Google To Revamp Android MarketGoogle To Revamp Android Market

It looks like those leaked screenshots were true, as Google is preparing to upgrade the Android Market. At first glance, the changes don't seem monumental, but it could help quell some of the complaints we've been hearing lately.Over on the Android developer blog, Google's Eric Chu shows off some of the app store's improvements that will be coming with Android 1.6. This includes the ability to (finally) include screenshots of the apps, longer descriptions, and the ability to include promotional icons. They will also be rolling out sub-categories that include sports, health, themes, and comics.

Like everything Android, there's still a lot of work in order for it to catch up with the market leaders, but I've been impressed with the rate of progress so far. A recent report from AdMob showed Android users are less likely to download paid apps than iPhone users, but of those who did pay for apps, the amount spent was roughly the same as those on Apple's platforms. This is a positive sign for Android, and I expect the amount of paid app downloads to increase exponentially as more attractive handsets like the Sprint Hero and Motorola's Android handsets get released.

Here's Google's video of the coming improvements to the Android Market: