The importance of being immediate - Google Mobile App now for Nokia S60 smartphones
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 | 11:06 AM
As a user experience designer I like to take every opportunity to better understand the issues that get in the way of people making the most of their mobile phones. The development of Google Mobile App for Nokia S60 smartphones, which launched today, has provided an opportunity to address three aspects of an issue we hear about on a regular basis: immediacy.
1. Immediacy of access
We know from our users that navigating through menus introduces an unwanted delay. Our quick key mechanism launches the application directly from the home screen, making search, Google Maps, Gmail, and other Google mobile services available immediately.
The quick key reminder (left) and the app showing your current location (right)
2. Immediacy of location
Google Mobile App for Nokia Series 60 smartphones comes with location awareness built in. If you use the My Location feature, you'll get local search results that relate to where you are. You can opt in or out of this at any time, via the Settings menu.
Search suggestions that combine with your location to give local search results
3. Immediacy of query formulation
We have adopted a dual approach to help make query formulation quick and efficient. First, your search history is readily available so that it's easy to repeat queries. Second, we offer query suggestions based on what has been entered so far to get you to your results as quickly as possible.
Search history (left) and search suggestions (right)
Additionally, we like to work with feedback about earlier versions of our products, such as the quick key launch feature. We found that some users didn't need a home screen reminder, while others liked having it there. So in Google Mobile App, we added an item in Settings to let people choose what best suits them.
Google Mobile App can be downloaded from http://m.google.com on your phone's browser. Give it a try and please keep all the feedback coming - your input is invaluable to making sure we get products and features right.
Posted by Benedict Davies, User Experience Designer, Google Mobile Team
Labels: google search app, Mobile Blog, nokia, s60, symbian
50 comments:
elykom said...
Is this application available for the S60 5th edition such as the Nokia 5800? Logging into m.google.com I can't see a download link anywhere.
June 3, 2009 at 11:37 AM
CtrlBurn said...
"We found that some users didn't need a home screen reminder, while others liked having it there. So in Google Mobile App, we added an item in Settings to let people choose what best suits them."
I know of about a thousand software developers who need to read that passage over and over until it sinks in. Options are always good, even if you don't need them.
June 3, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Unknown said...
So far, I really like this program. Is there a way to change the default web browser it uses?
I'm not a fan of the built-in browser on my Nokia e71, and use Opera mini. But, I can't see a way to change the default.
June 3, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Unknown said...
i 2nd Tim's comments
June 3, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Unknown said...
i went to m.google.com and there is no option to DL the app on my E71. I miss the app from my old BBerry.
Where are we supposed to DL the app for S60??
June 3, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Unknown said...
Good stuff, thanks! Missing a Google Reader option (I changed my location from UK to USA to try and get it - as was suggested on Nokiaaddict - but still no joy).
Google Reader is my second most-used Googleapp - any chance of a S60 version? Even if it's just a web widget WRT?
June 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Jan Kocbach said...
June 3, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Anonymous said...
Any plans to add it (and other google apps) to the Ovi store?
June 3, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Unknown said...
Thank you for this stuff.
But in my option > settings menu there is a duplicate option entry
"Accès rapide" (Quick Access in english I think)
I would also like to see google reader intergrated.
June 3, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Unknown said...
I have to reinstall gmail mobile ver 2.0.6.1269 gorganic Nokia-N82, because the launcher in the GM app was greyish and selecting it launched the gmail mobile page in the phone browser.
June 3, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Unknown said...
June 3, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Unknown said...
Tim said: "... Is there a way to change the default web browser it uses?"
Good idea Tim, I would like this option too
June 3, 2009 at 3:14 PM
swrobel said...
I would also like the ability to change the browser.
Also, is there a way to search by voice? I see that on the following screenshot but it doesn't seem to work on my E71: http://www.google.com/mobile/images/screenshots/root/default/app.gif
June 3, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Unknown said...
