How Android Instant Apps Work
For example, let’s say you get a link to a BuzzFeed video. If you want to see the video you would have to download the app, right? Thanks to Android Instant apps, Google Play will only download the bits you need to reproduce the video through your phone’s browser. By not having to download the entire app our phones are not going to be saturated with unnecessary junk. If your phone’s memory is so full that it would be impossible to download yet another app, you will still be able to see that Buzzfeed link your friend sent you because the URL will open right in an Android app. The same applies if you are using Android Pay since it can be frustrating having to wait until the app downloads when you are only going to use it once.
What Android Versions Are Compatible?
The great news is that every Android version higher than 4.1 would be able to enjoy Android Instant apps. It’s not going to matter if you have Jelly Bean or Marshmallow; you won’t be left out. Once you are done doing with your task, you will be given the option to download the app; it will be up to you if you want to take the plunge or discard it. There is a limitation we need to keep in mind, and that is that Instant Apps will be limited to 4MB, but hopefully Google will increase that limit. There are always restrictions we’re not happy with when a new Google project is born, but at least being able to stream apps is something I am glad about (at least for now). It is not yet known if Android Instant Apps are going to support complex apps or instant gameplay, but hopefully Google will fill us in on that soon.
When Will Instant Apps Arrive?
If all goes well, it should be available before the year is over, and there is a good chance that it will arrive on time since developers don’t have to make huge changes to their apps. Android Instant apps consist of the same APIs and the same source code. The only thing developers will have to do is update their apps accordingly to take advantage of the new functionality.
Conclusion
This is a huge breakthrough in how we use Android apps, and it is going to make our devices run a lot faster since we are not going to have to download an app we might only use once and then forget we ever installed. For more information, you can check out the details here. What are your thoughts? Do you think that this is something that is really going to make our devices run faster by not downloading unnecessary apps? Let us know in the comments.
