The revamped Google Search app for iOS, which we reported on yesterday, is a huge improvement on what went before.
It’s slick, speedy, and simple. Everything you want in a web search app. Enter your query and results show up as you type, thanks to Google Instant (you can switch this off if you like). If you’d rather not type, it accepts spoken input just as well.
The browser pane for viewing results slides in from the right, over the top of the results list. If you use the official Twitter app, you’ll be familiar with the idea. It works beautifully, and makes flicking through several pages of results much easier. Even little details look good: the bottom edge of the browser pane’s toolbar acts as a progress bar, thin but functional and squeezed in without sacrificing useful space elsewhere.
Beyond search, though, Google has sneaked some very ChromeOS-like extras into this app. There’s an applications page, where you’ll find big friendly icon shortcuts to stuff like Gmail, Google Reader, Google Calendar, and so on.
Interestingly, this applications page is like the iOS Springboard. You can flip sideways to see more apps. So although this app is called “Google Search”, it has much in common with Google’s Chrome browser.
Google’s done an excellent job with this new release. Bravo.
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Giles Turnbull is a freelance writer in England. He also writes for the Press Association and The Morning News. You can find out more at his website, and follow him on Twitter @gilest.
18 responses to “Google’s New iOS App Gets It Right [Review]”
Yessss… unless you are on the original iPad, in which case Google takes 5+ seconds to show the search bar, even once you’ve already got it running. The previous app’s slowness is why I stopped using it and just used Safari’s search bar, despite the reduced functionality.
I like this new version. A lot. I’m moving this app back to the first screen. :)
Again Like google offline and Sparrow, it can’t handle nested labels.
The dot at the top works now to swipe between pages of apps
You’re right Jim, thanks. Edited article accordingly.
So now it’s like the Bing app?
It does look similar to Bing on iPad. Except with superior search results for international locales and voice input works in 30 languages.
Guess you’re a Google fan.
Whatever. I just appreciate better technology.