That's great, but will you EVER have the Mobile App for the Blackberry Storm???????????????
June 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM
josh909 said...
i'm trying to download and getting a 404 Error?
June 3, 2009 at 4:40 PM
CAD bloke said...
Newsflash - Australia is a country too. Please add it to the list
June 3, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Trinition said...
I, too, was disappointed that the Google App is seemingly unavailable for the Nokia 5800. Strange, because while it is a S60 5th edition OS, I run plenty of S60 3d edition apps just fine. Is this an intentional or unintentional blacklisting of the Nokia 5800? If unintentional, is anyone working to un-blacklist it?
June 3, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Derek said...
Does anyone know of a direct .Sis file i can send to my phone for this app?
June 3, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Tom Foley said...
Does anyone know why the choice of countries is so limited? There must be a specific reason?
June 3, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Unknown said...
Quickkey needs to work even when the app isn't running. Either that or bring back the standalone search client. I reformatted my phone and am really pissed that I can't add in the simple search client any more because its been replaced with this bloated all in one app.
June 3, 2009 at 9:54 PM
hotzigetty said...
A) doesnt really give one touch access to email. I already have gmail app installed, but from the new app, it takes me to the browser to download mail. Same for youtube and the others. What would really help is one main search app/google app, which would open all the other apps directly. So i can search the gmail app for contacts/mails etc.
June 3, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Kimmo said...
I too would like to see this on Nokia 5800.
June 3, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Do u like it said...
I want to see orkut to be integrated with this service, which will make it great for youngsters.
June 4, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Anonymous said...
Great app... but how can i attach my existing Gmail to this new app ? - do i need to download it again ? (lower version ?)
The Google Reader integration could be an excellent improvement...
June 4, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Unknown said...
How about google reader integration plus the option to chose your own browser?
June 4, 2009 at 1:55 AM
zedwill said...
Excelent, this will improve overall mobile browsing and search. Lots of mobile users like me do not own an iphone or a blackberry. However, thre are tons of nokia users.
iPhone might have changed the mobile web rules, but don't forget us old mobile surfers. We still are quite a bunch! :-)
June 4, 2009 at 3:51 AM
Unknown said...
I'm on a Samsung G810 (Symbian S60v3) but can't see a link on m.google.com either.
Any chance of it working on my phone?
June 4, 2009 at 7:17 AM
kartikshradha said...
will it work in India?
June 4, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Bruce said...
Like the new app. BUT, picasa (using my gmail.com login) and reader (using my [mydomain].com login) both stick on the "loading" screen.
Help!?
June 4, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Unknown said...
@chap_ks yes it does..
June 4, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Germán said...
This link work for my Nokia 5700. Maybe this work for other S3: http://m.google.com/search/download/binaries/L1/2.1.11/GoogleSearch.sisx?dc=gorganic
June 4, 2009 at 12:06 PM
chris said...
On the E61 searches from this app launch the "Services" browser rather than the full-featured built-in Web Browser. This makes it rather useless as the Services browser is very limited in rendering capability. Could this please be fixed?
June 4, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Kimmo said...
The program doesn't work for Nokia 5800 when downloaded from the link posted by user German. It installs but its functionality is low, it is close to non-usable.
June 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Erik said...
Fascinating service, would love to try, but going to m.google.com does not provide me a download for this service!
Will wait some days and try again!
June 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Mac said...
Please add New Zealand for locations. NZ works fine for google maps locations on S60.
June 5, 2009 at 1:21 AM
A.T. said...
your I18N & L10N team makes too-far-stretching assumptions -- not everyone in country X speaks/understands language of X (substitute X with anything), so having ability to switch to any other language for UI is vital... Yes, please, put it to settings!
If you can't create whole set quick, please leave at least English _even_ if I'm in country with non-English population.
June 5, 2009 at 2:28 AM
Unknown said...
