The biggest struggle of google we face with our smartphones is limited storage, especially if the phone has been in operation for more than a year. With all the media files and games we play, there is little space left to put all the apps we needed at some point.
As a result, we often resort to one option to keep our phone running – to remove applications that can be overused. Google now seems to have an alternative.
In a new blog, Google talked about the new functionality of Android phones, called Archiving. Faced with the widespread problem, large-scale technical discussions feature that will allow users to “get about 60 percent of the app’s storage temporarily.”
This will be done by “uninstalling app components” instead of uninstalling it completely.
Google says the archived application will remain on the device and will store user data. This will make it easier for users to restore the app to the “latest compatible version available,” if it will be used later.
The function will logically help prevent unnecessary uninstallation of the app instead of extra space on the phone, which will also help the developer.
It’s too early, however, for the public release of the Archive app function. In the meantime, Google will be releasing a new version of Bundletool 1.10 that will bring archive to all developers through App Bundle. Apps built with Android Gradle Plugin 7.3, will be able to use archive function with “new APK type” called APK archived.
Google claims that the “APK” archives “are able to store user data until the application is restored. Google, however, clarifies that although the archived APKs are already under development, they will not work until “archiving function is introduced to users later in the year.”
Once the archived APKs have been generated, they will be made available to developers for testing through the Produced APK API or Play Console under App Bundle Explorer.
Interestingly, Google has made the functionality of archived applications an open source. This will allow developers to test the code, as well as other app stores for use in a few exchanges.
Apple, for example, currently allows users to “uninstall” unused apps. Although the function requires users to have an internet connection and if they want to restore the app.
They can reuse it after a short download. Whether or not Google archived applications will work the same way is not yet known, but it would still be better if no such download was required at all to restart apps.
ALSO SEE: Flipkart Big Saving Days: High Deals on Motorola Edge 20 Pro, Moto Tab G20 not to be missed
