Google has announced some new improvements to Google Search that may make using a smartphone a little easier. When using Google Search, if a result includes information that may be included in an app on your device, the search results will now indicate the app and provide a handy button to launch the app directly from the results. The example Google provides is a search for information on a movie. They point out that detailed information and trivia about a movie may be included in the IMDb app, box office information may be accessed via Wikipedia’s app, and ratings and review information could be in the Rotten Tomatoes app. Google’s search function will now be able to alert you to the fact that the information can be found in an app instead of surfing out to the web.
To help encourage users to make more use of apps, Google has also added the ability to search for an app from Google Search instead of having to open Google Play, at least initially. Just type in what kind of app you are looking for followed by “apps” and Google will return the top couple results from Google Play along with a link to more Google Play results as the first “card” in the results screen. If you search for a specific app, Google will now display a card that includes a download link. This search capability will also work in the Chrome and Android browsers on your Android powered devices.
Google does indicate the app integration is limited to selected apps like IMDb, Etsy, OpenTable, Flixster and Expedia amongst others. They expect this to expand over time as more developers take the steps necessary to get their apps included in the results. For now at least, it appears the new functions are limited to Android devices. As Google moves to end fragmentation between devices, we may see this same type of functionality eventually roll out to ChromeOS and the Chrome browser on desktop or laptop operating systems.
source: Google Search Blog
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