Inside Search
The official Google Search blog
A new way to search for content in your apps
August 30, 2016
We use apps to call friends, send messages or listen to music. But sometimes, it’s hard to find exactly what you’re looking for. Today, we’re introducing a new way for you to search for information in your apps on your Android phone.
With this new search mode, called In Apps, you can quickly find content from installed apps. To access this feature, go to the Google app on your Android phone and find the In Apps tab.
A new search mode in the Google app, showing current and upcoming apps
Here are a few examples of what you can do with this new search mode:
Find your contacts and messages
. Easily find the friend you want to catch up with, or the name of the new sushi place that your friend told you about last month — just search for [sushi] and find the message.
Listen
to your favorite running song or
watch
that sneezing panda video for the 15th time — all in one place.
Stay organized
with your tasks and notes. Want to check off items on your grocery list? No problem, just search for [groceries].
Today this experience works with apps like Gmail, Spotify and YouTube. In the coming months, we’ll also be adding more apps, including Facebook Messenger, LinkedIn, Evernote, Glide, Todoist and Google Keep. Searching your personal results happens entirely on your phone, so you can search even when you're not connected to WiFi or cellular data. Only you can see your personal results, and you can control what apps appear by going to Settings within the Google app.
And with the upcoming LG V20 phone, you'll be able to access the new In Apps mode directly with a dedicated shortcut on the homescreen and Second Screen. The LG V20 will be the first smartphone with this dedicated shortcut. In addition to searching apps you have downloaded, on the new LG V20 you’ll also be able to search LG’s pre-installed apps.
A new search mode in the Google app, showing current and upcoming apps
So whether you’re using the new LG V20 or the Google app on your Android phone, finding your favorite tune, that long-lost email or your to-do list is easier than ever before.
Posted by Timo Mertens, Product Manager
Search is a Jack of all trades
August 25, 2016
Today we’re dealing two new hands from the Google Search deck: solitaire and tic-tac-toe. Now you can play two of the oldest and most popular games for all ages, on desktop and in the Google app.
It’s been said solitaire’s roots are in fortune telling. If that’s true, today your fate rests on your quick wit and the luck of the draw. When you search for “
solitaire
” on Google, the familiar patience game may test yours!
If you’re looking for something a bit simpler,
tic-tac-toe
is your best bet. In this game of naughts and crosses, you can select your level of difficulty or even go head to head against a friend. Xs and Os to the winner (hugs and kisses, that is!).
For some other fun tips, try asking Google, “
what sound does a pig make
?” Or if you’re looking to settle a bet and feeling lucky, “
flip a coin
” may come in handy.
These are just a sample of the delightful surprises that await you on Google. After all, Search is for so much more than research and practical matters -- it’s for fun, too!
P
osted by Stephen Cognetta, Associate Product Manager
Your vote counts
August 16, 2016
As the U.S. prepares to head to the polls, we’re making it easier than ever for everyone to participate in the political process. Last month, we made it simpler for people to
register to vote
. Now, we’re taking this a step further and introducing a brand new, state-by-state guide for people looking for information on
how to vote
in November. We’re also sharing some search trends to track the engagement and interest of American voters around the party conventions.
How to vote
Whether you’re a first-time voter, a resident in a new state, or your state laws have changed since the last time you voted, you can now come to Google for information on
how to vote
in the upcoming election. This new in-depth search result provides information on ID requirements, deadlines, mail-in ballots and early voting. We hope this customized state-by-state guide will help you find the information you need quickly and easily to help get your voice heard.
Search trends
Since releasing our customized voter registration guide in Search last month, we’re seeing millions of people coming to Google to learn more about voting and how to register in the U.S. In fact, compared to the same time four years ago, nationwide searches for voter registration are up 190 percent nationwide.
The
map below
shows a state-by-state breakdown illustrating how — and where — searches for “voter registration” have changed between 2012 and today. You’ll find some of the highest spikes in the dark green states: California, New York, West Virginia, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts.
We’re committed to making it easy for people to find information, and have their voices heard in November. So we're also making the data that powers our “how to register to vote” and our “how to vote” search results
publicly available
, so nonprofits and organizations promoting voter education can benefit and expand the reach of this critical information.
We hope these insights and features inspire you to register to vote, exercise your civic duty, and get to the polls in November!
Posted by Emily Moxley, Product Manager, Search
Dive (or run, swim, vault…) into the Olympics with Google Trends
August 9, 2016
This year's Olympics in Rio brings together 10,500 athletes from 200+ countries to participate in 306 events, from archery to wrestling. To help you get even more out of the Games, we've created a Google Trends Olympic Hub where you can find fun facts, data insights, feature pages on sports and athletes, and more.
Olympics Trends Hub
Throughout the next few weeks, Google Trends will give you a unique view into the games with a new
Trends Hub just for the Olympics
. There, you’ll be able to see which athletes, events and moments are captivating audiences—and searches—worldwide. For example, which country is searching for beach volleyball the most? Landlocked Switzerland. And the title of most searched grandmother in the world goes to British swimmer Adam Peaty's nan.
Here’s some of what you can expect from Trends over the next few weeks:
Search insights revealing what the world is wondering about the events—from fencing to synchronized swimming (and every moment in between!)
Data interactives like our alternative medal table and top searched sports per country
Trending sports and athletes lists, showing what’s of interest at any given moment
Explore Trends in a new way
As you explore the site, you may notice something else—a new
Google Trends Explore page
. With a fresh design and features like a color-coded map, you can analyze search data in new ways. For example, you can compare interest in previous Olympic Games over the years:
Every four years, the Olympics captivate the world’s attention. We’re excited to be able to help fans get even more out of the Games with insights from Search.
