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Google Search for Android can now find search results inside (some) apps already installed on your device

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Google Search App IndexingAnnounced earlier today, the Google Search app for Android is about to get a whole lot smarter. No, we’re not talking about the usual Google Now cards that come in every update, search results not pulled, not only from the web, but inside apps as well. This makes it easier than ever to find exactly what you’re looking for.

For instance, when searching for a movie, normally Search would pull up showtimes, or even its listing on IMDB.com. Not too useful when you already have the IMDB app already installed on your device, right? Now, when signed into your Google account, the Search app will know exactly what apps are installed on your device and show results found inside them with a simple “Open in app” link. Clicking the link will take you directly to the specific search query inside the app (like IMDB for instance), making Google Search a universal tool for searching the web for anything using your Android device. Currently, the new search results are only available in English, and for Android devices 2.3+. Also, at launch, only 13 apps support the new search feature:

  • AllTrails
  • Allthecooks
  • Beautylish
  • Etsy
  • Expedia
  • Flixster
  • Healthtap
  • IMDb
  • Moviefone
  • Newegg
  • OpenTable
  • Trulia
  • Wikipedia

Of course, relevant apps found on the Google Play Store will also be displayed when searching (ones that haven’t been installed on your device), a feature we saw introduced in Google Search back in 2010. The best part about these new (and old) Search features is that they can also be found in the Chrome and Android browsers by visiting the Google homepage — no Search app needed. As more developers make their apps compatible with this new feature, they better it will get. In the meantime, you can update the Google Search app via the link below.

Download on Google Play: Google Search

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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11 Comments

  1. Ok that is SICK!

    1. Are you a doctor? To my knowledge, there isn’t much research being done for a cure. I’m glad about that, but I digress.

      1. This is a hopeless case of Hypergooglia

  2. Chris! PLEASE tell me that the first word you google searched with your voice was, “BOOBIES!!!!!!!”?!?!?

  3. I really really really really really hope that this is a sign that SOON the ability to dictate gmails will be possible! I might fire up Dragon again since I got this new computer but man it sucked on my old PC!

  4. So we’re never regaining the ability to download image search pictures are we?

  5. SIRI copycat Google Search

    1. Troll Luver! We love you guys around here…

  6. Where can we find documentation to make our apps compatible with this? Is it a new API or is it just apps responding to URL intents?

  7. Ok. so ever since the most recent update, which included the GEL launcher, my GS3 (Verizon, stock, using Nova Launcher) has been going crazy with not knowing which launcher to use. Every time I press the home button it pops up the “which launcher do you want to use?”. I select Nova Launcher and then hit “always”, but nothing. I’ve had to uninstall the updates to Google Search, and that does the trick. I hope this update fixes that issue too! Anyone else have this issue? I can’t seem to find it on any forums…

  8. so maybe my phone is just too slow for it, but I hate google now. my old google search pre ICS was way faster. also it was much easier to use smart voice commands like navigate to…address and have it in one motion open maps and start navigation…google now is terrible and needs more work…at least on slower phones( like my dual core 1.2ghz). Maybe kit kat is better with this?

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