Recently, Google has started this trend where it’s taking features from one Play app and adding it to a “Google app.” Personally, I think it’s time for Google to kill the “Play” brand and go all in on the “Google” name.
First and foremost, it may take new users some time to realize that the app store for Android is actually called the “Play Store.” The Google Play experience consists of the following: “Play Music, Play Movies & TV, Play Games, Play Books, and the Play Store.”
Matching up the names with the experiences gets a little confusing, especially when you’re saying these out loud. Even more so when you have to explain that all of these experiences work within the Play Store.
Comparing this fragmented user experience with Amazon and Apple’s less confusing experience, we can see the following: Apple and Amazon “App Store” housing apps and games. However, Apple also has a somewhat confusing naming convention as Apple uploads TV series and upcoming movies in it’s Apple Music app. Nevertheless, I believe Apple could capitalize here.
Google has started to make the migration to Google-branded platforms and experiences. For example, recently Google has released Google News, Google Podcasts, Google Pay, and YouTube Music. Why not continue the trend with a Google App Store, Google Books, Google Games, a transition to YouTube Movies from Google Play Movies, etc.
Listen, I’m just as tired of Google constantly rebranding their products, but this makes a lot more sense. Google all the things Google.
