Google has updated its eponymous voice-recognition search app with speed improvements the company claims will save users "a combined 6.5 million hours" this year.

"Each time you open the app or do a search, everything will load just a bit quicker," said Google VP Tamar Yehoshua in a blog post.

Google Search iOSNot only should the app feel faster overall, says Yehoshua, news articles that show up in searches should load almost immediately, thanks to wider adoption of the company's open source Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) project.

Introduced in February, the project aimed to make pages using AMP load four times as fast and use 10 times less data than traditional web pages. AMP-optimized stories are indicated by a lightning bolt icon and show up in the top stories section of search results.

In addition, the app now includes video highlights in select Google Now cards for NBA and NHL games.

Google for iOS is a free download on the App Store for iPad and iPhone. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

LovingTeddy Avatar
89 months ago
Now... If there is anyway to complete replace Siri suggestion with Google now and replacing all Apple services with Google services, that would be cool... Would happy install Google Play Services on iOS devices...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
usamaah Avatar
89 months ago
They load even faster if you have an ad blocker on Safari.
I do have one on my iPad Air 2, loads faster than Safari without an ad blocker but these Amp pages are still faster.
[doublepost=1464787920][/doublepost]
They load even faster if you have an ad blocker on Safari.
So is it snappier...than Safari?
It occurs to me now people's prejudice to Google may be hampering their ability to understand what this is.

AMP is an open-source project designed to make the web faster for static data ('https://www.ampproject.org/docs/get_started/about-amp.html'). Google AMP Cache (which is a separate thing) then takes these files and preloads them on their servers so they can serve this reduced-size, browser-friendly HTML file even faster. Apple can host AMP files too, if it wanted. Anyone can.

Any browser that supports AMP will recognize that there is a faster version of the same content you care about, and be able to load the page faster. Soo this isn't a Chrome vs Safari argument, not really. Google simply added support for AMP in their Google Search app on iOS so now when you use it (or more correctly, when dumb people like me who don't realize that OMG I'm the product, use it) the special pages will have the AMP icon next to them and I can choose to load that page over another, and get content faster.

EDIT: Here's more information ('https://www.distilled.net/resources/how-do-accelerated-mobile-pages-amp-from-google-work/').
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
v0lume4 Avatar
89 months ago
Just for USA or ROW/UK?
Checking out some stores, pretty sure it's a global update.
If this were Apple, it'd be more like, "Available in select markets. Wider availability coming soon (years)." :p
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LovingTeddy Avatar
89 months ago
Just get an android phone and be done with it
I have bunch of Android phone. I like iOS better, but I prefer google services and Google Now
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zirel Avatar
89 months ago
No, thank you.


I'm not giving away control to Google. They try everything to stop me using Safari (can havve ad blocking)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdillings Avatar
89 months ago
Now... If there is anyway to complete replace Siri suggestion with Google now and replacing all Apple services with Google services, that would be cool... Would happy install Google Play Services on iOS devices...
Just get an android phone and be done with it
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
Hero0009

Best Apple Deals of the Week: Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 Gets Massive $250 Discount, Along With Year's Best AirPods Prices

Friday March 24, 2023 10:23 am PDT by
We saw a lot of great deals on Apple products and related accessories this week, including Samsung's iMac-like Smart Monitor M8 for $250 off, a 30 percent off spring sale at Anker, and the year's best prices on numerous AirPods models. All of these deals are still available to purchase right now, so we're recapping them and more below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these ...
dynamic island

iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor

Friday March 24, 2023 12:27 am PDT by
This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models. According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 15 series will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island ...