Android Market Now Allows Developers to Upload Multiple APKs for the Same App
The Android Team is taking yet another step to help cut down on issues related to device fragmentation by introducing multiple APK support to the Android Market. Developers can now upload APKs targeting specific device elements such as screen size, Android version, and hardware elements while maintaining app ratings, comments, and statistics under a single listing. This would allow a developer to upload a tablet version of an app and a smartphone version, with the Android Market intelligently deciding which APK to push to the user. The benefit is obvious in this situation. Multiple APKs provide developers with the ability to diversify their product without re-listing their app. This could also mean not slighting users on older Android versions when an app is updated to take advantage of a feature found in a newer OS build. Google hasn’t quite cracked the platform fragmentation issue, but with recent measures the headaches arising from it are becoming a thing of the past.
[via Android Developers Blog]