Google is launching a new “In Apps” search tab that will enable smartphone users to locate content inside applications. The new tab aims to make it easier for people to find the content that they need, such as messages, contacts, videos and notes, in a mobile-first world. It marks a new way of searching for content.
In an official blog post announcing the new feature, Google said that mobile apps underpin many of the actions that people now undertake every day on smartphones, such as calling friends and listening to music, and the new tab brings all of the useful information that users require to the fore in a quick and seamless manner.
The new experience, which can be found by navigating to the “In Apps” tab on the Google app on Android phones, will be integrated with apps including YouTube, Gmail and Spotify. This means that users will be able to listen to their favourite songs, stay organised with tasks and notes and find contacts and messages easily by using simple keyword searches.
Google has confirmed that more apps will be added in the future, so smartphone users can look forward to indexing Facebook Messenger, Evernote, LinkedIn, Todoist, Glide and Google for the information that they need. The “In Apps” functionality won’t require Wi-Fi or 3G because all of the personal results are displayed directly on a phone. Users can dip into the settings in the app to control what is shown when searching as well.
Google revealed that the soon-to-be released LG V20 phones will have a dedicated “In Apps” shortcut on the home screen, and users will also be able to search through all of the pre-installed apps on the phone in addition to any downloaded content. The tech giant claims that it should be “easier than ever before” for users to find what they want, when they want on mobile devices.
“As smartphone features become increasingly diverse, a growing number of smartphone users are willing to search for more information saved on their mobile devices,” LG Electronics President Juno Cho added. “The V20 combined with Google’s evolving search tools will allow users to search for information they need faster in a more convenient and smart manner.”
