Google has introduced through its official weblog that will probably be transitioning from the previous Android Package Kit (APK) format to the newer Android App Bundle (AAB) system for its Android TV and Google TV apps. Developers for the 2 platforms have been knowledgeable in regards to the change and Google stated that the transition will occur in May 2023. While many app builders could have already made the change, the necessity to change to .aab format for app supply is kind of important for sensible TVs.

This offers builders of those third-party apps loads of time to make the change from the .apk recordsdata format to the newer .aab file format that has its personal set of benefits, each for builders and customers. Google has been pushing third-party smartphone app builders to transition to the identical and put its foot down requiring all new app submissions to the Play Store to be made solely in .aab format again in August 2021.

Google in its blog post explains how the change to .aab from .apk will assist scale back the package deal dimension by about 20 p.c and in addition opens the door for ‘archiving’ through which customers needn’t uninstall an app utterly, however can quickly take away the elements of the app.

This permits customers to retain their app information whereas liberating up or reclaiming about 60 percent of cupboard space, based on Google.

The newer format for apps is extra important on sensible TVs as they typically have restricted inside cupboard space, forcing customers to uninstall unused apps with a purpose to set up new ones. AABs are additionally relevant to loads of different gadgets and platforms like telephones, tablets, smartwatches and auto. For builders, the .aab file format additionally makes it simpler to serve an optimised package deal for every system configuration as an alternative of a one-size-fits-all strategy which takes up pointless cupboard space.

As a consumer of an Android TV or Google TV-powered system, customers should not have to fret in regards to the upcoming transition. The builders who plan on creating new apps or updating present ones for the platforms from May 2023 onwards might want to use the brand new format for submissions. Google has given builders 6 months to transition to the .aab recordsdata format. The search big believes that it’s doable for a single engineer to transform an Android TV app from Android Package Kit (APK) to Android App Bundle (AAB) in three days, which looks as if builders now have sufficient time to make the change.