Google on Thursday refreshed its mainland mobile app for iPhone and iPad on App Store with some improvements to the search suggestion experience to help “keep you in the know and find what you’re looking for” even faster than before.
Now when you tap the search box within the app to start your search, you’ll also see popular searches that are trending around you. You can also get instant answers to your questions as you type them, before you even complete the search, like on Google.com.
To try it out, search for something like “goog stock” or “how tall is the Eiffel tower”.
You should see the correct answer show up in the suggestions below the search box. Last but not least, you can now give feedback on any suggestions you see while typing by swiping left, then choose the Info icon.
Note that the new features may not be available in all markets.
The often-overlooked app provides the native Google search experience on iOS with Google Now-like cards having been supplanted recently by a dedicated feed based on your interests.
According to Google:
Since introducing the feed in December, we’ve advanced our machine learning algorithms to better anticipate what’s interesting and important to you. You’ll see cards with things like sports highlights, top news, engaging videos, new music, stories to read and more.
And now, your feed will not only be based on your interactions with Google, but also factor in what’s trending in your area and around the world.
To help make your personal feed even more relevant to stuff that interests you, tap a Follow button next to some search results like music artists, movies and sports teams.
This will add that topic to your feed.
The app also auto-tracks interests Google thinks you may have, based on your search history and activity across other Google properties such as Gmail, Calendar and YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aed7TgSbCN0
For example, if you’re a photography enthusiast but just casually interested in fitness, your feed will show that. But if you see something that isn’t up your alley, you can easily unfollow topics.
Last but not least, the search-focused app even bundles Google’s gestural keyboard for iPhone and iPad, called GBoard, with built-in search, emoji and other features.