Send notes or set alarms from Google desktop search to your phone

Google is extending the cooperation of its desktop and mobile platform further with new features. This time around, you can write notes and set alarms on Chrome browser on desktop and send these to your to your Android smartphone. You simply need to type “note to self” or “send a note” and you’ll get a Google Now kind of card where you have to input the note and select the device you want to send it to. You’ll get a push notification and your phone and you just need to select whether to copy or save the note. For alarms, you can type “set an alarm” or type in something more specific like “set an alarm for 10:00.” There won’t be a notification this time but you’ll see a toast message and an alarm icon on your status bar.

According to Android Police though, it would seem the feature is currently US-only. A workaround is to add &gl=us to your search URL and the cards should be there.

Source: Android Police

Google taps search to recommend apps

Helping out developers to get more eyes on their apps, Google is using its search engine to suggest apps to users. If you type something in search, they'll prompt you to install a certain app that can help fulfill the need or at least assist you with the search term. Once you install the app, you'll be redirected in the app to what you wanted to do on the web. For example, you're searching for a restaurant, Google might recommend OpenTable for you. Once installed, you'll be redirected to the reservation page of said restaurant. Developers can check out how they can be part of this implementation in the link below. 

Source: Google | Via: PCWorld 

Get more mobile-friendly sites on tablet or smartphone with Google

Google thinks you should see more mobile-friendly sites when you search through your mobile devices. That’s why starting April 21, online sites with mobile versions will get higher placements in search result pages. And you’ll see these if you are using a mobile device. It will also parse information from indexed apps if you’re signed in and have them installed on your device. Google has been ranking points for sites with optimized pages for new devices so this change doesn’t come as a surprise. If you want to check if your company or personal mobile site works with Google, you can run it through this test from Google.

Source: Google Webmaster Central Blog | Via: Engadget

Movie search results on Google get Material Design makeover

Google has refreshed its movie search result pages to match Android Lollipop’s Material Design. Now, when you look up a movie by a particular celebrity, you will see movie posters. Material Design elements like popping animations, ripples, and sliding menus can be seen in this new look. When you select a specific movie, it’ll show other details like cast bios, trailer links, Rotten Tomato scores, and where to buy or rent the movie.

Source: Google | Via: Android Community