It seems odd since Google and Apple are huge rivals, but Google is indeed one of the best software companies in the world when it comes to iOS apps. Google’s apps — at least, the ones that are updated regularly — always feature beautiful designs and great functionality. In fact, some might argue that Google’s iOS apps are even better than Apple’s own iOS apps. Personally, I can say that Google’s Search app in particular is easily one of the apps I use most often. It brings Google’s incredible Google Now functionality to iOS and it makes searching the web a breeze; I rarely use Safari at all on my iPhone, opting instead to do a quick search with Google’s nifty app to visit a website.
And thanks to a recent update, Google’s iOS Search app is now better than ever.
“Hey iPhone and iPad users: There’s a new Google app (update) in town,” Google said in a recent note on its Google+ page. The company listed the following highlights from the update:
- “What to Watch” TV recommendations, in time for fall season premieres
- Updated transit cards with multiple route options for your commute
- Under-the-hood adjustments to bring you answers faster than ever
All three notes are a big deal, and I enjoy the huge speed improvements in particular. The transit cards are a huge help for commuters and tourists, of course, and couch potatoes will love the new TV features. Google Now fans will also notice some more new functionality that has popped up in the app recently, such as optional bill reminders and more.