Google has posted some more information about how search has been integrated into the first Android-powered phone, the T-Mobile G1, which goes on sale October 22.
Not surprisingly, search functionality pervades Android with an array of ways to query (just start typing, tap one of UI’s many search buttons, or press the G1’s dedicated search key). Dropdown suggestions are readily available as well, helping you identify common web search queries or reuse the ones you’ve run recently.
Most importantly, Google is providing an API that developers can use to “implement basic searchability - with recent query suggestions - in their apps”. The hope appears to be that developers make keyword search an integral part of their user experiences, thereby reinforcing the notion in consumers’ minds that search is king on the web - mobile or otherwise.
But is keyword search really the best paradigm for mobile devices? Typing on such a small object is a tricky and error-prone chore, regardless of whether you have a real physical keyboard or a plastic touch screen. Browsing and flicking around - two behaviors popularized by the iPhone - require less effort and ensure more precision. Unfortunately, they are very primitive behaviors that don’t afford much data to the device.
It would be intriguing to see Google, or some other company, innovate to combine the power of keyword search with the usability of simple finger gestures. Swype, a company that launched at TechCrunch50 and obviates the need to pick up your finger while “typing”, is a step in the right direction. However, it still doesn’t shake the notion that we should be entering words and phrases into our handheld devices to get the results we want.
Perhaps it’s impossible to see Google free its services from the keyboard since they’re so input-heavy. But an experiment at creating a browsable search engine (for the web, map directions, email, etc) would be welcome nonetheless.
Watch below as a Google employee demonstrates how search currently works on Android.
See all
Post
why do all these google vids start off so lame “hi i am a google engineer” for real who would have guess seeing the vid is from google.
Proud engineers
You guys are hilarious. You bash android like the the little iPhone fanboys you are, talking about how awesome iphone is, how cool the spell corrector is - then you decide that neither phone can handle keywords. Nimrods.
sometimes i wish there were an akismet for trolls
From what I can see on the SDK, at least initially, all the Android devices will have to have keyboards, since there is no virtual keyboard at this point. I think probably google did this on purpose so that it will give people more incentive to type things and search (since no matter how good you make it, a virtual keyboard still can’t match a physical one).
Also, the gmail login requirement is another way for google to get users for their services.
From what I hear from WinMo users, many use their live search a lot and probably Google is aiming for the same thing.
what gmail login requirement do you speak of?
have you guys used 466453 to text queries to google on a regular? You receive 1-3 text messages with anything from directions to definitions. I wouldnt be surprised if Google used this backbone for android queries - shorter, more efficient, instead of bombarding with 423,352 results. I’ve noticed this technology has gotten better too - they are learning the difference between a cell query and a browser query.
This functionality is stepping stone for when speech recognition goes mainstream. At that point users will talk to apps on mobile devices using an evolution of this type of query language.
Probably not. I created my application to work around browsing with pre-configured topics and locations. I use it a hell of a lot more than i search - in fact i use it more than any other mobile site.
Sometimes i mobile search - most times i read (on train, bus etc).
I agree with Scott, this technology will really shine as speech recognition continues to improve. In the short term, the usefulness of this paradigm is dependent on the ease of input currently available as Mark pointed out.
All that said, I’m in favor of options. There will be some cases where search just is not the right solution.
I am not the biggest fan of Google Search Results on a mobile device; its hard reading through all those results and surfing through them to find what I need. This is an obvious move from Google, but there definitely needs to be a change with those search results.
Man I hope this DigitalNOMADs guy (in the ad to the right) is paying you a boatload of money. It’s extremely distracting to try and read your articles with this guy shaking his head and talking at you.
Agree that speech is a long-term solution. In the meantime, perhaps the difficulty of user input will affect the way we search more than whether we search.
Maybe we’ll use more generic searches and refine the results through further clicks. Or maybe we’ll take the time to get our search bang-on first time round and so reduce the total amount of typing we do?
But, yes, the general fiddliness of it all would seem to suggest that we’ll hunt for things via search less in favour of going to preferred services that have a place on our mobile desktop or on a shrunken list of mobile web favourites. The ‘I want it now’ mobile mindset might point us in that direction too.
what about googl gears “mylocation” feature? how will this be implemented with adroid? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMT7Deky9iY
there is a bubble in mobile. local mobile search is not rocket science. once established and the main players are seated we will probably see less than 5 major competitors in the space. what does that say for the thousands of developers and millions of dollars competing for an edge in this genre.
SuggestionLocator.com
Stop spamming your useless web sites, someone ban him already jeez.
I love to search! I would like to see search capabilities on mobiles phones!
Interesting article. Mobile search is definitely an up and coming arena and the advertising implications within this medium are undeniable. It will be interesting to see the migration over the next year.
Here is an interesting article on mobile search and advertising as well.
Mobile Web, The Future of Marketing
Thanks again, love your stuff!
Very interesting!
ChaCha might be the solution
This doesn’t seem like breaking news to me, I’d be surprised if the phone didn’t offer some type of Google search built in… Google wants to be on your home desktop, and your mobile desk…..top…. I guess. All cell phones are basically lap tops…. pocket bottoms, w/e works for you, anyway.
I love everything by google… I wish I worked for them.
http://gatesandjobs.blogspot.com/
If the phone strong enough to process the search..it will be a great feature for all of us
if you’re having trouble typing, the key entry system is obviously not designed properly, or you have ridiculously fat fingers. use a stylus, tubby.
Webmob-ad, is a new start-up that just came out . It is a pioneer in the automation of mobile and web advertsing by creating the only self serve and fully automated marketplace for CPC and CPM advertising . It supports all types text ads, banners and video ads. PUBLISHERS EARN THE HIGHEST SPLIT OF THE EARNINGS.
. Register is FREE. Our matching tools offers a new approach to real effective personalized targeting. Please check it out : http://www.webmob-ad.com.
Google is just throwing money at mobile search instead of actually thinking about the best solution. Desktop internet doesn’t translate into mobile search.
Here’s a different type of solution, try a service like ChaCha. It’s conversational so tubby fingers and typos don’t matter. There are no dwlds, no keywords, no apps, you don’t even have to have internet capability on your phone. But, if you do have internet (whether its android or iPhone or any smartphone) they also send you a link to the source. Problem solved, your welcome.
I agree that ChaCha has an interesting take on mobile search, it’s a completely different model than Google. They have a voice service too, call an 800 number, ask your question and they text the answer. No voice recognition or keyboards necessary.
Google has an SMS shortcode for sending queries and receiving results. The number is 466453.
If you weren’t so busy trying to astroturf chacha, you might have mentioned that.
@ralph i was just trying to point out that services like chacha go about mobile search in a different way than google and may address some of the issues mentioned in the article. google’s apps aren’t the holy grail, it is possible to find something better.
I don’t see what Swype has to do with this, it has nothing to do with the format of mobile search. I also don’t see how its helpful to have the thing fill in the word for you, sounds like T9 which nobody uses anymore cuz its a pain. The voice feature of ChaCha is something that might actually be headed in the right direction for this problem.. or fighting america’s obesity so nobody has fat fingers.