14 DAY TRIAL // Google is about to update its search app for its Android operating system. While the announcement went live on its Google Mobile blog earlier, it has since been pulled and the app is not available in the Android Market, indicating that someone jumped the gun on the announcement.
It should be becoming available soon, though, so here's what you can look forward to.
The first thing you'll notice, though not necessarily like, is the new dark interface, which looks native to Android 2.3 devices, that feature the new UI with dark elements.
The UI has also been simplified, again giving it a more native feel, much of the stylistic elements have been removed in favor of simplicity and practicality.
Google says the new UI is also faster and smoother than the current version of the app.
One improvement in the soon-to-be launched app, is suggestion grouping, web suggestions go at the top, and the rest, contacts, apps and so on, are grouped below.
Google Search also finally gets localized results, there are now country-specific suggestions in the countries where suggestions are available and local results for all Google search domains.
Finally, the latest version also introduces a simple way of removing history items, with a long press.
Google is also providing a few tips (link doesn't work yet) that could make it easier to use the app and search for things:
- Tap the arrow to the right of a search suggestion or history item to edit it before searching. - Get suggestions from other apps on your phone - check out searchable items in Search settings. - Long press on homescreen to add the Google Search widget if you don’t have it already. The new Google Search for Android is available on devices running Android 2.2 and above, though it will, obviously, look and feel better if you have Android 2.3. The app should be popping up in the Android Market soon, if you already have it installed, you should get a notification soon after it arrives.