After grabbing the headlines earlier this week for undergoing a major company restructure Google is back again. The world’s largest search engine, which now falls under the Alphabet umbrella, has updated its Google app for iOS for the first time in two months. Version 7.0 introduces an additional layer of power around voice search and integration, as well as enhancing the results displayed when searching locally. The free-of-charge upgrade should be visible right now for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch owners via the App Store.
The first of the new notable features comes in the form of an improvement to the “Ok Google” search capabilities within a specific web page. Users of the app are now able to ask very specific questions while browsing any web page to get detailed answers about whatever topic they are reading about. So, as an example, if a user is reading an article about Niagara Falls they are able to say “Ok Google, how far away is this location from me?”. Google would then provide an immediate detailed answer in response to that question.
Secondly, the update brings with it more detailed local search results that provides additional context on the results such as additional information about business opening hours, pricing of products if available and granular location details if relevant to the search. Google has also introduced a smaller, but still notable feature, that allows users of the app to copy and paste from anywhere within the application. The latest edition of the official Google search app still includes all of the powerful, easy-to-use features that have made it a popular installation with iOS users over the years.
Users are still able to talk instead of type, and get an audible response from the application. Google can also help users do things more effectively and remember things that need to be done, such as “remind me to call my mum at 8pm”, or by asking for local amenities and restaurants close to the users current location. The update requires users to be running iOS 7.0 or later on an iPhone 4s or higher and is available as a free download right now.
(Download: Google for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch from the App Store).
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