14 DAY TRIAL // During last year’s edition of Google I/O, the company announced a new type of Android apps which make it easier for users to access content. Android Instant Apps can display content without having to download applications.
Google announced on its Android Developers Blog that Instant Apps make it easier for users to discover and run applications without installing them first. The company has worked with a small number of developers in order to bring this new way of accessing content closer to Android users.
Android Instant Apps are now available in a limited number for Android users, who can access apps in the new format from BuzzFeed, Wish, Periscope and Viki. Google intends to expand access to the new applications after collecting feedback from users of this initial live trial.
Developers are advised to prepare their apps
Instant Apps could potentially be used by users to shop online or make quick payments through an app available in the Play store. The advantage of such apps is quite obvious - users will no longer have to worry about clogging their phones with multiple applications that can potentially slow down their devices.
Instant Apps only downloads small parts of the application, needed for checking out content or quickly browsing through the app. A feature could be added to allow users to install the app if they decide to use it later.
Developers who wish to develop instant applications will need to update their existing Android apps and integrate new Instant Apps functionality. They would then need to modularize their so parts of them can be downloaded and run instantly.
Developers would need to use the same Android APIs and Android Studio project. The full SDK will be available in the coming months, but Google released a set of recommendations that developers can take into account in order to prepare their apps for this launch.