14 DAY TRIAL // Google has just made a series of changes to its mobile search page, so as to enable users access various information much easier than before while on the go.
Just as reported yesterday, a few hours before Google made the changes official, the mobile search page will enable users access info on nearby places easier than before.
The new enhancement adds to the long list of other improvements that Google made to its mobile service, since performing searches on the small screen of a handset is more difficult than it would be on a desktop computer.
Autocomplete, Voice Search, Google Goggles, Google Instant and Instant Previews are only some of the features that mobile users can enjoy when it comes to searching on Google from their devices.
“With more searches happening when people are on the go, we’ve noticed an increase in searches for nearby places,” Google notes in a recent blog post.
“To make it easier for people to search for what’s around them, we’ve introduced new shortcuts to commonly searched local categories, like restaurants, coffee shops and bars, in the form of icons on the mobile google homepage (www.google.com).”
The homepage will display a series of shortcut icons to specific places pages at the bottom, with more of them available by tapping the 'More' button, such as shopping, ATMs, gas stations, etc.
The result page will provide a map with markers for user's current location and for places around.
“When you scroll through the results, the map remains at the top of the page and adjusts automatically to the listing you are looking at. That way, you can see the listing information while still getting location context from the map,” Google explains.
Additional details on a specific place, such as reviews and other useful details, can be accessed by tapping on a result.
In addition to these changes, Google added the possibility to build longer, more complicated searches, by adding suggested phrases to the search box.
The feature was previously made available for those who use the Google Search app for Android and iOS devices, and has been introduced to the Google mobile page as well, so that one will be able to perform searches faster than before with less typing.
The new enhancements were put in place on www.google.com for all devices running under Android 2.2 Froyo or higher, as well as for iOS (version 4.0+) device, and can be enjoyed in 40 languages worldwide.