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Google Overhauls iPhone App

This evening the new Google application for the iPhone became available. Not only does it bring the new voice-powered search function, it also revamps the usability in a big way. Here is InformationWeek's first take.

The new Google search application for the iPhone just hit the iPhone Apps Store. It downloaded and updated on my iPhone in a snap. The first time you launch it, it asks for your location information. You can choose to allow this or not.

The software tells you to hold the phone to your head as if you were speaking on a phone call. It is using the accelerometer to determine when you stop the phone at your ear. Once you hear a little beep, that means it is ready for you to speak your search.

The first search I did was for "pizza". There was a little bit of noise in the background (the TV), and the software didn't like that too much. It gave me a "Didn't get that" error message. I tried several more times and eventually paused the TV to try for a fourth time. It finally worked.

The results were accurate and it pulled up information about some of the local pizza joints. Not bad. I tried again several more times with pretty much the same results. Pretty good stuff.

I am bothered that the TV threw the app off, though. I had the volume pretty low. It makes me think that the application won't work at all if you're standing in a moderately noisy environment such as an airport or a coffee shop.

I also noticed that the basic look of the Google App is different. The link to "more Google services" is gone. Instead, there are three choices running along the bottom of the screen. The first selection is for the basic search app itself. The middle selection takes you to a nicely organized page of a number of Google services, such as Gmail, Calendar, Docs, etc. The app lets you fully customize this page and rearrange which shortcuts are where on this screen. Very nice.

The last page lets you control settings for the application. The first time I went to that page, the application crashed. I tried a few more times, and it hasn't crashed again since.

In all, I am very pleased with the new Google App for the iPhone.

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