Google Play is about to get a new category, with a teardown of the latest Google Play APK showing the back-end is being prepared for the launch of Audio Books.
The Android Police tear-down shows the strings for the Audio Books category which will sit side-by-side with eBooks, a fairly natural fit. The code suggests that Audio Books will be offered as an alternative option (if available) when perusing the library of eBooks available in Google Play, and vice-versa.
While Google Play is being prepared for the launch of eBooks, as Cody from AP points out, there still lies the issue of playback with a good player still not really there as yet. Google Play Music can play Audio Books, but lacks some of the features that make Audio Books great on services such as Audible (new Google Play app anyone?).
There’s other tidbits in the tear-down including the option to select auto-download updates for system apps only, the removal of the option to download large files on Wi-Fi only (it’ll just use whatever network you’re connected to), new Play Store notifications for apps and games and finally a new layout for the Deal of the Day promotion which we don’t have here in Australia.
When Audio Books will launch, and where, isn’t obviously in the code so it’s a matter of wait and see.
