Friday 20 November 2015

Google Search for Android now lets you stream apps from search results without installing them


Google has introduced app streaming on Android phones. Now search results on Android devices will show contents from apps even if you don't have them installed on your device.

Until now Google Search on Android displayed information from the apps you already have installed on your device, from now on, it will be showing some "app first" content in Google search, and will now let users stream apps that will allow them to access the content with installing these apps. However, you will get the option to stream apps only when connected to a good Wi-Fi connection

For example, "With one tap on a "Stream" button next to the HotelTonight app result, you'll get a streamed version of the app, so that you can quickly and easily find what you need, and even complete a booking, just as if you were in the app itself. And if you like what you see, installing it is just a click away," explains Google.  It's worth noting that these streamed apps aren't mobile web apps, but actual apps that are hosted on Google's cloud platform. The layout and UI is also similar to the actual app.

Google appears to have used Agawi's technology for app streaming, which it acquired last year. Agawi's technology lets users to preview apps or games by streaming them into their device without installing or downloading them from Google Play.

In a blog post, Google said that it started indexing app content two years ago, which provided results whether from an app or web. At the moment, it has over 100 billion deeps links into apps in itsindex including some popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb or Pinterest — and 40% of searches people do on Android surface app content.

Google has tied up with limited partners for showing "app-first" content including HotelTonight, Weather, My Horoscope, Useful Knots, New York Subway, Daily Horoscope, Gormey, Chimani and Visual Anatomy Free, but plans to expand its soon.

The app streaming feature is currently in beta and is only available in the U.S for now, but Google has plans to expand the program to other countries in the coming months.

No comments:

Post a Comment