Updates to Play Books have been relatively rare lately, with the most recent being a Material You redesign in March. However, Google has brought attention to four new features, including integrating YouTube. 

New Updates and Improvements

First, Play Books introduces an official "Upcoming" tab in the Library section. This tab, alongside Your Books, Shelves, and Series, consolidates all pre-orders onto a calendar that can be filtered by specific series or authors. This means you can easily keep track of all your pre-orders in one convenient location.

Additionally, on the Android app, Google will display pre-orders from authors and series matching your interests based on your previous searches and views. The Upcoming tab has been available for some time and has proven helpful.

Recently, Play Books has focused on enhancing the experience for kids and families. Children can now earn Reading Rewards digital stickers when reading children's books on Play Books for Android and through the Google Kids Space experience on tablets. These rewards are given when kids reach specific reading goals or milestones, and they can track their progress through the Kid Reader toolbar.

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Furthermore, Google has expanded its selection of over 300 nonfiction ebooks, which are now free and include a Read & Listen feature. This feature allows users to listen to the entire ebook read aloud while the pages turn automatically.

Google Play Books & Audiobooks goes up against ebook reading applications like Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook that work as digital stores with a vast selection of content like books, magazines, and so on.

Expanding Reach With YouTube Channel

Play Books now has a YouTube channel where thousands of free audiobook previews have been uploaded. Although audiobook previews are already accessible within the Play Books app, these previews offer an additional avenue for users to discover new content.

It remains uncertain whether these developments indicate future changes for Play Books. However, Google's trend of consolidating media services into YouTube, such as Play Music and Podcasts, raises questions about the potential integration of audiobooks in the future.

According to the APA's report, the audiobook industry has sustained a prolonged increase in sales of over 10 percent. Although the growth was slightly lower than in previous years because people returned to their normal lives, the trend is essentially positive. 

The evolution of digital technology has been an important factor in the audiobook industry's expansion. It facilitates audiobook production, distribution, and consumption in a way completely different from traditional methods. This has consequently increased demand for listeners and boosted releases from traditional publishing houses and individual authors and producers. Publishers are also exploring new formats and creative approaches, such as original products and multi-narrator recordings. 

As advancements in digital technology continue to shape the audiobook industry, offering content on popular digital platforms like YouTube demonstrates Play Books' adaptability and responsiveness to evolving consumer preferences and behaviors.

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