Google for iOS updated with 3D Touch, iPad multitasking and more
Google has just updated its flaghip Web search app for iOS with several improvements, including ones that take advantage of Apple’s latest technologies and a neat enhancement that’s sure to come in handy this holiday season.
3D Touch
If you have an iPhone 6s or an iPhone 6s Plus, you’ll be pleased to know that you can now use the Google app with 3D Touch, Apple’s pressure-sensitive multi-touch technology.
Now, you can press down on the app’s icon on the home screen to access shortcuts to do a quick text search, voice search or image search.
via The Next Web
iPad multitasking
The latest update to the Google app also adds support for multitasking on iPad, allowing you to easily use it in tandem with another app, as when you need to do a quick search while sending a text message or reading an article.
On iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 2 or later, you can use Slide Over to quickly use Google over another app (even if that other app doesn’t yet support iPad multitasking in its own right).
And on iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 4, you can use Split View to use Google side by side with another app at the same time.
Holiday hours and busy times
Last but certainly not least, the latest update to the Google app adds holiday hours and information on the busiest times of the day to the search results for restaurants, stores, and other local businesses.
Now, when you do a search for a restaurant you want to dine in or when you tell the app, “What time does the nearest mall close” or “show me Starbucks nearby,” you’ll see the location’s operating hours this holiday season and a graph showing the busiest times of the day. These then help you adjust your plans accordingly to avoid the crowds.
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad running iOS 8.0 or later, Google is available on the App Store for free.
Google itself has been busy updating a number of its iOS apps in time for the holidays. Aside from its flagship app, Google has recently released significant updates to its Docs, Play Books, Classroom, Hangouts, Chrome, Calendar, Snapseed, Photos, Wallet and Play Movies & TV apps.
