Google's new super fast search widget coming to Chrome on Android

Search is Google's main bread and butter and is at the centre of most of their services and devices. It usually takes a few seconds to invoke a search box before you can type out a search item. A new widget, which is designed to speed through searches, comes in the dev version of Chrome and gives us a sneak peek at faster searching on mobile devices. 

Intrepid Android users can get a taste of this new widget by heading to the Play Store and download Chrome Dev. Simply add the widget to your homescreen and see how much better faster searches are.

Source: 9to5Google

Google adds links to media content services when searching on iOS

Google just updated its search capabilities on iOS to make it easier to look for media content—like movies and music—online. When you do a Google search on a specific song, TV show, or movie. The results will show in the Knowledge Panel icons for services that offer the content, like iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, YouTube, etc. If you click on these links, it’ll take you straight to that app or service. And if you haven’t signed up for the specific service, pricing information will be displayed, too. This feature should show up on both Google Search app as well as on mobile web browser.

Source: MacRumors

Google Search and Newsstand now has real-time NBA and NHL updates

Google is making it easier for you to keep up with your favorite NBA and NHL teams with the latest update to its Google Play Newsstand and Google Search apps. From Newsstand, you’ll be able to see dedicated NBA and Stanley Cup Playoffs sections. There you’ll get play-by-play information as well as other local and national news about the sports. Now if you don’t want to use Newsstand, you can simply go to Google Search. The updates will be displayed in Google’s “Knowledge Panels” so you can check everything there.

Source: Android Authority

Google to roll out fact check feature internationally, brings it to Search

In order to combat “fake news,” Google has been working with fact-checking groups to add links to their posts in Google News’ story clusters. This was initially rolled out to the US and UK markets. Now, the search giant is bringing this to a wider audience. It’s going to be available globally and aside from it showing up on Google News, it’ll show up on the Google Search results pages as well.

As seen in the screencap above, Google will show you links to the fact check sites along with additional information about the claim. It, of course, doesn’t always mean one group is right and the other isn’t. Because not everything is black and white. But it is a good thing to help form opinions about things by seeing all the possible sides. As Google explains in its post making the announcement: “Even though differing conclusions may be presented, we think it’s still helpful for people to understand the degree of consensus around a particular claim and have clear information on which sources agree. As we make fact checks more visible in Search results, we believe people will have an easier time reviewing and assessing these fact checks, and making their own informed opinions.”

Source: TechCrunch