobalt 4y ago
I can't see how this is a user experience improvement. Sure, version numbers are already deemphasized enough, but at least let us customize update messaging more than we already can.
- kramerger 4y ago
  Well, this is Google so they probably A/B tested a bunch of random things and this one resulted in 0.0002% better monetisation or whatever... At this point, Google's problem is not "lazy workers", is lack of vision and direction.
  - thesuperbigfrog 4y ago
    >> At this point, Google's problem is not "lazy workers", is lack of vision and direction. Precisely. This is why Google has a reputation for killing off products after a few years and why they had multiple competing message apps with disjoint features.
chrisdbanks 4y ago
The version number was really important to me when I recently had to roll back my Kindle app so that I could actually buy books in it. It seriously pisses me off that Google gradually makes my phone more and more unusable.
kramerger 4y ago
Next up: mandatory updates.

Next thing they will reject my app from the store for having the version number on the settings page.

"The version number is gone with version 31.6.13-21 of the Play Store, which is also responsible for widely rolling out the new Google Play icon." Why would they remove the version number from apps?

0x073 4y ago
Looks like decision from a non tech guy, because it's cleaner :,D
iforgotpassword 4y ago
I just opened the Play Store to check if I already have that version of the Play Store, but it doesn't display the version number :-(
Mindwipe 4y ago
Someone in Google Play's management seems to have an ideological opposition to users being able to identify updates, presumably under the guise of simplification.
- cvccvroomvroom 4y ago
  Details like SD slots, HDMI ports, and microphone jacks are unnecessary because they ruin the sleek lines of beautiful design. /s
rasz 4y ago
Because "I need to leave my mark on the product, and my previous proposal to remove permissions from play store was denied after user pushback"

gkbrk 4y ago

At least Aurora Store [1] still displays version numbers from Google Play, along with other useful information. [1]: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/

cptcobalt 4y ago

I can't see how this is a user experience improvement. Sure, version numbers are already deemphasized enough, but at least let us customize update messaging more than we already can.

kramerger 4y ago
Well, this is Google so they probably A/B tested a bunch of random things and this one resulted in 0.0002% better monetisation or whatever... At this point, Google's problem is not "lazy workers", is lack of vision and direction.
- thesuperbigfrog 4y ago
  >> At this point, Google's problem is not "lazy workers", is lack of vision and direction. Precisely. This is why Google has a reputation for killing off products after a few years and why they had multiple competing message apps with disjoint features.

chrisdbanks 4y ago

The version number was really important to me when I recently had to roll back my Kindle app so that I could actually buy books in it. It seriously pisses me off that Google gradually makes my phone more and more unusable.

kramerger 4y ago

Next up: mandatory updates.