The link posted above by German worked nicely on my Samsung G810 S60v3:
http://m.google.com/search/download/binaries/L1/2.1.11/GoogleSearch.sisx?dc=gorganic
Primarily using it a shortcut widget to gmail and gcalendar. It would be nice to have shortcuts to google reader and google apps as well tho (or even other applications insalled on the phone).
June 5, 2009 at 6:49 AM
Risvi said...
plz make it version for touch screen 5800...
June 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Brian Beeler said...
@Chris: And this is exactly why I uninstalled 2.1.11 about two minutes after installing and reinstalled 1.0.15 (something that gets used >20 times a day). Using the "Services" browser instead of the full version for me makes the app unusable. Since I normally have the full browser open using the "Services" browser also burns up precious RAM [on my E61i]. Thanks for mentioning it.
Too bad because otherwise it looks pretty nice. If this gets fixed I'll definitely try again if the app if I can use the full browser. I'm glad and thankful that Google has written some very nice Symbian apps (the new maps with latitude is sweet) and hope they'll fix this issue.
BTW IMO the real solution is to get Nokia to fix up the "Services" browser but I don't see that happening anytime soon. My hope is Google will fix it with the requested "work around."
Google still has an older version at: http://m.google.com/search/download/binaries/L1/1.0.15/GoogleSearch.sisx
June 6, 2009 at 5:28 AM
Jasmin Loire said...
I fifth Tim's request to change away from the default browser. I use Skyfire (which I find superior to Opera Mini) and would love to make that my GApps default browser.
June 6, 2009 at 8:50 AM
jon81uk said...
again same as others, services browser is useless, it needs to open the full web browser same as the previous version. Going to uninstall and put previous version on I think
June 7, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Davide said...
Why on my E65 http://m.google.com/mail?source=mobilesearchapp&v=2.1.11_0&rlz=&dc=Web&client=Web gives me 502 proxy error?
Same for the gmaps link
June 8, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Davide said...
"Same for the gmaps link"
Sorry same for Youtybe link
June 8, 2009 at 3:47 PM
PraiseDivineMercy said...
Ever since this update certain pages on my Nokia 5300 won't display correctly. I used to enjoy reading LJ during my commute, but now the text is all overlapping and jumbled.
June 9, 2009 at 12:18 AM
John said...
Love it - works on my Nokia E51....BUT not the Gmail link - I removed my Gmail app before installing Google App - but no joy - so, I've gone back to Gmail on the 'desktop' and google app is fine for other functions - not perfect though is it?
of course being the novice I am I may be missing something here
keep it up guys
June 9, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Priscila said...
When will we get an official Gtalk application for S60? It's annoying to depend on other 3rd party services!
June 11, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...
Hi all,
Thanks for reporting these issues. Please note that some older versions of Gmail are not currently detected by Google Mobile App. While we're looking at this issue, a quick workaround is to delete your Gmail application and then reinstall it using the Google Mobile App. This will also ensure that you receive the latest version of Gmail on your phone and can load it properly through the app. For more information on using Google Mobile App on your S60, please visit our Help Center at http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=14770.
June 12, 2009 at 9:32 AM
mothukuri said...
I removed gmail app and still i don't see option to install google mobile app when i point my mobile browser to m.google.com. I have nokia 5800 express music. Does google know about this problem?
June 13, 2009 at 6:35 AM
John said...
Thanks for response on this Bret - apprecitated - I have followed suggestions and get Gmail launch on initial occaision but subsequent attempts fail (no response even if I use pull down menus) - other apps in suite all work fine including maps, picasa, notes, calendar
If I locate the Gmail app manually in my Nokia directory I can open it to check emails.
still love it
June 14, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Unknown said...
I have a HTC DREAM, using Rogers Wireless, how can i make the Google Maps Directions show transit directions? it seems so many phones have this ability, however this new phone only gives driving directions. please don't tell me to search something, as i have done this for days now... please give clear and direct links with direction on how to ad this feature. thanks.
June 16, 2009 at 7:21 PM
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