Posted by Lisa Creed, Product Manager
Go Bananas for the 2016 Doodle Fruit Games
August 4, 2016
The summer just got sweeter. Today marks the season opener of the
2016 Doodle Fruit Games
. For the next couple of weeks in the latest Google app for
Android
and
iOS
, journey to an otherwise unassuming fruit stand in Rio, where produce from all over the market are ripe to compete for the title of freshest fruit.
The name of today’s featured game is to see who’s the fastest fruit on the track in this berry special race. Don’t be MELONcholy if your sprint turns into more of a smoothie.
If you like the taste of that, be sure to weave your way through
t
he ice cooler to see if you’re the chillest lemon around. Remember: No one likes sour losers!
We hope you find these fruits as apPEELing as we do. And don’t forget to share your cherry impressive results with friends to see who claims the top seed. These two games are just a taste of what's in store, so come back to the Google app throughout the week to catch the featured game of the day.
Posted by Matt Cruickshank, Google Doodler
Never miss a “must-try” with Google Search
August 4, 2016
Picture this: you’re in New York City for 24 hours. Making the most of your visit may seem daunting, but the latest Google tools are here to help. Starting today in the U.S., when you search on your Google app for the best spots to eat and drink, you’ll have access to reviews from top critics and best-of lists from reputable publishers.
If you’re craving dim sum, but not sure which place is a top spot, a search for “chinese restaurant” may bring up Michelin favorite
RedFarm
in the West Village. Looking further at the search result, you’ll see it also appears on more than 10 best-of lists, including Eater, CBS Local and Refinery29.
Next on the to-do list: dessert. After seeing a sweet review from Zagat, head to
Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery
for a classic Parisian pastry. Serious Eats heralds it as one of “The Best French Bakeries in NYC” and is also on Eater’s list of “15 Destinations of Holiday Sweets in NYC.”
Pro tip for you to-the-minute planners: If you’re looking for the perfect afternoon activity before meeting friends for dinner, for selected places Google shows how long people typically stay at a given location. Got a few minutes?
The High Line
is a must-see. Got a few more?
Central Park
is worth the journey uptown.
Whether you’re stopping by in a city for a weekend or just looking for a new local watering hole, we hope these latest tools from Google will hit the spot.
Posted by Ronnie Falcon, Product Manager
Olá Gboard: new languages, personal keyboards and more
August 4, 2016
In May, we
introduced Gboard
, a new iPhone app that lets you search and send information, GIFs, emojis and more, right from your keyboard. Today, Gboard is going global with international availability, and we’re adding smart GIF suggestions and a way to personalize keyboards.
Bonjour, Hallo and Ciao from Gboard
Gboard is already available in English across the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia. Starting today, Gboard is ready to start sending GIFs, searches, emojis and more for our friends who speak French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal) and Spanish (Spain).
Gboard will default to your device language, so as long as it's set to one of these six languages you're good to go. If your phone uses a different language, Gboard will default to U.S. English. You can change the language in your Gboard settings.
Smart GIF suggestions
Joining text, search and emoji suggestions, you’ll now see GIF suggestions too. Say you’ve got a reason to celebrate so you text your friend “let’s party!” — now, you’ll see a suggestion to search for relevant party GIFs with one tap.
A personal keyboard
Whether you like a keyboard that blends into the background or shows your personal style, today’s update is for you. For those who like a more low-key style, in addition to the current light keyboard, we’re adding a dark keyboard so that Gboard can blend in with darker apps. We’re also introducing the ability to select a personal image from your camera roll to show behind your keyboard, so you’ll never be without your favorite picture from that trip to Crater Lake.
We hope our new friends around the globe love sharing GIFs, emojis and searching as much as we do. To try Gboard, go to the
U.S. app store
or to your local app store and try any of our six languages, with more coming soon.
Posted by Rajan Patel, Principal Engineer
Let Google be your guide to Rio de Janeiro
August 1, 2016
The modern Olympic Games have been a defining moment for athletes and fans alike dating back to 1896. Next week, the 2016 cauldron will be lit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where thousands of athletes will come together to represent the strength and pride of their home countries with the world as their audience.
In celebration of the next chapter in Olympics history, we’re bringing the best our products have to offer to help people around the world stay up-to-date with the Olympic Games Rio 2016:
Discover the event schedule, medal counts, and athlete information in Search
Get results and view TV schedules in 30+ countries
Watch official broadcasters’ event highlights on YouTube in 60+ countries
Explore Rio and venues in Google Maps
Keep up to date with the latest search Trends from around the world
On Google, searching for information about your favorite athletes and sports, the medal race, or your country’s schedule has never been easier. Pro tip: if you search on the Google app on Android and iOS, you’ll also see an option to get automatic updates on top event and medal wins, so you’ll never miss a beat.
To give you a glimpse into the Games, watch official broadcasters’ video highlights on YouTube in more than 60 countries around the world. And as an added bonus, YouTube is sending 15 top creators to Rio, giving you a taste of what it’s like to be there with
mobile live streaming
.
With Street View in Google Maps, everyone can enjoy
the magic of Rio de Janeiro
. Even if you’re a world away, preview the places where the world's most talented athletes will make history and explore the breathtaking beauty of Brazil.
Google Trekker operator captures 360-degree imagery from inside Rio’s Olympic Park
Great triumphs, victories and stunning surprises await us all this summer. This is just a hint of what’s to come—we hope you’ll let Google be your guide.
Posted by Jonathan Livni, Product Manager
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