Google Search app gets iOS 7 styling, true full-screen browsing and more

Google Search 3.2 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 004)Google Search 3.2 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 005)

Google’s standalone Search application has been updated with barely visible iOS 7 styling and a pair of under-the-hood improvements allowing for the native fluid Image Search experience on the iPad as well as smarter integration with the Google Maps app.

Other than that, release notes mention no new features for Google Search version 3.2, which is now available as a free download from the App Store. I’ve included additional tidbits right below, if you’re interested…

Google lists the following items in release notes:

Google is faster and more immersive with:

  • iOS 7 styling and true full screen browsing
  • Fast, fluid image search for iPad
  • Smarter integration with the Google Maps app

The changes seem mostly academic.

A good example is the new true full-screen browsing mode: while it does away with the iOS status bar, the search page looks and behaves precisely as it did in the previous version, as evidenced on the ‘before’ and ‘after’ screenies top of post.

The good thing about hiding the iOS status bar is that you can now enjoy true edge-to-edge full-screen experience. The full-screen mode is also available for Google Now, with the individual cards taking up the width of the screen.

The old Image Search on the iPad that used to be a dumb web page has been replaced with a native image-searching experience, as depicted below.

Google Search 3.2 for iOS (Image Search for iPad, old)Google Search 3.2 for iOS (Image Search for iPad, new)
The old Image Search on the iPad (left) and the new native one (right).

And here’s the old (left) vs new (right) search results page on the iPhone.

Google Search 3.2 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 001)Google Search 3.2 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 006)

Again, no change whatsoever aside from the color-matched status bar.

And here’s the new old Image Search on iPhone.

Google Search 3.2 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 002)

As for the “Smarter integration with the Google Maps app”, I’m not sure what it stands for, but for what it’s worth – loading up maps within the Search app feels really snappy, certainly much faster than before.

UPDATE: this Google+ post explains Maps integration:

Just ask, “What’s the traffic to Best Buy?” The app will show you the fastest route around gridlock and with just one tap on the Google Maps link, you can dive right into turn-by-turn directions in the Maps app.

With today’s update, you can also jump back from Google Maps to the Search app with a single tap.

And here’s your screenshot.

search_and_maps

Indeed, after you’re yanked out of the Search app app into Google’s standalone Maps iOS app, you’ll notice a new Return to Google bar at the top of the screen which takes you back to the Search app.

Google Search is free in the App Store.