This article was published on February 13, 2013

Google updates its Android Search app, bringing a Google Now widget to your home and lock screens


Google updates its Android Search app, bringing a Google Now widget to your home and lock screens

Today Google released an update to its Search application for Android that brings in fresh data, and adds support for movie tickets from Fandango. You can also add Google Now to your home and lock screen, if you are so inclined.

The update, for Android 4.1 and higher, will now provide users with movie ratings from Rotten Tomatoes, and real estate information from Zillow, when a house is listed on the markets and resides in that provider’s database. Also, if you live in the United States, and use the app, you will now be provided with a music button a song is currently employed and the app is in voice mode.

Finally, the update includes what Google calls “support for US college sports.” That’s a bit of a no-brainer, given that March Madness is just around the corner; Google wants to be your one location for all mobile search information.

If you are the Android using type, you can snag the app here from Google Play, or update from your phone.

It’s key to understand how valuable Google views mobile search market share. The company pays Apple $1 billion a year to be its search provider. Given that sum, Google’s places an exceptionally high dollar value on its preeminence as the provider of search on Android, its home-grown platform. Thus updates such as this, keeping it perhaps ahead of its competitors.

Top Image Credit: keith.bellvay

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