Google

Category

Description of App

The best of Google in one app. Say “OK Google” and find everything from nearby restaurants to the calories in cheesecake. Google also shows you the info that you need before you ask, like updates on your favourite teams and traffic alerts. Talk instead of type: • Say “OK Google” then ask a question* • Google will speak the answer aloud Ask Google to help you do things: “What good restaurants are there nearby?” “Remind me to call mum at 5 p.m.” Get Google Now cards and notifications: • Start your morning with weather, news & traffic • Get updates on sports, films & events More about Google Now cards: www.google.com/now * requires iPhone 4s or later

Version

5.0.0

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

Not Known

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

iOS Version

8.1.2

Accessibility Comments

Appears to be fully acceessible and easy to use. Its a fun little app to try for fun. Be sure to try out the "OK Google" voice command!

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads all page elements.

Button Labeling

All buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver and is easy to navigate and use.

Developer's Twitter Username

@googleaccess

Recommendations

2 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by season 10 years 9 months ago

Options

Comments

By season on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - 17:14

I've use Google Search from the first few days when i got my iphone4 (18 months ago). i never found any major problem in terms of accessibility. And i use it quite a lot, both with the "voice search" and the text search. It needs some time to get use to it, but i won't consider it as inaccessible. i'll recommend the app

By AnonyMouse on Monday, May 6, 2013 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

The update sounds great if it were more accessible. You can do a few things but overall I find it difficult to use. There are still a lot of unlabel buttons. So it is still pretty hard to navigate around and use the app as one should be able to. It can be used if you really put a lot of effort in to it. The Voice and the Goggle are quite interesting.

 

What's New in Version 3.0.0

Get just the right information at just the right time with Google Now.
• weather and traffic conditions before you start your day
• updates on your favorite sports teams and breaking news stories as they happen
Find out more about all other ways Google Now can help at http://www.google.com/now

By Kelly Sapergia on Thursday, June 6, 2013 - 17:14

After listening to a recent AppleVis podcast demonstrating how Siri and the Google Search apps answered questions, I gave the Google one a try on my 4th Generation iPod Touch. However, I couldn't get it to speak to me when using the Voice feature. All it would do is play the tones for when to speak and when it was done, but no voice response. I checked in Settings, but there was nothing about turning the speech on or off, what voice to use, etc. I eventually removed the app from the device.
hi all, I'm writing to let you all know that google search has been updated, and google now is even more impressive then ever before. it will now give you push notifications about reminders and you can now search by saying ok google. I've used it twice to set up reminders and it's really great.

By Serena on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

In reply to by brandon armstrong

ok, how on earth did you get the ok google command to work? or have you not made that work yet. every english language / dialect i set it to, says that ok google isn't available for my language yet. lol

By brandon armstrong on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

In reply to by Serena

to get the ok google command to work have the latest update to the app, then open it and say ok google.

By AnonyMouse on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Thanks for Brandan for pointing this out of the new release. It it hadn't been a little nudge to check this out. I would have most likely have pass over this.

What can I say? This is the most impressive update I have seen to date for Google. In the previous version that when I had played with this app. It was almost consider fully inaccessible and was very difficult to make use of it. In this release. They have completely done an 180 on this app. All of the buttons are now labeled. The interface is now usable. The Voice Search is incredible. I can't believe the response time I got from this. I hate to admit to this but it is faster than Siri and better. Yowsers. Did I say that?
 
At this time of writing it appears to be fully accessible. So give this a try. Let us know what you think of it. Plus, let us know if there are any known issues that isn't so great with voice over.

What's New in Version 3.1.0

Google Now gets even better with:
• Notifications - Get notified when it’s time to go
• Reminders - Never forget to put out the trash
• New cards - See tickets, boarding passes, & more
• Handsfree voice - Just say “OK Google” to search*
* requires iPhone 4s or later

Notifications deliver info before you open the app:
• When to leave for your next appointment or event
• If your flight is running late
• How to catch the last train home

Ask Google to remember things for you. Just say
• “Remind me to buy coffee beans at Starbucks,” or
• “Remind me to check out the fair this weekend”
and Google will remind you at the right time or place.

You can also ask to be reminded when your favorite:
• Musicians release a new album
• TV show has a new episode
• Actors star in a new movie
• Celebrities and politicians make headlines
Just search and press the “remind me” button.

New cards organize the info you care about:
• Tickets for movies, concerts and events
• Boarding passes for your flights
• Reservation confirmations for car rentals
• Warnings when your last train home leaves
• Lists of upcoming local events

And finally, search is better than ever with:
• A redesigned and simplified homepage
• Gestures to zoom or throw away images
• One touch sign in if you use other Google apps

By brandon armstrong on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

In reply to by AnonyMouse

hi all, I can't seem to figure out how to swipe cards away with voiceover turned on, has anyone figured out how to do this, and if so, how does one go about swiping cards away?

