Google Play Store Gets Widget Feature and Pause Download Option
Google is rolling out a promised Play Store feature that allows users to easily add widgets when installing new apps. The feature, which was mentioned in a recent Play Services update, enables users to add home screen widgets for apps directly from the installation process. However, the feature is not yet fully functional and only appears as a snackbar message at the bottom of the screen during app installation.
The snackbar message tells users that widgets are available for the app and provides a button to add them to their phone's home screen. Tapping this button takes users to the standard widget picker sheet, where they can select from various widget options for the app. However, it appears that the feature only works once during installation and may not be noticeable if missed.
In addition to the widget feature, Google is testing the option to pause downloads on the Play Store. This feature would allow users to temporarily stop large downloads mid-process, preventing them from consuming mobile data. Although the feature was discovered through an APK teardown, it did not function as expected during testing and may require further updates to become fully functional.