One would think that one of the primary features of an app store should be to view and update the installed apps.

That's the kind of feature that you'd expect users to find as soon as they open the app, and that's how stores based on F-Droid (or even alternatives to the Play Store like Aurora) are usually designed.

I hadn't used the Play Store in a while, but I've been moderately amused (but definitely unsurprised) to discover that that's no longer the case for them.

As soon as you open the Play Store, the first screen is now filled with sponsored content.

The option to view or update your apps is now 3 taps away from the main screen, buried under a couple of menus.

Ads defeat obvious UX patterns again.

https://social-media.platypush.tech/media_attachments/files/111/105/783/365/173/256/original/48337b802cb1e5a1.jpg

https://social-media.platypush.tech/media_attachments/files/111/105/783/458/034/961/original/a8b84e6db093e6e3.jpg

https://social-media.platypush.tech/media_attachments/files/111/105/783/547/565/376/original/0cd9d3737b7e4a5e.jpg