By Southpaw on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

In reply to by brandon armstrong

I have followed all the steps from the above comment but I still can't get it to work! I have to press the button before anything will happen. It drives me crazy how Google does not put basic accessibility features in their iOS apps. They are absolutely awesome on android but it seems like they don't really try for the iOS users. I can't wait for the iOS 7 jailbreak to come out! You can assign this Google now search feature to the press of a button so you could replace Siri. Sort of. Thanks for the tips everyone! Keep them coming

By AnonyMouse on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team
At this time. I am using iOS 7.0.3 on my iPhone 5. I am not having any issue that Google doesn't recognize my OK Google. Perhaps, try to make sure you gave the permission to Google that you allow to use the Microphone? Apple Settings -> Privacy -> Microphone and make sure Google is set to ON. Another possibility to consider. Check the AppSwitcher for anything that is active that might be conflicting with Google. Hopefully, somebody else might have an easier solution? HTH

By Santiago on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

In reply to by AnonyMouse

To swipe cards away, you just double tap and drag your finger to the left or right.
Hello Everyone, I cannot believe this update! It is absolutely amazing! All the buttons are labeled and the voice search with saying "ok google" is very impressive and works every time. Anony mouse; you were correct when you stated that it is better than siri; I whole heartedly agree. Siri has some work to do now, let's hope that this pushes apple and we all benefit! Just wondering; in a previous version, I could see the weather for my location inside of this application. I cannot find that information anylonger, did they toss it or is it somewhere I haven't looked yet? Any help would be great. Thank you. -Andrew-
I especially like the fact they specifically mentioned voice over improvements in the app update notification. Happy they are focusing on that; I hope the app refresh continues into google hangouts and others. -Andrew-

By Serena on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - 17:14

In reply to by Andrew

hi guys, to those who posted in reply to me, saying to just say ok google while google search is open. yes, you might be right on how that should! work, but it is not. and when i say it does not, i mean, litterelly, if i go into settings, to voice search, it's telling me that it isn't able to be used for my language yet. it is in fact saying it plainly that i can't use it. i've tried setting it to every english dialect there is in there, without any success.
this is just, stupid. so, stupid. in todays world! ... basicly, unless you have your iphone's language settings set for US english, the ok google thing won't work, and neither will half the other new features. in todays day and age, this is just plane stupid. why are they limiting it to US language only?
I've noticed that I don't even have to say the full "OK Google." All I have to say is, "Google." Lol not that it matters, but I was bored so was experimenting with what would and wouldn't work.

By AnonyMouse on Monday, January 6, 2014 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team
What's New in Version 3.2.0 Google is faster and more immersive with: • iOS 7 styling and true full screen browsing • Fast, fluid image search for iPad • Smarter integration with the Google Maps app

By Blind Adrenaline on Monday, January 6, 2014 - 17:14

Thanks for the update ppost mouse. I have had Google Goggles on my iPhone for a while now, but just got my wife an iPad mini, and put Google search on it and I'm having a bit of a different experience with it. On my iPhone, there is a goggles icon, where I can directly launch Goggles, which is great. On the iPad, I apparently have to launch google search, then open search, then go down to goggles to launch the app. Is there any way to create an icon just for goggles, or any other less cumbersome way to launch goggles? I have not updated Google search on the iPhone, and hope when I do so, I don't lose the ability to launch it directly. Thanks for any info.

By AnonyMouse on Monday, January 6, 2014 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

In reply to by Blind Adrenaline

Hey there Blind Adrenaline. It sounds like that you may still have the older Google Search installed on your iPhone. It the past release of the Google Search. The Google Goggle was pretty much easy to find and use. Unfortunetly, Google is slowly making Goggles more and more elusive for us to find and use. You are correct. The only way I can even find it any more is as you have mentioned. You must double tap on the Search. Go to the bottom of the Search History. Find the Goggles button. Unless of course you go way back and still have the older app that has the Goggle up front and easy to use and find. Unless, someone else has a great solution. I really don't have one for you. You may want to try the Talking Goggles. Although, I find it more difficult to use but it uses the same engine that Google use for their Goggles. For now I just have to jump through a couple of hoops just to be able to use the Goggle with in the Google Search. So I wouldn't update your Google Search unless you have to if you use the Goggle quite a bit. However, I really love the "OK Goggle" to make my searches go a bit faster. Wish I had a better answer for you other than maybe contacting the Google team in putting the Goggle back in a easier spot for us to locate. Take care.

By AnonyMouse on Friday, June 6, 2014 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

What's New in Version 4.0.0

With today’s update, you can ask questions with your voice & get updates on topics that you care about.

Have a smarter conversation with Google:
• Tap the microphone or say “OK Google” to start
• Ask questions such as “What’s the weather like?”
• Then follow up with “How about this weekend?”

At Google, we know the Web well. With Google Now, we’ll tell you when there’s an interesting article for:
• Your favourite topics
• Your upcoming trips
• Your favourite authors and blogs

Smaller updates include:
• Cricket sports cards in Google Now
• Faster loading of Google Search and Google Now

By Lisa on Friday, June 6, 2014 - 17:14

Hi all,
I saw the option within this app to turn on Google Now. If I turn on Google Now, what editional features or things will it allow me to do? I really don't know what Google Now is. So if anyone wouldn't mind explaining what Google Now is for me it would be very much appreciated! Thank you.

By AnonyMouse on Friday, June 6, 2014 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

What's New in Version 4.1.0
Google Search is getting ready for the Football World Cup with Google Now cards that keep you updated on every match. You can tap on cards showing a match
to get details: scorers, match statistics, group standings and more.

Make sure that you are signed in to Google, and have your Google Now turned on in your settings. Swipe up to see your Google Now cards and follow your
favourite team!

This update includes several smaller fixes on logging in and crashes.

By AnonyMouse on Saturday, December 6, 2014 - 17:14

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

What's New in Version 5.0.0
Introducing the new Google app

Completely rebuilt to bring you the best of Google:
• Recents—see & return to your recently visited pages
• Google button—start a new search with just one tap
• Google Maps—explore interactive maps, nearby places, & Street View right inside the app (for iPhone)

New look and feel:
• Beautiful new Material Design animations
• Bigger photos in image search
• Looks great on the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus